Madrid’s 13 European triumphs make them the most successful club in the competition while City only appeared in the Champions League final for the first time last year, when they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea.
“The history that Real Madrid has in this competition means a lot more to us than to our rivals,” said Ancelotti in a press conference on Monday.
“That history that has grown over the years helps the players feel the weight of the shirt, a weight that is positive, not negative.”
Possible line-ups
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Rúben Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
Suspended: João Cancelo
Misses next match if booked: none
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Éder Militão, Alaba, Mendy; Modrić, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinícius Júnior
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none
Form guide
Manchester City
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWLDDW
Where they stand: 1st in Premier League
Every Real Madrid Champions League goal so far
Real Madrid
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWLWWW
Where they stand: 1st in Spanish Liga
Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City cannot compete with Real Madrid’s European pedigree but said they can write a new chapter of their own.
“If we had to compete with history, we wouldn’t have a chance,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference. “Their history speaks for itself.
“We have to have the desire to compete against them. To play against Real Madrid is an incredible test. We want to try it. We need to suffer, to stick together, when we have the ball, try to attack.”
Simon Hart, Real Madrid reporter
Since riding the rollercoaster to victory against holders Chelsea, Madrid have moved within a point of becoming domestic champions and now face a fresh English challenge in what is their record 31st semi-final in this competition. They showed against Chelsea their priceless ability to find a way to win, however precarious the situation.
They will need all that know-how again – and further big performances from key men like the 12-goal Karim Benzema, little magician Luka Modrić and Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper with most saves (19) in the knockout stage. Carlo Ancelotti will hope David Alaba and Casemiro come through fitness tests on muscle problems; if not, Nacho and Eduardo Camavinga appear the most-likely deputies.
Guardiola has four wins in six meetings with Carlo Ancelotti, all during the Italian’s time at Everton. Ancelotti won both games when Real Madrid faced Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.
One key factor that City will need to overcome is Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema, who has scored 39 goals in 40 games this season. He has scored 12 goals in nine games in the Champions League, including a hat trick against Chelsea.
“To be playing at such a high level for such a long time, it’s a remarkable thing,” said City player Raheem Sterling. “And it goes to show what an incredible professional he is.”
Madrid could be without two key players with midfielder Casemiro and defender David Alaba, both in injury doubt. Without Casemiro, Madrid loses their most important defender.