Real Madrid dropped two vital points on their return from the international break as they played out a 1-1 draw against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan earlier today.
Entering into the game as the league leaders, Los Blancos failed to put their best foot forward against Diego Alonso’s men in what was an evenly-contested affair.
With two goals being chalked off in the first period, it took 74 minutes for the first goal to come as David Alaba, on his return from injury, inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net to hand Sevilla the lead.
But Dani Carvajal was at hand to level things up for the Merengues just three minutes later as both teams walked away with a point.
There were some controversies during the game and a lot of tempers as Real Madrid players took offence to some of the decisions made by the referee – they had two goals chalked off for offside, and a potential penalty call on Vinicius turned down.
But, speaking after the match, manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted that he was happy with the match officials and had no complaints, as he said:
“The referee did well, a good game, he stopped the counter-attack to preserve the health of a player, I think he had a good game.”
“I liked it 100%, it was a competitive match, with many duels and I think he was right in all of them. It’s not irony, I’m very serious. At the end of the game I asked him why he cautioned me. I wasn’t talking to him, I was talking to Camavinga,” he further added when asked if he was being ironic.
Regarding the players’ anger towards the referee, Ancelotti said: “I haven’t spoken to the players, I’m very happy.”
On the outcome of the game, the Italian reckoned that the result was fair, saying: “It was an even game, competitive, with intensity, I think we played better in the first half than in the second.
“We didn’t make the most of the chances we had and in the second half Sevilla played well, with intensity, it cost us a bit more, I think the result is correct, sometimes it can happen, we tried, Sevilla tried, and nothing.”
On what went wrong for his team on the evening in Seville, Ancelotti said: “I think the first half Vinicius with the support of the team created chances, we were very close to scoring, we almost didn’t score.
“In the second half, it was more complicated because we lacked a bit of energy and we didn’t have the control we wanted.”
Vinicius Jr did not have the best of games against Sevilla and even found himself involved in a brawl with several players from both teams getting dragged into it.
On the incident, Ancelotti said: “Vinicius tried many times, he came up against Navas who defended very well, he had a hard time dribbling but I think he played his game, I tried to reduce the minutes for the players who arrived on Thursday.
“There was a fight where Vinicius wasn’t alone, there were 15 players and I think the referee did well separating the two teams.”
The manager insisted that he was happy with the performance of Rodrygo on the evening, even though the Br azilian did not enjoy the best of outings.
“For me today Rodrygo was one of the best, if not the best, he had movement, he tried everything, for me Rodrygo’s game was good and if he didn’t score it’s OK,” Ancelotti remarked.
There was also a moment soon after Sevilla’s goal when Ancelotti was set to send on Brahim Diaz, but suddenly changed his mind after Carvajal scored and told the former to go back to the bench.
Diaz eventually did come on with only a few minutes left to play. When asked about the confusion, Ancelotti replied:
“Because the equaliser changed the idea, which was to keep attacking, but with more balance. That’s why I only put one man in.”
On coming face to face with Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos, Ancelotti said: “It was nice to see him, greet him and wish him the best.”