The Champions League caused Madrid, and other big teams, struggling
Carlo Ancelotti defended Real Madrid’s performance in his 2-1 victory over Rayo Valekano on Sunday, pointing to the conflicts of a number of teams that balance the Champions League with local duties.
Kylian Mbapé and Vinícius Júnior Madrid put 2-0 in the first half in Santiago Bernabéu, before Pedro Díaz pulled a goal to Rayo to ensure the second nervous half.
Madrid was disappointed after the break, but it took all the three points to go to the Barcelona level – who have a game on hand – at the top of the Laliga table.
“Feeling is good, because the goal is to capture points,” Ancelotti insisted at his press conference after the match. “We had a very good first half … when you reached 70 or 75 minutes at 2-1, you have to do one thing, which is well defending.
“I played a lot of teams in the Champions League and suffered [this weekend]. It was difficult for Inter against Monza [in Serie A]. Liverpool v. Southampton [in the Premier League]. [Bayer] Leverkusen lost, Bavaria [Munich] lost [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] Wednesday.”
Ancelotti said that goalkeeper Thebut Cortois – who did not have the team against Rayo – had a “small problem” but should be fit for the Champions League, adding that defender Antonio Rudiger, who has influenza, should be available as well.
