Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed mixed emotions after their thrilling 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. While satisfied with his team’s overall performance, he did not hold back in criticizing the refereeing for denying what he described as a “clear penalty” on Vinícius Júnior.
“After watching the replay, it’s very clear. It was a clear opportunity, a penalty,” said Ancelotti without hesitation during his post-match comments.
The match at Vallecas on Saturday was packed with end-to-end action. Rayo Vallecano surged ahead with two goals in the first 36 minutes, but Real Madrid quickly responded. Fede Valverde’s stunning long-range strike and Jude Bellingham’s header brought the defending champions level before halftime.
Rodrygo then gave Real Madrid the lead in the 56th minute with a superb effort just outside the box. However, eight minutes later, Rayo equalized. Both sides had further chances, but neither could find the decisive goal.
Controversy arose in the 75th minute when Vinícius Júnior was brought down inside the box by Rayo defender Abdul Mumin. Despite Madrid’s appeals, the referee waved play on, and VAR chose not to intervene. Real Madrid’s official match report later described the decision as “controversial refereeing” that cost them the victory.
Despite the draw, Ancelotti had no complaints about his players. “We almost lost this match, but we turned it around. After going 2-0 down, we played very well for 45 minutes, creating a lot of chances. Even after it became 3-3, we kept fighting until the end. This was a draw by a united team that never gave up. I believe we are on the right path, and I’m satisfied.”
He acknowledged mistakes but also emphasized the progress his team has made. “It was almost a complete performance, even though there were some errors. The result suggests we suffered more than we actually did.”
Ancelotti highlighted the return of last season’s indomitable spirit within the team. “After matches like those against Mallorca and Las Palmas, I was a bit worried. Those games had me questioning whether we’d regain our balance and mentality this season. But now I can see we’ve found it. This draw doesn’t concern me much.”
The coach also took a long-term view, noting the team’s resilience amid a season plagued by injuries. Real Madrid played this game without more than half of their preferred starting XI, including key players like Kylian Mbappé. Despite this, Ancelotti is optimistic.
“We are competing in every match and striving for success everywhere. After such a tough period with so many injuries, we’re still doing well. Once we have everyone back, we’ll be even stronger.”
Real Madrid missed the chance to overtake Barcelona at the top of the table. Barcelona currently leads with 38 points from 17 matches, while Real Madrid sits second with 37 points.
However, Ancelotti remains hopeful. “Looking ahead to 2025, everything seems very positive. I could be wrong, but I feel confident. The desire and energy these players are showing is incredible.”
