Real Madrid held himself in the La Liga title fight after a sensational late 1-0 win over Athletic Club in the Spanish capital.
Only a few days after he had beaten the UEFA Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti needed a big reaction from his team, and they found a way to win after the 90 minutes.
The future of Ancelotti will keep a close look at after their European exit, but the club is expected to postpone a decision about his position until at least next month, to concentrate on the title race and the Copa del Ry final against Barcelona on 26 April.
The nerves were free from the start for the home team in the midst of a tense atmosphere in the packaged Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
In a first half that did not bring any real opportunities at both ends of the field, the attention of attention was high in the stands.
The Los Blancos married Kylian Mbappe sitting in the VIP area, where the supplier of France is missing due to a combination of suspension and injury, because his impact is being investigated in large competitions.
Real Madrid stepped through the gears immediately after the restart when Eduardo Camavinga forced a strong salvation from Spain's No.1 Unai Simon.
With the visitors who want to dig – minus the attacking threat of wounded star Nico Williams – Los Blancos flowed forward.
A brilliant Vinicius Junior Cross has handed Jude Bellingham a perfect opportunity, but he too was brilliantly thwarted by Simon.
Ancelotti threw Endrick Felipe to try to force a goal, and he accidentally prevented a fantastic goal for Vinicius after he was caught offside by VAR in the structure.
However, there would be one last wild plot twist, because the away game could not clean up their lines in the box and Fede Valverde a clattered house excellent from a tight corner.
A victory on the night brings Real Madrid back to four points behind leaders Barcelona with six more league games to play.
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