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Hyypia wary of Real threat

05 Mar 2009 - 13:37:38

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Veteran Liverpool defenderSami Hyypia does not think that victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League next week is a foregone conclusion.

The Reds hold a 1-0 lead after last week's first leg in the Spanish capital thanks to Yossi Benayoun's late header in the Bernabeu.

However, Rafa Benitez's side followed up that great result by losing 2-0 to relegation-threatened Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday.

Finland international Hyypia is wary of celebrating a place in the last eight of Europe's premier competition too early, telling the club's official website: "We've got a lead to protect which is important and we know that, if we play as well at Anfield as we did over there, then we should be okay.

"But it will be difficult as it's only half-time in the tie so there's still a lot of football to be played.

"Real are a top side and they'll be looking forward to coming to Anfield and hoping to get an away goal of their own, so we'll have to be very careful.

"They'll still be confident that they can get through and we have to have our own confidence and belief that we can qualify.

"We believe in ourselves and of course we believe that we can finish the job but we also know that it will be tough."