Carlo Ancelotti is confident his Real Madrid team will not squander the opportunity to progress to the last four of the Champions League as they head into the second leg at Borussia Dortmund in a very strong position after last week’s confident showing in Spain. 

Goals from Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo allowed Los Blancos to establish a 3-0 lead, and Ancelotti insists there will be no complacency about his team as they seek to finish the job in Germany.

Putting the requirements facing each team into context, Ancelotti insisted Madrid will take an attacking approach as he pointed out that an away goal for his team would effectively seal his team’s progress.

He said: “They have 90 minutes to score four goals, whereas we only have to score once.

“The sooner we do it, the sooner we’ll end the tie, so we won’t change our system. Playing the return leg in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with this advantage, there’s no need to motivate the team.

“We’re very close to reaching the semi-finals and that’s the biggest possible motivation.”

Ancelotti will probably be forced to do without the services of star man Cristiano Ronaldo – this season’s leading scorer in the Champions League – after the Portuguese ace missed Saturday’s victory at Real Sociedad with a niggling knee injury and was only able to complete a few minutes of Monday’s training session.

“He’s receiving treatment. We’ll see how he feels and then we’ll decide, without taking risks,” confirmed Ancelotti. “If Cristiano is 100 per cent, he will play. If not, he won’t.

“We both agree that he should always play when he can, but if he doesn’t feel right, he won’t play. He is very professional and knows his own body very well – if he doesn’t feel good, he says so.”

However, there are no concerns over the fitness of Gareth Bale, who limped off with a cut knee after a goalscoring display in Saturday’s victory at Sociedad.

“Bale has recovered well and doesn’t have any problems to play,” assured Ancelotti.

Another player who will definitely take part is Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, who missed last week’s first leg through suspension.

Ancelotti had no qualms in identifying the Polish international striker – who scored four goals in last season’s 4-1 semi-final first leg win over Madrid – as Dortmund’s key player.

“He changes the game because he’s a striker with great quality and who has a lot of presence and importance for our opponents,” said the Italian boss. “He gives greater potential to Dortmund.”

Meanwhile, Bale insisted his team will not be affected by the famously vibrant atmosphere created by Dortmund fans, commenting: “We’re professionals and we know how to go about our business despite the atmosphere. We’ll approach the game in our normal way.

“I’ve never played at Westfalenstadion, but I’ve seen it on TV and I’ve heard people talk about it. They say the atmosphere is incredible.”

The Welshman also believes Madrid can play with confidence after the first leg, adding: “Last Wednesday’s match was great, we played well and deserved to win.

“But it will be a different game in Dortmund. They’ll come out fighting and we have to approach it like any other game, looking to win it and seal our place in the semifinals.”