Madrid: Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti sent a warning to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus that his side will not relinquish their Champions League title lightly after finally seeing off Atletico Madrid to progress to the semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate.
Javier Hernandez scored the only goal of the tie two minutes from time after Atletico had been reduced to 10 men as Arda Turan was sent-off for two bookable offences.
It was the first time in eight meetings that Real had beaten Atletico this season, but Ancelotti dismissed suggestions they lack the firepower to compete with tournament favourites Bayern Munich and Barca.
“If we play with the desire we did today, Real Madrid can compete with anyone,” said the Italian.
The holders were without the injured Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, as well as the suspended Marcelo.
But Ancelotti is confident that at least Bale and Benzema could be fit for the semi-finals.
“We will recover the injured players for the semi-finals so the things are going to improve.
“I think Bale and Benzema will be fit quickly but I cannot say an exact day.”
Hernandez was an unlikely hero having started just six games all season before Wednesday, but Ancelotti hailed his professionalism despite a lack of first-team opportunities due to the form of Benzema.
“Hernandez played very well, he played with a lot of desire. He has suffered a lot this season, he has played very little but he never gave up.
“In the difficult moments he continued to train well and that has paid off for him in the end.”
The decisive moment in the tie arguably came 12 minutes before Hernandez’s goal, though, as Turan saw a second yellow card for a high challenge on Sergio Ramos.
“It doesn’t make any sense to have an opinion (on the red card) because the game is finished and anything I say can’t affect what has happened,” lamented Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
The tie was a repeat of last season’s final, won by Real 4-1 after extra-time, but Atletico had gone unbeaten in seven previous meetings against their city rivals this season.
However, with the visitors having to play the final 14 minutes with 10 men, Hernandez finally broke the deadlock over the two legs when he slotted into an empty net from Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass.
“Obviously it is my most important goal because the present is what is important,” said Hernandez.
“It is a derby which hasn’t brought good memories since winning the 10th European Cup. I was the one who scored, but it belongs to everyone. The people who believed in me, my teammates and my family.”
The hosts still had by far the better of the first 45 minutes with Benzema’s replacement Hernandez smashing into the side-netting with the first opening of the game.
Ronaldo then pulled a shot wide from 20 yards on his weaker left foot, but Atletico grew into the game as the half went on and Turan tested Iker Casillas with a long-range effort that the Spanish captain comfortably handled.
However, it was Real who ended the half the stronger as only great defending from Juanfran denied Hernandez at the back post before Jan Oblak did well to parry Ronaldo’s dipping free-kick to safety.
The best chance of the half fell to the World Player of the Year when Ronaldo was fed by James Rodriguez, but Oblak scampered from his goal to block in a similar manner to his vital save from Bale at the beginning of the first-leg.
It was the hosts who again started on the front foot at the start of the second period as a sensational through ball from Isco played Hernandez in behind the Atletico defence, but the Manchester United loanee again failed to hit the target as his shot squirmed just wide of the far post.
