Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti shared his thoughts after his side secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu. While the result earned Los Blancos another crucial three points, Ancelotti acknowledged that the second-half performance was less convincing than he would have liked.

“We’re feeling good because the objective was to get points,” Ancelotti said. “Our first-half performance could have finished 3-0, but we finished 2-1. It got a bit complicated in the second half. We had two or three chances, including Mbappé’s pass for the third goal and Vini’s ball. But at 2-1 in the 75th minute, we had to focus on defending well and avoiding problems. We did that, but I understand that the fans didn’t enjoy the last part.”

Despite the nervy ending, Madrid controlled much of the game, with Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. leading the attack. The early dominance should have resulted in a more comfortable lead, but Rayo Vallecano’s resilience made the contest more difficult.

Ancelotti also pointed out the challenges of playing after a European fixture, drawing comparisons with other top clubs that struggled over the weekend.

“We must bear in mind that many teams that played in the Champions League struggled. Inter suffered against Monza, Liverpool against Southampton, Leverkusen lost, Bayern lost… It’s very difficult to prepare for this kind of game, especially against a team like Rayo that fights and plays with intensity. I repeat, the first half was very good.”

The win keeps Real Madrid on track in their domestic campaign, with Ancelotti and his players now turning their focus to the next challenge. As the season enters its crucial stages, Madridistas will hope for more dominant performances and, most importantly, more victories.