Carlo Ancelotti: Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo The Difference In The Champions League

Former Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Barcelona and Real Madrid are favourites to reach the final of the Champions League, as they possess the individual talents of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The La Liga duo have cruised through the quarter-final stage with Messi and Ronaldo dominating the scoresheet for their respective sides.

In a report covered by Goal.com, Ancelotti was asked about his favourites for this season’s Champions League, where he said: "Clearly Champions League games are decided by the smallest of details and in a one-off game it is sufficient for a refereeing decision to knock someone out.Madrid and Barcelona are favourites for their experience and because they have Ronaldo and Messi.It is clear [Juventus and Roma] are not favourites because they are up against two European powers but they still will have their chances."

Real Madrid’s credentials were questioned after an average domestic season during the first half of the campaign, but they managed to exhibit the difference between them and Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. Los Blancos clinched a 3-1 triumph during the first-leg at the Bernabeu and they continued with the same vein on the road to pick-up a 2-1 victory.

In comparison, Barcelona settled for a 1-1 draw on their trip to Chelsea, but the return-leg was a lot clearer with Lionel Messi making the difference with two goals and a solitary assist. The Blaugrana have been pitted against AS Roma during the last-eight stage of the competition, and judging by their recent performances, and they are fancied by many to reach the semi-finals.

On the contrary, Real Madrid have a trickier test against Juventus, but with the way they have performed in the knockout stages in the past two seasons, and they will undoubtedly start on the front foot against last season’s runners-up.