Carlo Ancelotti on Julian Alvarez Penalty

Real Madrid Advances to Champions League Quarter-Finals

Real Madrid secured a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals after a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid. The intense match ended in a 1-0 win for the hosts after 120 minutes of play, leading to a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out where Los Blancos emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline. Key players like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and Antonio Rudiger stepped up to secure the crucial win.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Assessment of the Match

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti shared his thoughts on the challenging match at the Metropolitano, acknowledging the difficulty of playing against a strong Atletico side. Despite the setback of conceding a goal, Ancelotti praised his team’s effort in seeking opportunities and maintaining effective possession throughout the game. He highlighted Atletico’s defensive strength, making it tough for Real Madrid to create scoring chances.

Ancelotti’s View on Controversial Penalty Decision

Ancelotti weighed in on the controversial penalty annulment that affected Atletico during the shoot-out. He supported the VAR decision to disallow Julian Alvarez’s goal after it was determined that he had touched the ball twice. Ancelotti acknowledged the VAR’s role in detecting the infringement and agreed with the final decision.

Injury Update on Ferland Mendy

Ancelotti also provided an injury update on Ferland Mendy, who was forced off during the second half of normal time due to a muscle injury. The coach confirmed that Mendy felt a sharp pain in his back, indicating a potential muscle issue that requires further assessment.