Real played well but missed chance to beat Manchester City — Ancelotti
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was disappointed his side missing an opportunity to defeat Manchester City but he was still pleased with their performance in the Champions League quarterfinal, first leg that ended in a 3-3 draw on Tuesday.
After falling behind to a Bernardo Silva free-kick in the second minute, Real fought back to lead 2-1 at halftime following a Ruben Dias own goal and Rodrygo strike, and then built enough momentum to extend their advantage.
But Ancelotti’s side were wasteful and missed several chances, leaving City to take a 3-2 lead with sumptuous strikes from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol in the second half.
Real managed to salvage a draw thanks to a brilliant volley by Federico Valverde but Italian Ancelotti said the feeling he had at the final whistle was bittersweet.
“It was a winnable game because
we had a chance at 3-1, but at 3-2 we could have lost if we didn’t have the confidence to come back,” he told a press conference.
“It was a very good game from our side, evenly matched and competitive as long as we had the energy to press up front. We had our chances but they managed to score two great goals. In the end, the outcome was adequate.”
It was another epic encounter as the teams faced each other in a Champions League knockout tie for the third year running, igniting a new and exciting rivalry between the 14-times European champions and the Premier League powerhouse.
Real eliminated City in the 2022 semifinals but Pep Guardiola’s side gained revenge a year later at the same stage.
The winners of the tie ended up lifting the trophy both seasons — with City crowned European champions for the first time — and Tuesday’s match was one that left the fans eagerly looking forward to the return leg in Manchester.
“It was an incredible game for both teams.
“We have no doubts about the quality of what we saw on the pitch, two extraordinary teams,” Ancelotti said.
“I liked very much what I saw from our team, especially the interpretation of the match, the courage and the personality.
“In the second leg we have the idea of playing the same game and see what happens.”