Real Madrid, also known as Los Blancos or the famous team in white jerseys, are the most successful team in not only the Spanish La Liga at 35 titles, but also the most decorated team in the history of European club football competitions at 14 European Cup / UEFA Champions League trophies. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are the current best team at the peak of the Spanish top-flight football and had a chance to extend their lead at the summit, but they failed to make full use of their opportunity, allowing their opponents to cancel out their early opener to force a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes plus added time.
Joselu’s Opener for Real Madrid Cancelled Out by Raúl de Tomás’s Equaliser
Real Madrid opened the scoring sheet as early as the third minute, courtesy of their striker on loan from Segunda División club Espanyol Joselu. The 33-year-old veteran Spanish striker had to thank Federico Valverde for his goal, after the Uruguayan midfield star was unleashed by his teammate off a devastating counterattack by the visiting Real Madrid side. The 25-year-old Valverde timed his cross from the right flank to perfection, and Joselu found the bottom right corner with his first-time effort for the opening goal of the game.
Rayo Vallecano would go on to make things all square again via the spot. Óscar Trejo had a go at the Real Madrid goal, and his shot was seen deflected off Eduardo Camavinga, prompting the referee to have a look on the incident, which eventually resulted in a penalty. De Tomás nailed the subsequent spot kick by sending Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to the wrong way to level things up. After Rayo’s equaliser, Real Madrid just could not find another goal, and the marching orders given to Dani Carvajal in the final moments of the match did not help Los Blancos’s case in this La Liga clash either, meaning the game would end a 1-1 draw.
Former Real Madrid legend and the all-time leading goal scorer of Los Blancos Cristiano Ronaldo showed his masterclass again in Al-Nassr’s win over fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha in the AFC Champions League Last 16 first leg. The 39-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a late winning goal for his side, bringing the 1-0 advantage to his home stadium of Al-Awwal Stadium for the second leg of this continental cup tie. If you are interested to check out the full details of this match, click here for the article.
Real Madrid: Six Points Above Girona FC After 25 League Games
After the frustrating 1-1 draw versus Rayo Vallecano at the latter’s home, Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the Spanish La Liga is now 6 points, and the second-placed Girona FC, who have another game in hand, could well be reducing their gap from Los Blancos and creating a fiercer title race in the Spanish top-flight football in their following game. Girona FC are set to visit San Mamés and take on Athletic Bilbao for their chance to put pressure on Ancelotti’s men with all three points later tonight.
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Ancelotti’s Thoughts on the Rayo Vallecano-Real Madrid Game
Ancelotti was in no mood when asked about his verdicts over Real Madrid’s 1-1 away draw against Rayo Vallecano. The Italian managerial maestro said: “What can I say? It’s okay. You have to win all the games, but to win the league, it is important that the games you can’t win, you don’t lose. Sometimes there are draws that hurt a little, but in the end, it can be a positive step to help us win the league.”
“After the tie it was a different game, one that we don’t like to play, with a lot of fighting, a lot of interruptions. It was different from the beginning. You have to accept it, sometimes games are like that. But we competed, that’s what’s important, although we didn’t find solutions in the second half,” Don Carlo also added this regarding the game that prevented Real Madrid from building a massive lead at the top of the Spanish La Liga.
Real Madrid gaffer ended the press conference with opinions that Real Madrid should have won the game and complimented his team for fighting hard. “I think we started very well with the ball and we scored. We could have scored more, there was Fede’s shot against the post. Until the penalty, we did everything well. After the penalty the game changed, there were more duels, more fighting, more interruptions. It was not easy to look for ideas in that situation. We have fought, it has been a draw that does not leave us happy, but we continue. We are very well positioned. Calm, calm and prepare well for the next game.”
“Playing here is always difficult. There were a lot of duels and fights. Rayo were good. We got a point, we’re not satisfied.”
Carlo Ancelotti on #RealMadrid‘s 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/PC5ybkOmah
— Football España (@footballespana_) February 18, 2024
Kylian Mbappé Dropped From Paris Saint Germain’s Starting Lineup in FC Nantes Matchup
During the post-match conference of the 1-1 stalemate between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid, Ancelotti was questioned whether Real Madrid’s performance was affected by the potential arrival of French megastar Kylian Mbappé this coming summer 2024, and this was the Italian’s remark: “When haven’t we been focused?” Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference, when asked if headlines around Mbappé were a possible distraction. I think we’ve always been [focused]. And today too, when things didn’t go so well. Criticising this team this season is difficult.”
Mbappé was of course benched in Paris Saint-Germain’s French Ligue 1 encounter against FC Nantes yesterday following the breakout of the news that he is leaving the two-time defending French champions at the end of the 2023/2024 Season, but the 25-year-old miraculously came onto the pitch and secured a 2-0 triumph for PSG with a 78th-minute penalty, allowing the side to continue to reign supreme at the summit of the French top-flight football.
Quick Link: Coupe de France: How Did Mbappé Lead PSG to Destroy U.S. Revel 9-0 with His Hattrick?
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