Real look to ‘important’ Bale against Atletico

Gareth Bale will be an important player in Real Madrid’s bid for a La Liga and Champions League double, according to manager Carlo Ancelotti.

The Wales forward is “100 %” fit for Tuesday’s European Cup quarter-final first leg at Atletico Madrid.

Bale, who scored in Real’s Champions League final win last season, has received criticism this season.

“We hope to play finals in the next months and he will be important, just like last year,” said Ancelotti.

Bale, who signed for Real Madrid for a world record £85m in September 2013, has recovered from a thigh strain that saw him miss Saturday’s 3-0 win over Eibar.

Real are at full strength for the first time in five months, with James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos returning from suspension, while Atletico are boosted by the return of 20-goal striker Mario Mandzukic after an ankle problem. Raul Garcia is also expected to recover from an elbow injury.

Last season Real, who moved to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona at the weekend, came from behind to beat their city rivals 4-1 and lift their 10th European Cup.

Since then, under coach Diego Simeone, Atletico are undefeated in their six matches against Real. The Spanish champions beat Real to win the season’s Super Cup curtain-raiser, knocked them out of the King’s Cup and have beaten them twice in La Liga.

Real coach Ancelotti says neither side start as favourites.

“We have a 50% chance,” he said. “That doesn’t change the attitude, mentality and idea that we have, which is to play to make the most of the quality of the players that we have.

“Diego Simeone is a great coach. He has shown that in every aspect – he’s one of the best in the world.

“I really like him. Facing him is an honour, and a problem too”.

Atletico’s former Chelsea striker Fernando Torres also had words of praise for Simeone.

“It is his character as a player and his character as a coach that drives the team,” Torres told UEFA.com.

“We don’t have the options that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern or Chelsea have, we cannot drop points and make up for them later. We are a team that plays at our limit.”

BBC

Maher Taki