REAL MADRID 1 ATLETICO MADRID 0: Holders Real Madrid reached for the Champions League last four by beating neighbours Atletico Madrid 1-0 in last night’s super tense quarter-final second leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

LA LIGA

The acclamation for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been loud and unanimous through recent weeks, with most Blancos directors, fans, players and pundits conveniently forgetting their regular misgivings about the Italian throughout an ultimately historic 12 months.

The Real Madrid propaganda machine cranked back into action this week, when Uefa president Michel Platini had the temerity to suggest Blancos superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was not necessarily the most deserving winner of the 2014 Ballon D’Or.

While Real Madrid’s ‘BBC’ strikeforce of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were all on the scoresheet in Saturday’s 5-1 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano, the man of the match at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was Blancos midfielder Toni Kroos.

The best, like the best comics, know timing is everything.

The Real Madrid supporting press in the Spanish capital were unsurprisingly euphoric yesterday morning, as Blancos fans were reassured that it had not all been a dream – the night before their side really had finally secured the long-awaited tenth European Cup by beating city neighbours Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra-time.

Last week’s Copa del Rey final showed the progress made by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti in the evolution of the team he inherited last summer from Jose Mourinho.

Real Madrid 3 Borussia Dortmund 0

Gareth Bale’s spectacular world record €99 million (£85m) move to Real Madrid from Tottenham will be officially announced today.