Real Madrid must generate their game prior to the last 16 of the Champions League after their hope for LaLiga title had taken a “heavy blow” against Real Betis on Saturday.
That is the image of Carlo Ancelotti, who supervised a 2-1 defeat in the Estadio Benito Villamarin, while former Madrid midfielder Isco scored the winner from the penalty spot.
Madrid missed a chance to go the top of Laliga, the levels on 54 points with Barcelona, with both teams two drift from Atletico Madrid after Diego Simeone's side had defeated Athletic Bilbao elsewhere on Saturday.
Madrid will be confronted on Tuesday with their neighbors in the last 16 of Europe's Premier Club competition and Ancelotti has warned that a similar performance will ensure that the first stage does not end well.
“This is a tough blow, we have to bounce back. Losing at this point in the season is difficult because everyone is in shape and we did not do well in this game,” said the Italian.
“We lost 27 balls in the first half and Betis came back to the game. If we play like that, we will certainly not win on Tuesday.
“I hope this serves as a wake-up call. It seemed that we were more organized, more compact lately, and today we couldn't do it as in the previous games.”
2 -This is the second time in the 21st century that Real Betis won a @Lalgaen match against Real Madrid after having the first goal of the match, after a 2-1 victory, also at home, in February 2008.
Performance. pic.twitter.com/QFB3DSSDRM
– Optajose (@Optajose) March 1, 2025
Ancelotti explained his decision to take Endrick for the top scorer Kylian Mbappe of the team in the final phase of the game, and said that the France could not fully train because of a dental problem.
“Mbappe had a problem this week and did not train much and was not at its best level,” he said.
“To prevent problems, I took him and put on Endrick, which has been in good shape.”
Madrid -Guestheer Rayo Vallecano in Laliga next Sunday after their Champions League collision with Atletico, who could lose the first place in the table of Barcelona on Sunday.
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