Desk Report:
Is this El Clasico the last El Clasico of Carlo Ancelotti’s life? This question has been going on for a long time. This question came up again after the Barcelona-Real Madrid match at the Estadi Olympic Companies Luiz Stadium last night. Ancelotti gave a somewhat tactful answer.
Ancelotti’s contract as Real Madrid coach runs until June 2026 at the end of the 2024-25 season. But after the dismissal of Brazil’s head coach Darival Junior in March this year, there are rumors that Ancelotti will sit in that chair. In that case, Ancelotti’s relationship with Real may be severed at the end of the current season. After the 4-3 defeat to Barcelona at the Estadi Olympic Companies Luiz Stadium last night, Ancelotti was asked if this was his last El Clasico. The Real coach replied, ‘This is the last Clasico of the season. There are still three matches left. We have to win all the remaining matches.’
Barcelona has won all four El Clasicos this season. Including two La Liga matches and one each in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. The Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup—Barcelona has won two major titles, making Real cry this time. Explaining all the El Clasico losses of the season, Ancelotti said, ‘Our defense needs to be better. It was clear in today’s match that the defense was very bad. It was not just because of our low block. We gave them many chances and they suffered.’
Real Madrid took an early 2-0 lead with Mbappe’s double in the 5th and 14th minutes. Barcelona turned the tide with every attack from here. It started with Eric Garcia’s goal in the 19th minute. Then Barcelona scored three more goals from 32 to 45—13 minutes. Of which Rafinha scored a double. Real, who started the second half 4-2 behind, reduced the gap in the 70th minute with a goal from Mbappe. However, the French forward’s hat-trick was not enough to avoid Real’s defeat.
Ancelotti praised Real Madrid’s attack. After the match, the Real coach said, “They did very well. We were ahead in every opportunity. Because, we attacked well. We scored three goals and two were offside.”
David Alaba, Idrissa Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy – Real Madrid did not have five first-line defenders yesterday. Although they led 2-0, Real lost the match 4-3. Ancelotti expressed disappointment with the team’s defense. The Real coach said, “We had a clear idea about the attack. But I think we did not do well in defense. We must not forget that we were five defenders short.”
