Tonight’s Champions League clash: Real Madrid will qualify — Ancelotti

Real Madrid must overcome a 2-1 first-leg deficit to keep their season alive when a Juventus side, boosted by the return of Paul Pogba, visit the Santiago Bernabeu in the return leg of their Champions League semi-final, today.

Los Blancos' La Liga title hopes are all but over despite coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Valencia last Saturday as Barcelona moved four points clear at the top with just two games remaining.

Defensive lapses have cost Madrid in recent weeks as they have conceded twice in four of their last five matches and right-back Dani Carvajal insists they can't go for a clinical Juventus side from the off and risk being caught on the counter-attack. 

However, Carlo Ancelotti is confident his Real side will reach the Champions League final if they repeat the performance of last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Valencia."We feel good and if we play like this today then everything will go well," the Italian said.

Toni Kroos is expected to be fit despite coming off against Valencia and Pogba is available for Juventus.

 Pogba, considered one of the world's top midfielders, returned after two months out with a hamstring injury -- and scored --in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Cagliari in the Serie A.

Ancelotti expects striker Karim Benzema to return against Juventus, following a month out with a knee injury.

Ancelotti's side have slipped four points behind leaders Barcelona with two matches left ,and their defender, Dani Carvajal has conceded his team will not win the league title.

"Our reputation is on the line against Juve and the crowd will be spectacular and will be our 12th man," he said. — AFP