Carlo Ancelotti makes honest Real Madrid admission ahead of Champions League derby | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that if his side reproduce the limp-wristed display which saw them lose to Real Betis on Saturday evening, they will suffer the same fate against Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's enormous Champions League round-of-16 tie.

The Italian coach watched his side take an early lead at the Benito Villamarin this weekend before his former player, Isco, orchestrated a deserved comeback for the hosts. The scheming playmaker teed up Johnny Cardoso's first-half equaliser from a corner and scored the decisive penalty which forced Real Madrid to drop more points.

Saturday's defeat ensured that the reigning Spanish champions have taken just five points from the last 15 available in La Liga - a run of poor form (and performances) which doesn't bode well with just a matter of days to go before Atletico arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"If we play like this we will not win," Ancelotti bluntly admitted post-game. "It is quite clear, I hope it will serve to wake us up. It seemed that the team was more compact as in previous games." Ancelotti's assumption was correct. Madrid gave up 17 shots against Betis - the most of any league game this season.

Carlo Ancelotti was not impressed by his side's showing in Seville / Fran Santiago/GettyImages

"This is a hard blow," the veteran manager continued, "you have to react, it is difficult to lose at this stage of the season because all the teams run. We did not do well in this match." Ancelotti added: "We started well, but then we were not able to maintain the level, commitment and attitude. They deserved to win."

Jude Bellingham was forced to watch on from the sidelines while he continues to serve his ban for swearing at a La Liga official, but Ancelotti could call upon Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo. Brahim Diaz was the player to give the visitors a tenth-minute lead and the Madrid manager actively singled out the poor defensive work-rate of his frontline. "When you are good, you put pressure on the ball coming out and we did it in the first half, but the other 70 minutes, badly."

Atletico Madrid capitalised upon their neighbours' slip up, fighting their way to a 1-0 win over Athletic Club on Saturday night which took them to the top of the La Liga table. Diego Simeone's side are unbeaten in their previous four Madrid derbies, with both league fixtures between the two capital clubs this season finishing in 1-1 draws.