Arturo Vidal says he does not expect Real Madrid to sit back against Bayern Munich as Atletico Madrid have done in the past.
Atletico beat Bayern in last year's Champions League semifinals on away goals, as Diego Simeone's side went ahead early in the first leg at home and then defended for most of the remainder of the tie, leading Vidal to say at the time that the side who "played ugly football" had progressed without deserving to.
Simeone's side also won 1-0 when the two teams met in the group stages last September, while the Bundesliga team's 1-0 victory in the reverse game in November came after the group standings had already been decided.
Bayern now face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, with the first leg in Munich on Wednesday April 12, and the return at the Bernabeu six days later. Speaking to AS, Vidal said he expected these games to be different as Los Blancos were a "big team" with the "same quality" as his own side.
"It will be very different, as Madrid do not sit back and wait as Atletico did," Vidal said. "Real are a big team who must come out to play, and show they are champions. But it will be a nice game for us. Taking on a rival of the same quality is always good."
Nevertheless Vidal expects his side to control possession in the two games, and his team will have to be wary of the potential of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and company on the counter-attack.
"The key is to be very focused when we lose the ball, as they will try and take advantage of these opportunities," Vidal added. "I don't believe they will come out to try and take the game to us, we will always have control. But we must make sure to make the fewest mistakes possible, and take advantage of our chances to score as soon as possible."
Asked about recent comments when he predicted he would score a few goals himself against Madrid, Vidal said that had been a joke made while on international duty with Chile and he was expecting a very even encounter over the two legs.
"I said that after the Chile game," he said. "It will be a nice match, I am really looking forward to it. We are up against a team at the same level as us. We will see who is stronger, but I am very confident in this team, and that this will be our year in the Champions League."
Carlo Ancelotti's team are 13 points clear in the Bundesliga and have won their last six domestic games while scoring 24 goals and conceding zero. Vidal said he was happy they would have two more testing fixtures before hosting Madrid next Wednesday.
"Before Madrid we have two very tough games against Hoffenheim and Dortmund," he said. "These two clashes will prepare us 100 percent to take on Madrid in good form. We hope to be able to ensure qualification in the first game."
Ancelotti's experience as Madrid coach from 2013 to 2015 would not have a big influence on the games between his former and current teams, Vidal predicted.
"I don't know," he said. "He knows all the players, but these are different games. We know what Ancelotti asks of us, but we do not know how they will play and how they will come out against us. I believe the team which is more focused will qualify."