Carlo Ancelotti: 'Real Madrid can compete for Champions League trophy'

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that his side have "the quality" to be a force in this season's Champions League.

Los Blancos ensured that they would progress to the last-16 stage of the competition as Group D winners courtesy of a 2-0 home success over Inter Milan on Tuesday night.

Real Madrid have now won each of their last nine games in all competitions, and Ancelotti has said that the capital giants are capable of winning a La Liga and Champions League double this term.

"We are doing well. We are at a high level and now we have greater defensive commitment. Sometimes we don't press high enough. We are fine, we are comfortable. We have no means to defend on an open pitch. Sometimes it is not so aesthetically pleasing, but we are doing very well," Marca quotes Ancelotti as saying.

"We have the quality to win La Liga and the quality to compete in the Champions League. There are more intense teams, others with more quality. We are not an intense team in the defensive aspect, we cannot defend on an open pitch, but we have a lot of quality, a lot of experience and a lot of commitment."

Real Madrid are currently eight points clear at the top of La Liga ahead of Sunday's Madrid derby with the reigning champions Atletico Madrid.