Madrid: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was at a loss to explain why his side's disappointing La Liga campaign contrasts with their dominant displays in the Champions League ahead of their quarter-final second leg against Juventus on Wednesday.

Real slipped down to fourth in the Liga standings and 15 points behind leaders Barcelona following Sunday's draw with Atletico Madrid. However, they are on course to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for an eighth successive season as they enjoy a 3-0 lead in their tie with Juve.

"I don't have an explanation. We always want to win everything but sometimes, like this year, we are not consistent," Zidane told a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We had some difficult moments, especially with scoring goals. We are much better in every aspect now, although I can't explain why."

Double holders Real have won three of the last four editions of the Champions League but in that time have only managed to win one league title.

"Winning the league makes me more excited, it's the most difficult competition and I also think it's what the players want. But if you look at the club's record in the Champions League, you'll see no-one has achieved what we have," the Frenchman added.

Real are without suspended captain Sergio Ramos and Nacho Fernandez through injury and will have to field either inexperienced defender Jesus Vallejo or usual holding midfielder Casemiro alongside Rafael Varane in the heart of defence.

Juventus, meanwhile, are without Argentine forward Paulo Dybala, who was sent off in Real's 3-0 win in Turin last week, and midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who is also suspended, while veteran defender Andrea Barzagli is an injury doubt.

"The result from the first leg changes nothing for us, tomorrow is another story, another game and we want to put in another great performance," said Zidane.

Real defender Varane also dismissed any suggestions his side would play cautiously against the Serie A leaders.

"It will be a difficult game against a great team," said the French defender.

"They know that anything is possible in football so they'll come here to attack and win. We aren't going to play for a 0-0 draw, we want to try and win what we know will be a demanding game."

Meanwhile, for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, capturing four Champions League trophies under his tenure is not enough as he desperately wants to match the haul of six European Cups won by late president Santiago Bernabeu.

"Bernabeu is our reference point and we want to follow his path. Fifa named us the best club of the 20th century in 2000 and now we are working hard to get the same recognition in the 21st," Perez told Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday.

Barca are also on track to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, with a 4-1 lead over AS Roma in their tie, but Perez said he would have no fear about meeting the Catalans in a 'Clasico' final in Kiev on May 26.

"First we need to get to the final. I imagine in the semis we'll have to play Bayern Munich, who we always seem to meet, but if we face Barca in the final we should remember that we beat them twice in the Spanish Super Cup this season," he said.

Perez first became Real president in 2000, winning his first Champions League gong, the club's ninth, in 2002. He resumed the role in 2009 and since then has won the trophy three more times, beating Atletico Madrid in 2014 and 2016 and Juventus last year.

Real won the first five editions of the European Cup under Bernabeu between 1956 and 1960, lifting the trophy again in 1966.

The club's stadium is named after Bernabeu, who oversaw its construction.

Reuters