Category: Football, Sports

Real Madrid Loss to Lille: Carlo Ancelotti’s Stunning Verdict Revealed

Real Madrid Suffers Shocking Loss to Lille: Carlo Ancelotti Responds

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that the criticism of his team was warranted after their long unbeaten run ended in a 1-0 defeat against Lille in the Champions League. The French side deservedly claimed victory with Jonathan David scoring the decisive penalty just before half-time. Ancelotti was candid in his post-match assessment, accepting that Real Madrid did not play well and acknowledging that Lille were the better side.

End of Real Madrid's Unbeaten Run

This defeat marked Real Madrid’s first loss in 37 games across all competitions since January, and their first Champions League defeat since their semi-final exit against Manchester City in May 2023. Ancelotti stated, “Our opponents played better and deserved the win. This kind of result hasn’t happened to us often, but we have to learn from this experience.” He further emphasized that his team had opportunities at the end of the game but acknowledged they wouldn’t have deserved a draw.

Despite concerns about the consequences of the loss in the new Champions League format, Ancelotti appeared unperturbed. “We lost, and that’s part of sports. The real disappointment is in the performance—we need to give off better sensations on the field,” he explained. The revamped competition now features 36 teams in one pool, with the top eight advancing directly to the last 16.

Champions League Format and Group Standings

Real Madrid, who started their campaign with a 3-1 win against VfB Stuttgart, join several other major clubs—including Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid—in experiencing a loss in their opening two matches. With every team playing eight games, the top eight teams will move directly into the last 16. The remaining spots will be determined by play-offs between teams ranked from ninth to 24th.

Real Madrid’s next game in three weeks will see them host Borussia Dortmund, in a repeat of last season’s final. Jude Bellingham will face his former club, hoping to improve on what has been a difficult start to his campaign. Ancelotti, referring to Bellingham’s current struggles, said, “He is playing in the same position as last season but hasn’t found the same success yet. It just wasn’t our night.”

Lille's Memorable Win

On the other hand, Lille coach Bruno Genesio expressed his delight at achieving one of the club’s finest results in European competition. The victory was a prestigious moment for Lille and a beautiful reward for the club and their supporters. Genesio, known for his past success with Lyon, including a win against Manchester City in 2018, said, “This performance shows what we are capable of achieving. It was a fantastic team effort, and now we need to build on this.”

Lille’s victory over one of Europe’s elite showcased their potential to cause problems for top-tier teams. With upcoming matches against Atletico Madrid and Juventus, Lille will aim to continue this momentum and challenge further in the Champions League.

Conclusion

Real Madrid’s defeat to Lille has brought an end to their remarkable unbeaten streak, leaving Carlo Ancelotti to reflect on his team’s performance and the improvements needed moving forward. The Champions League’s new format has made the group stages even more competitive, and Real Madrid will need to bounce back against strong opponents like Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, and Liverpool. Meanwhile, Lille’s historic win is a testament to their quality and determination, demonstrating that they can challenge even Europe’s biggest clubs on the grand stage.