Carlo Ancelotti must have prepared to play against a Barcelona side that wants to hold the ball and dominate possession.

However, it was the other way round, as Barca sat back and tried to play on the break.

Barcelona won the game 1-0 at the end, and for all of Madrid’s possession, they couldn’t penetrate Barcelona’s defence.

Speaking after the game, Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was surprised about Barcelona’s defensive strategy, and vowed to get the win when both sides meet in the second leg at Camp Nou on April 5.

Analysing the game, the Italian stated: “I think it’s obvious that Barca didn’t deserve to win. I think it was one of our best matches defensively.

“We had the performance that we wanted, but not the result. We were intense, pressing high up the pitch and leaving Barcelona with little possession. We could have done better in the final third, but it was hard because Barcelona’s two lines were very tight together.

“It was a little bit strange to see them play like this, but they did well defensively. We tried to cross, but they were strong in the air. We started and finished the match well, but there was the individual mistake and the unlucky bounce that saw them score. We just need to repeat this performance in Barcelona.

“If we also have this intensity in the second leg I think we’ll have a chance, as I don’t think Barcelona can defend that well again. It’s just the first leg of a two-legged tie. The players are confident for the second leg.”