Ronaldo discusses his relationship with Gareth Bale, Benzema

EXCLUSIVEFormer Real Madrid star Michael Laudrup expects Zinedine Zidane’s side’s Champions League last-16 tie against Roma to be a walkover.

Roma won just one match in the group stage and were beaten 6-1 by Barcelona.

“It’s special for the club, it’s special for me and it’s particularly special for the players”, Zidane said. I am not asking three of my players to mark Cristiano Ronaldo, I am not telling them that they are worth one third of Cristiano Ronaldo, because if that would be true I would need 33 players to play against Real Madrid, because all of them are important players.

With Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly favouring Bale over Ronaldo, rumours about the Portuguese forward leaving have intensified this season, especially with his contract due to expire in 2018.

Real, considered favourites for this year’s title along with Bayern Munich and holders Barcelona, have qualified for the last five Champions League semi-finals, winning their historic 10th title – known as “La Decima” – two years ago.

But Zidane is revered in Spain, having scored the winning goal for Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Ronaldo was also asked if his relationships with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have contributed to Madrid’s slow start in La Liga.

“He offers the team a lot – he gives us confidence and his ideas on how to play, and that’s all positive for us”, the France global told bwin. Last year’s German league runners-up and Cup winners are eighth in the standings after a 2-0 victory over Ingolstadt on Saturday, their first win in eight Bundesliga games. This thing about the little meals, the little hugs, the little kisses. This was a real performance [against Carpi] and it will help us identify some key strengths that will take us far. November 29 against Eibar was the last time the superstar found the net away from the Bernabeu, going four matches without a goal. Of course this is not the Primera Division, it’s the Champions League, but we’ve got a great desire to win.

Isco looks certain to play in central midfield with Zidane saying he gave Mateo Kovacic a game against Athletic Bilbao to rest the Spaniard, who has been a regular alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric under the Frenchman. Alessandro Florenzi can counteract Ronaldo, but he is not the only one.