Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has lavished praise on Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg between the two rivals.

Ancelotti, who spoke at a press conference on Monday, branded Simeone "a great coach" and "one of the best in the world".

"He's a great coach and has shown this in many ways. He's one of the best in the world and it's an honour to come up against him, but at the same time it's a problem too," Ancelotti told reporters.

Simeone led Atletico to their first La Liga title since 1996 last term, in addition to reaching the final of the Champions League, where they lost to Ancelotti's Real Madrid.

Simeone signed a new long-term deal at the Vicente Calderon earlier this season.