Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has paid tribute to captain Marcelo.

Ancelotti could hand the captain a rare start in today's potential title winning clash with Espanyol.

He said, “I'd reiterate he's found it difficult not to be playing so often but he continues to be a fantastic professional. He feels the weight of being captain and he's just the absolute best in a professional sense.

"He's always trained brilliantly and been a perfect captain. He deserved more minutes but that's just football.

"Whenever he has played he's delivered and he'll continue to do that in the upcoming games. He has my utmost respect as a player and as a person because he's going to be the guy with the most titles in the history of the club."