Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has overlooked Liverpool when choosing who he thinks will win this season’s Champions League
Liverpool are the current favourites to win the Champions League, having topped the inaugural league phase and booked their place in the round-of-16 with a game to spare after winning their first seven matches in this season’s tournament. But that is not enough to persuade Carlo Ancelotti of the Reds’ credentials this season.
The former Everton boss won a record fifth Champions League as a manager with Real Madrid last season, having defeated Borussia Dortmund in the final.
Meanwhile, he has gotten the better of Liverpool in two European Cup finals, with AC Milan in 2007 and the aforementioned La Liga giants in 2022.
Winning 11 of his 20 meetings with the Reds as a manager, Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid back in November ended a six-game unbeaten run for the legendary Italian against his former Merseyside rivals.
While Arne Slot’s side also currently top the Premier League table, and will look to go nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal if they beat Everton on Wednesday, Ancelotti is enduring a slightly more challenging season at Real Madrid.
His side do currently top La Liga after 23 games played, but they are currently contesting a fierce three-way battle with Atletico and Barcelona only one and two points behind them in second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, defeats to Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool saw Madrid finish 11th in the Champions League league phase, ensuring they would have to go through the knockout phase play-offs.
Man City, who are enduring a miserable campaign themselves compared to their previous high standards, stand in the way of Real Madrid and a place in the last 16.
Pep Guardiola’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, 15 points behind the Reds, while they have lost 11 games so far this season.
But that has not stopped Ancelotti from insisting that he believes the winners of Real Madrid vs Man City will go on to win the Champions League this season ahead of the likes of Liverpool.
