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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said his side will continue playing their attacking game on Tuesday night despite holding a 3-0 lead over Borussia Dortmund.

Los Blancos travel to Germany with one foot on the semi-fnal of the Champions League, but at his press conference ahead of the game Ancelotti said Madrid would look to get an early goal and kill the tie off completely.

“We’re very close to the semi-finals and that’s the best motivation possible. They have 90 minutes to score four goals and we have the same time to score one. The sooner we do it the quicker the tie will be over. I won’t change the system,” he stated.

The Italian, who has already won the tournament twice as a manager and is hoping to guide Real to their 10th Champions League crown, also gave various updates about his players’ bill of health.

Ronaldo, who limped out of training on Monday afternoon, wouldn’t be risked if not 100% fit he said. But Gareth Bale should have recovered from the knock he picked up against Real Sociedad.

“If he’s 100% he’ll play, otherwise he won’t. All the matches he’s played in, he has done so because he was fit. We have never taken risks with him or any other player. For me, he always has to play and therefore he and I have the same idea, but if he’s not fit he can’t play” Ancelotti said about Ronaldo.

And on Bale, he added: “Bale recovered well from a knock to the knee and has no problems playing tomorrow. The centre-backs will be Pepe and Ramos. Coentrão will also play but I’m already giving you too much information.”

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Real Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund tonight in the second leg of their quarter-final tie of the Champions League.

Los Blancos hold a 3-0 advantage going into the game, but will likely have to make do without Cristiano Ronaldo again after the Portuguese star pulled up after just 20 minutes in his side’s training session on Monday with pain in his knee, which saw him sit out the La Liga game against Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Marca and AS have plenty of build up to the match, and carry quotes from Carlo Ancelotti saying that if Ronaldo is not 100% ready to play, he won’t be risked.

The Westfalonstadion is of course the place where Los Blancos succumbed to a heavy defeat last season – Robert Lewandowski scoring four goals as the Bundesliga outfit thrashed Jose Mourinho’s men 4-1 in the semi-final first leg. But Marca and AS both lead today with the importance of Gareth Bale, a dangerous weapon in Madrid’s armoury, who wasn’t part of the squad this time last year.

Finally, Lewandowski confirmed at his press conference yesterday that Real Madrid president did talk to him last season. The Polish international, who has agreed a free transfer to Bayern Munich at the end of the campaign, was linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu following his goalscoring exploits last year.

He said: “Florentino Perez spoke to me. It was a very short conversation I had with him.That’s the only thing I can say about my chat with the Real Madrid president.”

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Raphael Varane says Real Madrid team mate Cristiano Ronaldo hates to lose – even in training matches.

Speaking to Canal Plus about the Portugal international, Varane said the 29-year-old is always available to offer his advice and guidance to younger teammates at the club, but that they sometimes tease him over how badly he takes defeat.

The forward, who has scored 45 goals for his side this season, famously broke down in tears when Portugal lost the 2004 European Championship final to Greece.

And Varane said it is funny to see his reaction when his loses on the training ground.

“Ronaldo is a bon vivant, he is friendly, he always has something to help you progress. He wants to be the best around. It infuriates him when he loses, he cannot stand it. It’s true that sometimes, in the dressing room, it’s fun to lose just to make him mad,” he stated.

The 20-year-old, who signed for the European giants from Lens in 2011, admitted he needs to impose himself more at the club, but added it comes with experience.

“You have to be humble and learn from the players around you. They have the experience, they know the very highest level, they have international calibre. You have to respect them, but not too much. You have to impose yourself,” he said.

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Real Madrid’s assistant manager Zinedine Zidane will take over as boss at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2016, according to reports in France.

France Football magazine says the 1998 World Cup winner and Los Blancos legend will take over the dressing room when Carlo Ancelotti’s deal runs out in two years’ time. If the reports turn out to be true, it will be Zidane’s first management position.

Since hanging up his boots after enjoying an illustrious career, the 41-year-old has maintained his association with the nine-time European Cup winners. He joined the backroom staff in 2010 as a special advisor, overseeing training and representing the club at official functions.

Following that, he became a sporting director with Los Blancos and had a say in which new players who were brought to the club. He was instrumental in the signings of Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane for the club.

After Jose Mourinho ended his turbulent reign at the club and Ancelotti arrived, Zidane was given the role of assistant manager alongside Englishman Paul Clement.

In his playing days, Zidane won a host of honours, including La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey with Los Blancos. He scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final as hosts France defeated Brazil in Paris.

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French side Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly readying themselves to try again to sign Real Madrid midfielder Isco.

Isco, who joined Los Blancos from Malaga in the summer on a €31 million deal, is set to be a key target for Laurent Blanc’s men after struggling to assert himself in the Real lineup since the start of the year.

Isco was one of the most highly coveted players last summer, with Manchester City and Chelsea alongside PSG being heavily interested, but signed for Madrid instead.

However, the Spaniard may leave for the Parc Des Princes in search of first team football, as Carlo Ancelotti has barely played him in the Madrid team in 2014.

PSG are one of the nouveau riche in world football, and the signing of a young player who could quite easily become a leading light would increase their profile even higher, and the 21-year-old may feel he won’t reach that level unless he is given plenty of game time.

Les Parisiens are clearly after an attacking midfielder as they have also been linked with Chelsea midfielders Oscar and Eden Hazard, but Isco may also be a target for German giants Bayern, as a direct replacement for unsettled star Toni Kroos.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training having sat out Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Real Sociedad at the weekend.

The Portugal international has been suffering with tendinitis in his knee and was taken off with 10 minutes remaining of his side’s Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. The Ballon d’Or winner has scored in his last 11 consecutive appearances for club and country.

But boss Carlo Ancelotti chose to give his talisman a rest this weekend and help him recover in time for the second leg on Tuesday night in Germany.

The 29-year-old has had another sensational season and has notched 52 goals already this campaign. His goal against the Bundesliga side was his 14th in the season’s Champions League, equaling the record set by Leo Messi for the most number of goals scored in the competition in a single campaign.

He also equaled club legend Alfredo di Stefano’s record of 49 goals in the European Cup for the club on his 100th appearance in the competition overall.

As well as confirming Ronaldo returned to training with the first team on Sunday morning, the club also revealed Angel di Maria took part in the session having overcome a bout of gastroenteritis that prevented him from training last week. The Argentina international lost 2.5 kilograms as a result of the illness, but still played his part in his side’s win in San Sebastian on Saturday evening.

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After a good weekend for Real Madrid, who picked up an important win over Real Sociedad, attention now switches back to the Champions League.

Los Blancos visit Germany on Tuesday night to take on Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their quarter-final tie. They will take on the Bundesliga side holding a 3-0, but none of the Real players will take the game lightly after events at the Westfalenstadion 12 months ago.

The nine-time European champions, led by Jose Mourinho at the time, were humiliated 4-1 – with all four goals scored by one man – Robert Lewandowski. The Bayern Munich-bound Pole was suspended for the first-leg this time, but Real’s tormentor is back for Tuesday’s game.

And in an interview was AS he says he is aiming to repeat his goalscoring heroics of last year. “I’d love to score a poker of four goals again,” he said.

His teammate Marco Reus has also been talking about the game, with Marca carrying quotes from the playmaker. He said: “Do I believe in miracles? We know it will be difficult, but we will give it our all. Everything is possible in football.”

Elsewhere, Marcelo is stepping up his training and is aiming to make a comeback from his injury in time for the final of the Copa del Rey.

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Diego Lopez has said Real Madrid must win their remaining matches in La Liga to take advantage of any slip up by Barcelona or Atletico de Madrid.

Los Blancos recorded a convincing 4-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday evening to keep the pressure on the top two. The match was a personal landmark for Lopez, who played his 50th game for the nine-time European Cup winners.

And he was called into action on plenty of occasions in the first half. The best of his stops was a superb save from Carlo Vela at point blank range, for which he received much praise. The effort was in fact offside, but Lopez didn’t know that at the time.

The keeper gave his thoughts after the game and said the league situation can change at any moment, and Los Blancos need to be ready.

“The team did really well in what is a tough place to come and win the three points. We’ve managed to get a 4-0 win and in a convincing manner. Even if Atletico and Barcelona had dropped points, the win was all that mattered to us.”

He went on to add: “Everything works itself out at the end of the season, and we fighting on three fronts. We are in the final of the Copa del Rey, and are in a good position to make the semi-final of the Champions League. The situation in La Liga can change at any point and we need to win our games to take advantage of that.”

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is proud to manage the current group of players at the club after watching his side win convincingly at Real Sociedad to keep their title hopes alive.

Earlier wins on Saturday for Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona piled the pressure on Los Blancos. But the responded brilliantly, winning 4-0 with goals from Asier Illarramendi, Gareth Bale, Pepe and Alvaro Morata.

Speaking to reporters at his press conference after the final whistle, Ancelotti said his players had shown fighting spirit and he knows they will carry that attitude right up until the final ball is kicked this season.

“We played very well, intelligently. We started at a very high pace and had more intensity in the second half. Everyone had a good game and I’m pleased because it wasn’t easy,” he said.

And he added: “I’m very proud to manage this team. I have players who like to fight and we’re going to fight until the last match.”

He picked out Gareth Bale and Asier Illarramendi for their performances in particular. Bale scored another stunning strike to add to his collection, while Illarramendi had to cope with being booed and jeered by the home fans upset at his departure for the Spanish capital last summer.

Ancelotti stated: “With Bale’s position on the left wing we have more open field to attack in and he feels comfortable. He often switches positions with Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s not a problem. We’re fortunate to have the two of them and it’s very good.”

And on Illarramendi, he continued: “What was happening off the field didn’t bother him. He focussed on the match, he played very well and he scored the first goal. His defensive game was very good.”

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Asier Illarramendi has said San Sebastian will always be his home and he will always have a soft spot for Real Sociedad despite being jeered on his return with Real Madrid.

The youngster, who signed for Los Blancos last summer, scored the opening goal at Anoeta on the stroke of half time and was booed by the home fans. He didn’t celebrate the goal because of the respect he has for his former clubs and their supporters.

Los Merengues went on to win 4-0 to keep in the hunt for the La Liga title with Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Illarramendi said he expected a hot reception but didn’t let it bother him, as he was focused on picking up the three points.

“Going home is always special. In expected the crowd to whistle, because they don’t like what I did, it’s what happens. I was focused on the match, which is what I had to do. I’m happy with the victory. There aren’t many games left now and our job is to win and hope that Barcelona and Atlético slip up,” he said.

He went on to talk about the respect he feels for the Basque club and thanked them for giving him a chance to make it as a footballer.

He stated: “At Real I gave everything I had, the opportunity came up to go to Real Madrid and I took it. Now I’m trying to enjoy myself. San Sebastián has always been my home, Real Sociedad gave me everything.”

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