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Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has received repeated racist abuse this season - with some pundits in Spain trying to claim he brings it on himself.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "You can only change people through culture, a common purpose and feeling of humanity. Don't blame Spain for this, it happened in every country.

"Vini is managing really well, he is focused on the game and loves to play football and this doesn't affect on the pitch. When games are important we see the best of him and it is obviously going to be a big game tomorrow.

"At the moment it is wonderful to be watching Vinicius as every football fan likes his quality."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was asked a question about it in his pre-match news conference and was fairly incredulous: "Racism? There is nothing in the world that could justify that, whatever he's doing on the pitch.

"It would be nothing. Imagine I would say 'Yes, this part of his game could cause it'. That's completely insane. No, nothing. He is a world-class player."

There's a fair few EFL games on tonight - five in the Championship, six between Leagues One and Two and a pizza trophy match. Follow that live text here.

Former Liverpool and Real manager Rafael Benitez told BBC Radio 5 Live the Reds have what it takes to match the Spanish side.

Benitez, who led Liverpool to Champions League success in 2005, said: "The difference in the past was Real Madrid used to play finals a lot of times. Now Liverpool also has this experience so they will be there.

"The only problem for me is that they will have too many important games coming and now you are under pressure. You play against Newcastle and after you have to play against Real Madrid, so massive games, very important, very intensive games. Can they cope with all these things?

"I think so, with the players coming back. That is a risk. If almost everybody is fit, I think they will do well."

Listen to the Rafael Benitez special of the BBC Football Daily podcast here.

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Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 43 goals in the Champions League. If the Egyptian scores tonight, he will equal Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba (44) as the top-scoring African player in the competition.

Adam Lallana
Ex-Liverpool and current Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

It will be interesting to see if Liverpool adapt the way they play especially with the way Trent Alexander-Arnold likes to get forward. It is big to have Virgil van Dijk back and I don't think Liverpool will change the way they play, because their full-backs getting forward is such a massive part of their game.

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Eintracht Frankfurt will have to be very wary of Napoli's star attacker Victor Osimhen, who has chalked up 19 goals in all competitions this season. For his part, Kolo Muani has 15 goals in 30 games in total in 2022-23.

Osimhen has 19 goals in all competitions this season and has scored in his last seven Serie A games.

He has reportedly attracted the interest of Manchester United.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I am not sure what to expect from Liverpool because of the form they are in. The last two games have been an improvement but that is nowhere near the standard Jurgen Klopp and the players have set themselves in terms of the energy and pressing.

It was a bit better against Everton and Newcastle but I wouldn't get too excited to say that they are back.

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Eintracht Frankfurt are playing in their maiden Champions League campaign after winning the Europa League last season.

They are currently sixth in the Bundesliga but have been in good form this season, having lost just once since October in all competitions.

Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson becomes the second Scottish player to make 50 Champions League appearances, after former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher (62).

Liverpool and Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish leads the way with 68 if we include the old European Cup, with Billy McNeill on 51.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he's happy this game is happening now and not a few weeks ago.

The Reds have won their last two games, having picked up just one point in January.

"I am really happy we play it now. Four weeks ago it would have been different," said Klopp.

"Life is all about timing. Maybe we found our feet in time. Hopefully we can build on that, but now we need to play two super games.

"It looks different - we feel it, we see it and it helps the mood massively.

"It will be a special game and I expect Anfield on their toes. I’m really happy for the people that they saw us in a better shape the past two games. Let’s go together again.

"Our people are football people and Real Madrid are in town. Celebrate this kind of event in the best possible way."

Jordan Chamberlain, Empire of the Kop, external

Stefan Bajcetic is the absolute real deal. He's only played 342 minutes of Premier League football, but that's been enough to show that the Spaniard - who only turned 18 in October - has staggering potential and is already very good.

He doesn't look especially physically imposing, but he's feisty, snarls and bites; winning aerial duels and making tackles. Bajcetic pairs this with composure, slick passing and a lovely first touch. Perhaps this was what Jurgen Klopp meant when he said he loved the player's mix of Spanish and Serbian heritage.

The teenager - whose father, Srdan Bajcetic, interestingly played with Thiago Alcantara's dad, Mazinho, at Celta Vigo - was exemplary against Newcastle United on Saturday.

One moment in particular stood out. Bajcetic rolled an opponent when receiving a pass from Alisson at the base of midfield and broke forward, feeding the ball into the channel, from where it eventually ended with Mo Salah assisting Cody Gakpo and Liverpool going 2-0 up.

It oozed class and showed the vision and creativity which will surely develop as Bajcetic matures.

The midfield still needs multiple additions in the summer, but the emergence of Bajcetic will save Liverpool millions - especially given he's already shown the ability to play at the base of midfield or as a number eight.

Check out the BBC's dedicated Liverpool FC index here

Adam Lallana
Ex-Liverpool and current Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

When you come up against Real Madrid I think that is always going to be the ultimate test. Even though it is the last 16, it has a semi-final feel to it.

It will have that special feeling tonight because the fans know they will have to be a 12th man.

Check out BBC Radio Merseyside's The Red Kop: Liverpool FC Podcast.

The team agree the Reds' result against Newcastle was a good one and hope for an even better win against the current champions of Europe - Real Madrid.

Paul Salt talks to Abigail Rudkin from Liverpool fan art - Abigail Art - and David Comerford from Reds Unrestricted podcast.

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Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Mario Gotze knows what it takes to reach a Champions League final, having helped Borussia Dortmund get to that stage back in 2013.

His experience will be vital to Frankfurt's hopes of progressing in the knockout stages.

"It's going to be a sensational game," Gotze said of tonight's tie with Napoli.

"We learnt a lot during the group phase as a team and earned these two games. We know how difficult it's going to be at this level.

"Experience is important, but ultimately it's our performance that counts."

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

With the goal Darwin Nunez had at the weekend [against Newcastle] he will be full of confidence. When you are scoring, you need to stay in your rhythm. So it was vital for Liverpool that he was fit for tonight.

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Napoli have been praised for playing free flowing attacking football that has seen them go 15 points clear at the top of Serie A.

They have won their last seven league games, scoring at least two goals in each game.

That swashbucking style has prompted some observers, including Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, to suggest they are not a typical Italian team.

However, Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti rejected that idea, saying: "This anti-Italian thing is a cliche. Sometimes teams playing in Europe decide to leave space for the opponent.

"Eintracht are very aggressive but can also track back quickly. We all use different styles but due to the quality in Europe it’s very difficult to play constantly in the opposing half."

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he watched last year's final defeat by Real Madrid back at the weekend - for the first time.

Vinicius Jr scored the only goal as Real won at the Stade de France, with the Reds denied nine times by a Thibaut Courtois masterclass.

"I realised why I hadn't watched it back before that," said Klopp.

"It was torture; we played a good game, we could have won it but they scored the decisive goal. You could see their experience, how little they lose confidence, they are there for their chance. That is what you can learn from them.

"We are different teams in different times. Let's see who goes through."

Liverpool are winless in their last six matches against Real Madrid, drawing one and losing five.

Those five defeats include the 2018 and 2022 finals.

The Reds had actually won their previous three meetings between 1981 and 2009.