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Alex Kirkland
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Rodrigo Faez
Mar 9, 2025, 02:52 PM ET
Carlo Ancelotti defended Actual Madrid’s efficiency of their 2-1 LaLiga win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, pointing to the struggles of various groups balancing Champions League soccer with home tasks.
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior put Madrid 2-0 up within the first part on the Santiago Bernabéu, earlier than Pedro Díaz pulled a purpose again for Rayo to make sure a fearful 2d part.
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Madrid dissatisfied after the wreck, however took all 3 issues to head stage with Barcelona — who’ve a recreation in hand — on the best of the LaLiga desk.
“The sensation is excellent, since the goal is to pick out up issues,” Ancelotti insisted in his post-match information convention. “We had an excellent first part… Whilst you get to 70 or 75 mins at 2-1, you need to do something, which is shield smartly.
“A large number of groups performed within the Champions League and suffered [this weekend]. It was once tricky for Inter in opposition to Monza [in Serie A]. Liverpool in opposition to Southampton [in the Premier League]. [Bayer] Leverkusen misplaced, Bayern [Munich] misplaced [in the Bundesliga. It’s difficult to prepare for these games, against teams like Rayo which play with intensity. I’ll repeat myself: the first half was very good.”
Madrid had been on a poor run of form in LaLiga, with one win in five games going into the Rayo match.
However their title hopes were buoyed by Atletico Madrid slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Getafe earlier on Sunday.
Ancelotti praised the performances of Mbappé and Vinícius, who had received some criticism for their showings against Atletico in their Champions League last 16 first leg in midweek.
“Vinicius and Mbappé scored two spectacular goals,” Ancelotti said. “They did well, and then when I thought we had to defend, I took the forwards off. It’s not a problem, they played fewer minutes and that will be good for the [second leg] on Wednesday.”
Ancelotti mentioned goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — who did not make the squad in opposition to Rayo — had a “little drawback” however will have to be have compatibility for the Champions League, including that defender Antonio Rüdiger, who has the flu, will have to even be to be had.
