Carlo Ancelotti likened LaLiga to a cake that is "ready" for his team, Real Madrid, with only the final touch needed to be added by winning the Spanish football classic on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu against a Barcelona side he sees as "very much alive."

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"So far, we've been doing very well. The cake is ready, and we just need to put the cherry on top this month, which is the most decisive. We arrive in a very good position, we have recovered Militao, we are recovering Courtois who will soon be ready, we only lack Alaba. We arrive well but we have to put the cherry on top," analyzed Ancelotti in a press conference.

Despite the eight-point gap with Barcelona, which would extend to 11 if Real Madrid win the classic, Ancelotti does not consider the title race to be closed.

"We are very close if we are able to win, but we must consider that we are going to play against a very competitive rival that has been doing very well lately. We are convinced that it will be the classic as always, competitive and balanced, a great opportunity to get closer to winning LaLiga considering the difficulties we are going to face because Barcelona is a team that is very much alive," he analyzed.