Ancelotti explains Real Madrid’s shock 1-0 loss to Espanyol

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has reflected on his team’s surprising 1-0 defeat at Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday night, attributing the loss to a combination of missed chances and strong opposition defense.
Espanyol sealed the win with a late goal from Carlos Romero, while Real Madrid had a goal from Vinicius Junior ruled out after Kylian Mbappe was penalized for a foul on Espanyol’s Pol Lozano during the buildup.
Despite dominating possession and creating opportunities, including 20 shots on goal, Real Madrid was unable to break through Espanyol’s defense. Lucas Vazquez, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham all saw their efforts saved by Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, while a shot also hit the post.
In his post-match interview, Ancelotti admitted that it was a tough game for his side but praised Espanyol for their resolute defending and effective counterattacking.
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“It was a difficult, tough game. We did some things well, we had good control, especially in the second half. We had a goal disallowed, hit the post, and had 20 shots on goal,” said Ancelotti. “The game was under control, but Espanyol, who played very well on the counterattack, caught us off guard and scored. They had the game they wanted.”
Ancelotti also acknowledged that while his team could have performed better, the result didn’t fully reflect their performance.
“Espanyol played really well. They defended very well, it was what they had to do. We could’ve done better, but it wasn’t as bad as the result reflects. We had chances. We are still in the fight, and we have to look to the next game.”