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
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
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