Real take heart from derby win

Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria (L) is ecstatic after getting the winner in their La Liga derby against Atletico at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Real Madrid assistant manager Aitor Karanka believes his side can take heart from their 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday night as they try to overturn a 4-1 deficit from the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
Real made eight changes from the side that started in Germany for the derby clash at the Vicente Calderon, but still managed to emerge victorious thanks to Juanfran's own goal and a fine second-half strike from Angel Di Maria.
"It gives us extra motivation for the manner in which it was achieved," he told a press conference on Saturday.
"This team fought with humility and a lot of intensity.
"Looking forward to Tuesday it is very good. As a team the work done was spectacular."
In a game low on quality throughout, Real managed to quell the hosts' service to Radamel Falcao after the Colombian had given Atletico a third minute lead and Karanka was delighted with how the squad responded after their thrashing in Dortmund on Wednesday.
"We knew it would be a game with a lot of tension. It was a derby and Atleti haven't won one for a long time so we let that be known to the players. Moreover, second place was in play. It wasn't easy.
"There weren't many chances. They concentrated on crossed balls which we knew would be their danger. What we are left with is that after the blow of the other day we have responded as a team and with people who are not used to playing."
However, Karanka denied that Madrid would have a huge psychological advantage when the two teams meet again for the Copa del Rey final on May 17, despite not having been defeated in a Madrid derby since 1999.
“A final is a different game. Two teams that play for everything in 90 minutes. It is not going to be easy, nor is there a physiological superiority."