Ancelotti: League still open

Carlo Ancelotti believes the destination of the title is still up in the air following Barcelona’s 4-3 win over Real Madrid.

Madrid led 3-2 through Cristiano Ronaldo’s second half penalty but a pair of Lionel Messi spot kicks tipped the balance to La Blaugrana.

“The League race is still open. We need an immediate reaction,” Ancelotti said at his post-match Press conference.

“I’ve said it many times: the League will be decided in the last match. We have to continue fighting. We need to react.

“I haven't spoken to the players about the match yet. We committed small mistakes and that's why we lost.

“The team is ready to get up and move on. We have to be satisfied with how we played.”

Ancelotti added that he was not concerned by his side’s failure to beat either Barca or Atletico Madrid in the League this season and said Madrid should have won this one.

“In the first matches with Barca and Atletico we deserved to lose, but not tonight. We didn't deserve this defeat.

“We have improved a lot, the team has showed its quality and proved it in this match.

“It was a good game but we now have to forget about it quickly. Our next match is important.”

Ancelotti also declined to speak about referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco and said Messi was able to claim a hat-trick because of Madrid’s deficiencies.

“It’s difficult for me to comment on the referee’s decisions,” the Coach said.

“It's true that Messi scored three goals, but any mistakes against a player of his quality will always hurt you.

“We have nine matches left. It will be all intense. Every game will be decisive.”

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