Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is expecting a tough showdown with city rival Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League 2014 finals on May 24 in Lisbon.
Ancelotti told Sky Sports Italia that the upcoming finale will be too close to call, saying that Atletico Madrid have been doing very well this season.
"There can't be a favorite in a game like the final, especially against a side who are doing very well. It's going to be a very uncertain and even game," Ancelotti said.
Real Madrid booked a seat in the finals after scoring a 4-0 win in the second leg of their semis tie on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena, while Atletico Madrid cruised to a 1-3 win over Chelsea on Wednesday at the Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti added that Atletico looked solid during their semi-final showdown with Chelsea. The Italian manager said that Chelsea were the more-experienced team, but Atletico managed to cruise to a win because of their enthusiasm and superior quality of play.
"They are two sides with similar characteristics. Atletico deserved to win, though -- they were simply better and deserve to be in the final. Everybody in Madrid's happy now," Ancelotti said.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone also had nothing but praises for his squad for showing resiliency during their second-leg showdown with the Blues.
Chelsea started out strong and took a 1-0 lead off a Fernando Torres goal at the 36th minute, but Adrian had an equalizer before the break. Diego Costa put Atletico ahead at the 60th minute, followed by another goal from Arda Turan at the 72nd minute en route to the win.
"We did everything within our power to get through to the final and we deserve to be there, as do Real Madrid," Simeone said. "Fernando Torres got the opener but we knew that one of our goals would count for double and so we had to fight to score it."
