Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has stated that Barcelona’s resurgence in form is not a cause for concern as the two teams prepare to clash in the highly anticipated Clasico on Saturday. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona currently sits three points ahead of second-place Real Madrid and recently showcased their attacking prowess with an impressive 5-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Despite Barcelona’s strong showing, Real Madrid remains unbeaten in their last 42 La Liga matches, with the chance to equal Barcelona’s all-time record of 43 consecutive games without defeat if they avoid loss in the upcoming match.
“The truth is they are doing very well,” Ancelotti acknowledged during a Friday news conference. “In a game like the Clasico, a derby, it’s hard to pick a favourite. Luckily, nobody is taking any sleep away from me at the moment.”
Last season, Real Madrid dominated the rivalry, winning both La Liga Clasicos, with midfielder Jude Bellingham scoring three goals in those encounters. However, this season, Bellingham has not yet found the net in his first ten appearances across all competitions.
Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with Bellingham’s overall performances and highlighted that the responsibility now lies with superstar striker Kylian Mbappé to lead the team’s scoring efforts.
“Last year we had no striker; we lost an important player like Karim Benzema. We replaced him with the goals of Bellingham, Joselu, and Brahim Diaz,” Ancelotti noted, reflecting on the team’s offensive adjustments.
As both teams prepare for this crucial match, all eyes will be on the Santiago Bernabeu as they vie for supremacy in La Liga.