ROME, February 18 (Champions League) - Real Madrid captain Raul has been given the all-clear to play against Roma in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg encounter at the Stadio Olimpico.
Raul sustained a knock to his left thigh during Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Real Betis but has recovered and will lead Madrid's attack alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Spain striker's recovery is bad news for Roma, who go into the first leg looking to end their negative run against Real at home.
Roma have lost all three of their past encounters against Real in the Eternal City.
"Raul is such a strong player,'' admitted Roma captain Francesco Totti. "He has scored so many goals and has won everything there is to win.''
Real go into the encounter looking to bounce back from their weekend defeat - their fourth league slip of the season which allowed second-placed Barcelona to close to within five points of the leaders.
"The Roma match is very important and the players will have a lot of motivation for that game, which has nothing to do with this match,'' said Real coach Bernd Schuster.
The nine-time European champions are desperate to make an impact in the Champions League having failed to progress to the quarter-finals for the last three years.
Rivals Roma go into Tuesday's game on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Juventus at the weekend that severely dented the Giallorossi's Scudetto ambitions.
The outcome left Luciano Spalletti's side 11 points behind unbeaten Internazionale with 15 games to play.
Roma's main focus now will be on Europe's elite club competition but the Giallorossi are well aware they will have to raise their game if they wish to avoid another upset.
"We have complicated our chances in Serie A,'' said Roma's Brazilian winger Mancini.
"Perhaps the Champions League now is our main target but with regards to the domestic competition, we will not give up, we will continue to fight until the end.
"Against Juve we weren't the usual Roma but we hope that against Madrid we will show our true colours.
"Madrid cannot come too over-confident because they will meet a determined Roma.''
The Giallorossi will need Totti to be at his best if they are to have any chance of advancing.
Totti, who is Roma's top scorer, has not found the target since notching his 200th goal for the Giallorossi a month ago and has failed to find his top form since returning from a foot injury.
Totti could partner Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic, who was rested at the weekend.
Madrid travel to the Italian capital having to do without Robinho, Wesley Sneijder, Marcelo and Christoph Metzelder - all through injury.
Schuster welcomes back Gabriel Heinze, who returns to playing after 44 days out with a muscular injury.
Heinze will partner Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro at the heart of defence, with the latter celebrating his 100th appearance in UEFA club competition on Tuesday.
Spalletti welcomes back Marco Cassetti from suspension.
