Real Madrid fired Bernd Schuster yesterday and immediately installed Juande Ramos as his replacement just two days after the German coach said it would be "impossible" for the defending Spanish champions to win against Barcelona.

The 49-year-old Schuster was let go only six months after guiding the Spanish powerhouse to its record 31st league title.

Fifth place Madrid trail leaders Barcelona by nine points going into Saturday's "clasico" derby. Schuster said Sunday after a 4-3 home defeat to Sevilla that Madrid "would try to play a good game" but that this was Barcelona's season.

Former Tottenham and Sevilla coach Ramos, who takes over for the remainder of the season, said Madrid should always be seeking victory.

"Madrid is a team that whichever game it has to play it will go in with maximum motivation to play it," said Ramos. "Barcelona is playing really well but Madrid is playing well enough to not renounce a victory in any stadium in the world."

Ramos is the eighth coach to lead the Spanish club since it fired Vicente del Bosque in 2003.

The 54-year-old Ramos' first match in charge will be against Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League today.

Sports director Pedja Mijatovic said that after a morning meeting with the board of directors, Schuster and Madrid parted ways "amicably" with the Barcelona comments having "no influence."

Schuster joined Madrid from Getafe last July, replacing current England coach Fabio Capello, who was fired after leading Madrid to its first league title in four years to snap its longest trophy drought for 53 years.