PA Media/dpa
London
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti feels their derby against rivals Atletico will again be settled by small details as his side bid to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Los Blancos will look to defend a slender 2-1 lead from the first leg, after Brahim Diaz’s crucial second-half goal at the Bernabeu.
After a 10-game unbeaten run through all competitions, Atletico also lost in LaLiga on Sunday at Getafe, who scored twice late on through Mauro Arambarri - his second coming in stoppage time.
Ancelotti, though, knows the challenge which awaits the defending champions at the Estadio Metropolitano on Wednesday night.
“All the games against Atleti have been very close and tomorrow will be the same - they are always decided by small details,” said the Real Madrid boss, whose team beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Sunday to keep up the pace with Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table.
“If you run a lot, it is possible that you will tie the game - but if you make the difference, it is most likely that you will win the game.
“We will focus the players on the game we have to play, with and without the ball. It is important to focus the players on the match, they already have the motivation.” Ancelotti told a press conference: “We are in good shape and motivated, as we always are in this competition. We are confident we will stay here (to reach the quarter-finals).
“It is a game that allows us to continue dreaming of the title. This year it is a bit more complicated, but we want to keep competing until the last game.”
Defender Antonio Rüdiger missed the Rayo Vallecano game through illness, while Federico Valverde, who came off the bench on Sunday, could be in contention to return to the starting XI.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone has challenged his players to rise to the occasion and find another level on the back of the passionate home support.
“They have the advantage and we have to look for the goal that equalises the tie,” Simeone said at a press conference.
“People will push us, but the reality is what happens on the pitch.
We are not going to win the match just based on what happens in the stands - we have to play a great match.
“I believe in my players, I have confidence in the squad. I understand the heart that my players have and we are going to go out and try to stay in this Champions League - our objective is to play the final.”
Simeone added: “Both our opponent and ourselves will prepare for the match in the best way possible - but the only one who knows for sure what will happen is God.”
