History gives Real Madrid ´a little advantage´ in the Champions League, says Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti believes Real Madrid’s history in the Champions League gives them a slight advantage over their biggest rivals.

The Italian was in charge in 2014 when Madrid at last won the competition for the 10th time, beating Atletico Madrid in the final in Lisbon.

Los Blancos then achieved an historic three titles in a row under Zinedine Zidane from 2016 to 2018, a feat unseen in the modern format and only surpassed by Madrid themselves in the days of the European Cup, when they won five in a row from 1956 to 1960.

Madrid started their 2021-22 campaign with a 1-0 victory at Inter and are expected to follow up with three more points on Tuesday when they host competition debutants Sheriff.

Ancelotti admits his side’s past successes help a little when it comes to their chances this season, as he aims to replicate Zidane’s remarkable achievements.

“For us to represent this club is something special, it’s the most complicated, most difficult competition,” he said on Monday. “We are more used to winning it than others. We have a little advantage.

“It’s difficult [to compare this team with Zidane’s] because the players changed a little, the squad has changed, plus I don’t like to compare this team with Zizou’s team.

“Zizou did things as well as he could have done. He won the Champions League three times in a row. Hopefully, I can win another one.”

Madrid played their home games at the Castilla’s Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano last season while renovation work was being completed at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It means Sheriff, the 108th different side they have faced in the competition, will be the first to visit the famous ground in the Champions League since Manchester City in the last-16 first leg in 2019-20.

“It’s a Champions League game. You have to prepare well for all Champions League games. We’re really excited to return to the Bernabeu because we have really good memories,” said Ancelotti.

“Sheriff are doing well. We have to be careful because it’s a team not much is known about, but they’re organised, fast going forward… we have to hold maximum concentration. We need three points.”

Defender Nacho Fernandez claims the squad are not interested in whether others consider them among the favourites for this year’s trophy, insisting they are confident they can challenge in the latter stages.

“The question of being favourites is not one that the rest of the squad and I are really bothered about,” he said. “We face the same level of pressure regardless of whether we’re favourites or not.

“We’ve got a great squad, are feeling really confident and are raring to having a good year in the Champions League. Nobody rules Real Madrid out from being involved right until the end.”