Real full of belief

Real Madrid midfielder Julio Baptista (L) celebrates his goal with defender Sergio Ramos during their Champions League match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.Photo: AFP

Real Madrid's authoritative 3-1 win over Lazio at the Bernabeu on Tuesday left them brimming with confidence about their chances of claiming a 10th European Cup this season.
Real floored the Serie A side inside the first 15 minutes at the Bernabeu thanks to quick-fire goals from Julio Baptista and Raul, and the in-form Robinho put the result beyond doubt when he added a third before halftime.
The victory meant that the Spanish giants qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th season in a row, but more importantly they went through as group winners for the first time in four years.
"We've achieved our objective and finished in first place and now I hope we get a big name team as our next opponents," said Real Madrid skipper Raul, who took his Champions League tally to 59 with his goal.
"My goal isn't important, what really matters is the form of the team," he said. "I really hope that this will be our year in the Champions League."
Real won the last of their nine European Cups in 2002, but since then they have gone into a steady decline, exiting the competition in the first knockout round in the last three seasons in a row.
However, the manner of Tuesday's victory and the fact that the team have a 100 percent record at the Bernabeu in all competitions this season, will strengthen Real's belief that they can reclaim their place as the kings of European football.
"I'm not worried who we get in the draw," said Real coach Bernd Schuster. "All out potential opponents will be difficult, but having got first place we've got that small advantage of playing the second leg at home and that is what I was concerned about.
"I'm very relaxed because the players are in great form and everything seems to be going well. I've never had any doubts about the quality of this team.
"Now that we have done our job in the Champions League we have the chance to concentrate on doing well in the league and the (King's) Cup."