“Beating Real Madrid is not easy” – Carlo Ancelotti reacts to Shakhtar Donetsk draw

Carlo Ancelotti has warned that Real Madrid are not an easy team to beat after his side sealed a late draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. 

After the tie was forced to settle for a drab goalless draw after the first half whistle, Real fell behind early in the second half following a goal from Zubkov. 

The Whites waited until in the injury time to get the equaliser in Poland, thanks to a beautiful header from Antonio Rudiger, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea over the summer. 

Although Real were held to a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar, the Spanish side booked their place in the Champions League round of 16 after securing ten points from their opening four matches. 

After the final whistle, Ancelotti told the press: “We have reached this point in the season in good shape. We are in the last 16 of the Champions League; we have delivered and shown that we never give up. played very badly and this can happen in football, but the important thing is not to give up when things don’t work out. We’ve tried until the end.”

Real Madrid created enough chances to break the deadlock in the first half but struggled to replicate that in the second half, hence why they needed a Rudiger header to rescue a point off the Ukrainian side. 

Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Real were poor and couldn’t control the game against Shakhtar but understands that sometimes, it happens in football.

💫 ¡Feliz miércoles, #Madridistas! 💫 pic.twitter.com/SQ5PmRJwk6

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 12, 2022

“We played poorly because sometimes it happens. The game was controlled in the first half and we had planned to play more inside than outside. When we conceded the goal, everything got complicated, we lost balance and suffered on the counterattack,” he added. 

“There are games that you control, but you concede a goal and mentally the rival team, who have defended very well, create problems for you. The positive thing is that we never give up and beating Madrid is not easy. It is positive to go to the round of 16 because only those who go through to the round of 16 can win the Champions League.”

Real Madrid will host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday in the La Liga and Carlo Ancelotti’s men will look to build on their 1-0 win over Getafe last weekend.