Carlo Ancelotti Criticizes Barcelona Bench Celebrations Following Real Madrid's 4-0 Clásico Loss

Real Madrid's 4-0 Clásico Loss

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti voiced his displeasure regarding the celebrations from Barcelona’s bench after their team suffered a 4-0 defeat in Saturday’s Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu. The match featured standout performances from Robert Lewandowski, who scored twice, along with goals from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. This loss ended Madrid's remarkable 42-game unbeaten streak in LaLiga and allowed Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of the table by six points.

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The tensions peaked after Raphinha’s goal, his tenth of the season, when Barcelona's bench celebrated near the Madrid sideline. Ancelotti confronted Barça coach Hansi Flick over the matter, stating that his issue lay with one of Flick's assistants, who he felt celebrated inappropriately. Ancelotti clarified, "The assistant was not a gentleman," while Flick acknowledged the incident but downplayed its significance.

Despite their strong start to the game, Madrid faltered in the second half. After a goalless first half, Lewandowski scored twice in quick succession, followed by Yamal, who became the youngest scorer in Clásico history at just 17, and Raphinha completed the scoring. Ancelotti noted that Madrid had chances but lacked clinical finishing, allowing Barcelona to capitalize on their mistakes.

Ancelotti reflected on the game, stating, "Until the first goal, it was an even game." He emphasized that once Barcelona scored, it affected his team's energy and momentum. He urged his players not to dwell on the last 30 minutes, recalling their ability to bounce back from previous defeats and expressing confidence in their potential to improve moving forward.

Kylian Mbappé faced a challenging match, having two goals disallowed for offside and being caught offside a record eight times, tying the mark for the most in a LaLiga game in 15 years. Ancelotti explained that they took risks with Mbappé's positioning but ultimately couldn't exploit the opportunities presented by Barcelona's high defensive line.

The result capped a significant week for Barcelona, coming off a resounding 4-1 victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Under Hansi Flick, the team has now won 12 of their last 14 matches across all competitions. Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress but remained focused on continuous improvement as they prepare for their next match against Espanyol.

Carlo Ancelotti Criticizes Barcelona Bench Celebrations Following Real Madrid's 4-0 Clásico Loss