Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has praised the professionalism shown by Javier Hernandez after the Mexican sent Los Blancos through to the semi-finals of the Champions League this evening.

Hernandez was handed a rare start in the quarter-final second leg against local rivals Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu this evening and grabbed his chance by netting the only goal of the tie in the 88th minute.

Ancelotti insists that the 26-year-old "deserved" his goal after a number of missed opportunities before that and was delighted with his performance as a whole.

"Javier Hernandez was fantastic. He played really well and he deserved the goal. He hasn't played a lot this season but when I needed him he was ready. He is a real professional," Ancelotti is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

Defending champions Madrid will face either Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Juventus in the semi-finals of the competition.