Carlo Ancelotti mentioned the LaLiga title race has “reached a degree the place you may’t slip up” as Actual Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid go into this weekend’s video games with only a level between them on the high of the desk.
Atlético, who’ve 50 factors, go to Valencia on Saturday, earlier than Barcelona on 51 journey to Las Palmas. Actual Madrid, degree with their Clásico rivals, host Girona on Sunday.
Actual Madrid excelled in midweek, beating Manchester Metropolis 3-1 to achieve the Champions League spherical of 16, however have not gained this month in LaLiga because the membership rages at a collection of refereeing choices, with Jude Bellingham suspended towards Girona after his crimson card at Osasuna.
“It is a sport in an necessary second of the season,” Ancelotti mentioned in a information convention on Saturday. “We performed properly towards Metropolis, and we’ve got to repeat that. We have reached a degree [in the season] the place you may’t slip up.”
Madrid misplaced 1-0 at Espanyol on Feb. 1 — after goalscorer Carlos Romero wasn’t despatched off for a problem on Kylian Mbappé — after which drew 1-1 with Atlético, earlier than one other 1-1 draw at Osasuna.
“We have had a little bit of dangerous luck,” Ancelotti mentioned. “Within the three video games we performed fairly properly, much less so towards Espanyol, extra towards Atlético, and higher towards Osasuna with ten males. We’ve got to maintain going. Should you play properly and have a very good perspective, the outcomes will reward that.”
Ancelotti mentioned he expects the title race to stay aggressive till the top of the season.
“It is troublesome to discover a extra aggressive league than Spain,” he mentioned. “In Italy there aren’t many groups competing [at the top], and in England there’s Liverpool. Right here, there are three groups with one level between them, groups of a really excessive degree. It is a league that will likely be determined within the final sport.”
Actual Madrid and Atlético have been paired collectively within the Champions League round-of-16 draw on Friday, leaving Atlético going through a testing month which is able to see them play their cross-city rivals twice and Barcelona 3 times.
“Will probably be troublesome, as it’s all the time is towards Atlético,” Ancelotti mentioned. “Will probably be a pleasant tie, entertaining. It is evenly matched. The final two conferences have been two attracts, and which means the standard of the 2 groups is comparable.”
