Preview: Real Madrid v Liverpool

• Carlo Ancelotti declares Gareth Bale fit to face Liverpool
• The coach is delighted with Madrid's form: "We're playing well"
• Madrid have won 11 in a row in all competitions
• Brendan Rodgers does not expect Daniel Sturridge to be fit
• Rodgers is undaunted despite mixed results: "It's an opportunity, not a threat"

Possible lineups
Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modrić, Kroos, Isco, James; Ronaldo, Benzema.
• Out: Jesé (knee), Carvajal (hamstring), Fábio Coentrão (knee), Illarramendi (unspecified), Khedira (unspecified)
• Doubtful: Bale (gluteus)

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Lovren, Škrtel, Moreno; Allen, Gerrard; Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho; Balotelli.
• Out: Sakho (knee), Flanagan (knee), Suso (groin), Enrique (knee)
• Doubtful: Sturridge (calf)

Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid coach
We're playing well. We know how important every match is. We are focused on the game against Liverpool. Every match is a test and a chance to improve or take a step back, but we are not afraid because I have a very professional team.

Fábio Coentrão, Jesé and Carvajal are not available. Illarramendi and Khedira aren't either, but Bale is alright. I will decide tomorrow whether he will start against Liverpool.

Cristiano is a team player – he's focused on the team, not on breaking records. It's difficult to find new words for Cristiano. He's fantastic.

Isco is playing very well. He has left a good impression because he's professional and has a brilliant technique – that's why every football fan wants to see Isco play. We still have time to talk about his contract extension – if the club agree with me, there will be no problem.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers©AFP/Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool coach
It's a big week. We're coming off the back of a disappointing result, but our confidence is high going into every game. We're looking forward to the game – it's an opportunity, not a threat. We're in the hunt to qualify, it's in our hands. We will respect our opponents – arguably the best side in the world at the moment – but we are also a quality outfit. We'll see how [Daniel] Sturridge responds, but it's highly unlikely he’ll play.

We're playing against a team, not just Cristiano Ronaldo – he's a great player and probably the best in the world. He's been impressive for a number of years and has great confidence and enthusiasm, but it's about the team. They work hard, they got a good win at the weekend. [Karim] Benzema, [Toni] Kroos, Isco, [Luka] Modrić are all good players too. It's a team effort from Real Madrid, but Ronaldo's a catalyst and outstanding.

We haven't reached the speed and intensity of our normal game and that's something I'm trying to find as a coach. We will return to that – the key is the pressure we put on higher up the field. We need that intensity in our pressing and passing. It's our philosophy that got us here; I think our defence have come in for unfair criticism as for me it's collective. It's nowhere near as bad as people make out. We need to eradicate the errors.

Weekend results
Granada CF 0-4 Real Madrid (Ronaldo 2, James Rodríguez 31 87, Benzema 54)
Newcastle United FC 1-0 Liverpool (Ayoze Pérez 73)

Form guide (all competitions)
Madrid: WWWWWW
Liverpool: LWDLWW

Match facts
• Who scored Liverpool's winner against Madrid in the 1981 European Champion Clubs' Cup final? Find out in our extensive match background.