Topics: Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League, Atletico Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti
Without Bale, Benzema, Modric and Marcelo, many changes were made to his ideal XI. He decided to stick with his 4-3-3.

Carlo Ancelotti faced a tough situation with his team headed into the second leg of the Quarter-Final knowing Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Marcelo Vidal were not available for the second game. To think the Italian manager would be able to end a seven-game winless streak against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu sounded nothing short of impossible.

It was time to work with what was available and some players that had barely been used to face the most important game of the season. Contrary to what was expected to happen, Carletto kept his 4-3-3 system in place, instead of a 4-4-2 many fans were wishing for.

Fabio Coentrao returned to the starting lineup after he had been part of Madrid's loss at home against Schalke 04. He played the role of Marcelo as a left back and was really participative. Throughout the game he tried 50 passes and completed 94% of them. 

Sergio Ramos best kept secret was revealed on Wedensday night by becoming a midfielder. It was something that Ramos and Ancelotti had talked about in the days leading to the big game. They both felt confident it could work and that by having Raphael Varane and Pepe in charge of the defene things would work just fine. 

"It was important to have him as he's dangerous in the air, has a lot of experience and brings a lot of power and quality to the side," Ancelotti claimed.

Iker Casillas had an easy night out and was able to keep a clean sheet, the 50th in his Champions League career. After the game, he highlighted the effort showed by everyone on the team.

In Gareth Bale's regular spot, you could find James Rodriguez. The Colombian player was ordered to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Javier Hernández up front. Throughout the game he had one shot on goal and another one that went out wide. He was part of the play that ended with Chicharito's goal.

Javier Hernández finally got a chance to play most of the game. It was his chance to prove the world he deserved to replace Benzema. After two missed attempts that could have ended in the back of the net, he kept pushing until Ronaldo gave him a pass for him to score the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. 

"He's had a difficult campaign, not playing a lot, so he deserves the goal he has scored."

Now Ancelotti has Madrid installed in its fifth consecutive sem-final. We could see a rematch from last year's semi-final against Bayern Munich, a Super Clasico with Barcelona or maybe even a repeat from the 1998 UCL final versus Juventus. The road to Berlin wil not be easy, but Carletto knows that a major step has been taken.

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