Zidane welcomes Ancelotti reunion

The big game mentality that made Zinedine Zidane one of the most decorated players of his era is still burning brightly and was there for all to see after his Real Madrid team drew a Bayern Munich side led by mentor Carlo Ancelotti in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Zidane, a World Cup, European Championship and Champions League winner with France and Madrid, served as Ancelotti's assistant when the Italian guided Los Blancos to their historic 10th European Cup success in 2014.

The apprentice has since taken the reins outright at Santiago Bernabeu, winning the prestigious competition himself last season, while Ancelotti is now in charge at another of the continent's powerhouse clubs.

And the two will go head to head for the first time since the conclusion of their productive working relationship, with a place in the Champions League semi-finals at stake.   

#RMUCL
We will face @FCBayernEN in the Champions League quarter-finals.#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/QA2X87BX8g

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) March 17, 2017

"Well, it's true that coming up against Ancelotti will be special," Zidane told a news conference on Friday.

"I've learned a lot by his side. He's a coach who did great things at this club and he's also a great person as well. I've had the fortune to get to know him closely. I'm happy that we're going to come up against each other because it's going to be a great game. 

"This is what I live for, these kind of moments. When I was a player, these were the kind of games I loved to play in. There's a lot of respect between both managers. We're very happy to come up against a big club like Bayern."

Conspiracy theorists who allege Madrid, 11-time winners of UEFA's biggest prize, receive favourable routes to the latter stages of the competition were left with little evidence to support that claim after the defending champions were pitted against the German heavyweights. 

@FCBayern #RealMadrid (12/04/17, 20:45)

#RealMadrid @FCBayern (18/04/17, 20:45)#RMUCL #HalaMadrid

— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) March 17, 2017

"I'm just smiling. We know now there's no such thing as hot balls in the draw," the coach jokingly said.