Carlo Ancelotti reveals the Real Madrid star that left him 'speechless' against Atletico | OneFootball

Fan favourite shines for Los Blancos to help give them edge in Champions League last-16 tie

Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that Federico Valverde’s performance for Real Madrid against rivals Atletico left him “speechless”.

Valverde’s fitness for a huge Madrid derby in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie looked to be in the balance, with a decision on his availability taken on Monday after he made a return to training.

The versatile 26-year-old was deemed ready to return to the Real Madrid starting lineup in the end, slotting in at right-back - as he did in the heavyweight knockout play-off tie against Manchester City - in place of Lucas Vazquez and also wearing the captain’s armband with regular skipper Luka Modric dropping to the bench alongside one of his deputies in Vazquez and Dani Carvajal out injured.

The popular Valverde showed no ill effects from his recent injury against Atletico, displaying his excellent anticipation skills and reading of the game by repeatedly popping up inside the box and delivering a number of crucial last-ditch interventions to deny Diego Simeone’s side.

He played a crucial role as Real Madrid ran out 2-1 winners over their cross-city rivals, with Brahim Diaz’s wonderful second-half effort giving them the edge ahead of next Wednesday’s decider at the Metropolitano Stadium that remains finely poised after Rodrygo and Julian Alvarez traded sensational strikes in the first period.

And Ancelotti was effusive in his praise of Valverde, who made his 300th Los Blancos appearance against Atletico.

“I'm speechless,” the Italian said. “His effort was huge, really huge once again. He was very tired.”

Despite being second best for much of the game until Brahim’s goal against the run of play 10 minutes after half-time, Real Madrid should have taken a healthier lead into the second leg but an otherwise quiet Kylian Mbappe could not quite tee up Vinicius Jr in stoppage time, with the Brazilian forward also then denied by a key block inside the box from Jose Maria Gimenez.

Ancelotti defended the performances of his superstar attackers after the game, telling reporters: “I think playing against Atletico's defence is not that easy a task. We haven't had many chances throughout the match and the two of them have worked hard, they've fought hard.

“They haven't had the chance to show the quality we all know they have but they've got the return leg to do it.”

Reflecting on the holders’ narrow advantage in the tie, Ancelotti said: “These are evenly matched games. It's the round of 16 in the Champions League but it could be a final or a semi-final. Atletico are a top team in Europe and you can't think about finishing the tie in the first leg.

"We've gained a small advantage that gives us confidence for the second leg but that's it. It was a difficult match, as usual. It always is against Atleti.

"In the first half we lost too many balls, we had unnecessary mistakes that almost cost us, they levelled the game with Julian Alvarez. But in the second half we were better. We were able to take advantage and we did it."