Carlo Ancelotti has accepted it will be “difficult” for Real Madrid to win the La Liga title after they were held to a 2-2 draw against Valencia at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Real went into the game knowing Barcelona had earlier moved four points clear of them at the top courtesy of a 2-0 win against David Moyes’ Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp.
However Madrid endured a nightmare opening 45 minutes as Valencia surged into a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Paco Alcacer and Javi Fuego, while Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty, they hit the woodwork three times and midfielder Toni Kroos was forced off injured.
A Pepe header from a corner and Isco’s 25-yard strike got Real on level terms in the second half, but Valencia held on for the point which virtually seals them Champions League qualification via a top-four finish.
With a four-point deficit to make up and only two matches remaining, Ancelotti has called on his players to win them both and hope Barca slip up.
“This makes it much more difficult, but we will keep going,” Ancelotti said. “We have two games to play, will try and win both. But of course it is more difficult now.”
The Italian is confident a similar performance against Juventus at the Bernabeu on Wednesday would see Los Blancos overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit in their Champions League semi-final second leg.
He added: “We gave everything we could. They know that if the play this way again on Wednesday, we can reach the final. We must have a positive attitude, see the good things we did in this game.”
Real are 1.62 to defeat Juve in the match result market, while the Italian champions are 5.50 and the draw is 3.80.
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