Real Madrid will look to bounce back from a horrific effort over the weekend when it visits Shakhtar Donetsk in a crucial Champions League match.

This game is important for two reasons. The first is that it continues Madrid's quest to win its group in the Champions League. It is likely that Paris Saint-Germain will also pull away with a win in its group match with Malmo, and it is crucial for Los Blancos to keep pace and win their game to stay in first place. Any slip up and the team could quickly fall to second in a group that is theirs to lose.

The second reason for the importance of this match comes down to psychology.

Madrid is coming off a 4-0 loss against its biggest rivals on its home field. Simply put, it was a loss of major implication and has all but confirmed that this Madrid is not as good as initial results suggested.

A win against Shakhtar would be a huge morale boost, though it will surely not erase the trauma from the weekend.

A year ago, when Madrid endured a 4-0 loss against Atlético Madrid on the road, it failed to recover. The club slowly but surely imploded down the line, its aura of invincibility from 22 straight wins in the first half dissipating quickly.

That was the turning point of the season. This game could also be a decided turning point for the club, if it fails to recover from the defeat. That said, a win on the road could provide a huge boost and help the team turn around a season that is only 33 percent finished (more or less).

Last time these two teams met, the score was a 4-0 win for Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo putting home a hat trick. The team will hope for a similar result, with its talisman finally finding the back of the net after going scoreless for what is now three straight matches.

The superstar has been woeful this season, no longer even in the running for the best player in the world. In fact, most would claim that he has dropped out of the top five. A return to frequent scoring form could change that perception.

Prediction: Madrid wins 2-1. Ronaldo continues slumping, while Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez score the two goals.

Start Time: 2:45 p.m. ET

Watch the game on ESPN Deportes.

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