Real's haul of seven points from four games so far in the Champions League isn't bad per se, indeed it would put them in second place in all but two groups, but for the reigning champions, it simply isn't good enough, something that isn't lost on boss Zinedine Zidane.
'Los Blancos' go into tonight's game with APOEL still hoping to snatch back top spot from the claws of Tottenham, though they face a big ask after taking only one point off the English side in two games against them.
In terms of simply advancing, a win on Tuesday will guarantee Real a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, whilst they could also qualify with a draw, providing that Borussia Dortmund do not beat Tottenham.
Things will get complicated swiftly should Real fail to beat the Cypriots and Dortmund manage to beat Spurs, with Dortmund the visitors to the Bernabeu in the group's final fixtures. Should that scenario come to pass, Real would have to avoid losing to the German side by more than a goal in order to progress.
Should the unthinkable happen and Real fall to defeat in Cyprus, with Dortmund winning in the other game, the group will be blown wide open with all three sides going into their final game with a chance of qualification and with Real still just three points off top spot.
With regard to winning the group, Real must first overcome the three-point gap between themselves and Tottenham, meaning that they need the English side to lose one of their two remaining games or draw them both to have the chance to make up the points.
Then there is the small matter of Spurs' superior goal difference, with Real needing a three-goal swing should the two sides end on the same number of points.