sport news Gareth Bale and Co train ahead of 's Champions League clash with Ajax

Gareth Bale and Co train as Real Madrid's season rests on a knife-edge ahead of Champions League clash with Ajax after rivals Barcelona put paid to hopes of domestic success Real Madrid play Ajax on Tuesday in second leg of Champions League last-16 tie The reigning European champions will take a 2-1 lead into Bernabeu meeting Santiago Solari's team will pin their hopes of success on European competition Two defeats to Barcelona this week have put paid to chances of domestic glory 

By Adam Shergold for MailOnline

Published: 12:00 GMT, 4 March 2019 | Updated: 12:36 GMT, 4 March 2019

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Real Madrid will once again turn to the Champions League to salvage their season after back-to-back defeats by rivals Barcelona wrecked their chances of domestic glory.

Not only did Barcelona knock them out of the Copa del Rey at the semi-final stage with a 3-0 win at the Bernabeu last Wednesday, they also won 1-0 on the same ground in La Liga on Saturday night.

That result put them 12 points clear of third-placed Real in the league standings and seven ahead of Atletico Madrid in second position.

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari keeps a close eye on Gareth Bale in training on Monday

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari keeps a close eye on Gareth Bale in training on Monday

Bale and his team-mates were training ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie with Ajax

Bale and his team-mates were training ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie with Ajax

Real take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of the last-16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu

Real take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of the last-16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu

Defender Sergio Ramos takes a tumble during Monday morning's training session

Defender Sergio Ramos takes a tumble during Monday morning's training session

And so with their hopes of domestic honours essentially over, Santiago Solari will pin hopes on a fourth consecutive victory in Europe's premier competition.

They will take a 2-1 advantage into Tuesday night's Champions League last-16, second-leg meeting with Ajax and the under-pressure manager knows their is little margin for error.

Solari took training at Real's Valdebebas training complex on Monday morning ahead of what is now the make-or-break match of their season.

Gareth Bale and Co looked in high spirits despite recent setbacks with the squad taking it in turns

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