Saturday 13 September 2014 11:36, UK
Carlo Ancelotti says Cristiano Ronaldo is in "top shape" going into tonight's Madrid derby at the Bernabeu.
The neighbours will meet for the third time already this season, live on Sky Sports 5, after champions Atletico won the Spanish Super Cup over two legs.
The rivalry reached new heights last season when the teams met in the final of the Champions League, with Real emerging extra-time winners after a late equaliser in normal time.
Ronaldo was among the goalscorers that night, and on the eve of this season's first league meeting, Ancelotti dismissed suggestions his superstar forward is carrying a chronic knee injury.
"Cristiano is in top shape. He has trained very well this week and I think he is in optimal condition," Real's manager said of the Portuguese, who suffered knee problems last season and missed Real's defeat at Sociedad with a hamstring problem.
"It is clear that Cristiano plays when he isn't tired or there is no risk of him injuring himself. That is what we did last season and I don't think he played too much last year, he only played when there was no risk of being injured.
"At the end of the season he had some problems but I think his overall performance was very good because he scored a lot of goals.
"Cristiano doesn't have a chronic injury. He had a problem last year with his patellar tendon that has completely recovered."
Ancelotti was equally cool when questioned about a perceived aggressive approach from Atletico in the Super Cup.
"Atletico aren't a violent team, they are intense and aggressive. Football is a man's game," he said. "We have to impose our style on the pitch. With quality, intensity and concentration, which is what we didn't do in the last match."
Watch tonight's Madrid derby live on Sky Sports 5 from 7pm.