Real Madrid are terrified of the Robin van Persie 'demon' and their Champions League last 16 match against Manchester United will be like a 'maze' needing to be solved say the Spanish press
Red devil: the Spanish press have identified Robin van Persie as Manchester United's main threat against Real Madrid
Real Madrid are fearful of Manchester United,
writes Juan Ignacio García-Ochoa in Spanish tabloid La Marca. The fear, he writes, lies with "demon" Robin van Persie who stole the show during the first-leg match.
He writes: "Straight after the first-leg match one name dominated the Real Madrid defenders' conversations: Robin van Persie. On going into the tie, they only had Van Persie down as a player with brilliant technical skill, not as a warrior."
García-Ochoa says that Sir Alex Ferguson has brought out a side of Van Persie that was not there before and that he is now "worlds apart" from the player he was just a few years ago.
The saving grace for Real, writes García-Ochoa, is that the Van Persie 'terror' is not as strong at Old Trafford as it is away from home.
El Pais says that Real Madrid are enjoying their "party" after beating Barcelona at the weekend, but the match against Manchester United will not be an easy win.
Santiago Solari says that the match will be like a "maze needing to be solved", and Real Madrid will have to pick up their pace in order to win.
He says that rapid ball movement will be crucial in outwitting Manchester United, and deploying it to open spaces, but that Real will also face complications.
Solari writes that the match is "A crossroads where Real need to open a locked computer, avoid the pressure of Manchester United and avoid their counterattacks.
El Mundo also takes the line that Manchester United must not be underestimated by Real Madrid:
"At the Bernabeu, Manchester withstood a barrage and ended the match with many chances to win."
Orfeo Suárez writes that Manchester United has a "confidence" which may propel it to victory, especially with the Premier League a safe bet.
Manchester United will "seize their counterattacking chances and set pieces" while Barcelona always play the same way writes Suárez.
He says the problem could lie in Real Madrid relying on chances opening up, because United's defensive style of play, as shown in the first leg, is likely deny them the goals they need.
Real Madrid Manager Jose Mournho is "haunted" by Manchester United, says ABC.es, and has been since Real Madrid was drawn to play them in December.
His team's recent victories against Barcelona will soon mean 'nothing' if Real do not progress into the Champions League quarter-finals writes Tomás González-Martín.
"Winning the Spanish Cup would be good, but it would not be enough" says González-Martín. "The Champions League defines the season."
So Real have to face the "enemy" of Manchester United with one clear aim, "eliminating" them.
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