Madrid need 'complete' game for Clasico bragging rights, says Ancelotti
Having lost all three of their matches with Barcelona this season, Real Madrid are eyeing a Clasico win in LaLiga in the race for the title.
Carlo Ancelotti believes that Real Madrid will need to play a "complete" game if they are to topple rivals Barcelona in Sunday's Clasico.
Madrid enter the game four points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barca, with Hansi Flick's team knowing a victory will push them closer to a 28th top-flight crown.
Los Blancos have struggled in recent fixtures against their rivals, losing their last three matches against Barca in all competitions this season.
Only once in the entire history of the Clasico, between 2008 and 2010 under Pep Guardiola (five), have the Blaugrana managed four or more consecutive victories.
Madrid, however, have won four of their last five away games against Barca, achieving the same number of victories in their previous 19 visits to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
"In this type of game you have to do things well. Barcelona are used to keeping the opponent in their own area, but no team is perfect," Ancelotti told reporters.
"It's a game where there's a lot at stake and to win you have to manage everything well, defend well, attack well. We have to play a complete game."
With so much at stake against their great rivals, Ancelotti will have little trouble getting his players fired up.
"Playing with Barcelona is special. It will be the last 'El Clasico' of the season because Barca are not in the Club World Cup."
Madrid have won their last four LaLiga games, but have not managed five or more consecutive wins in the competition since a run of nine between March and May 2024.
But they have also conceded 33 goals in LaLiga 2024-25, their worst defensive record at this stage of the campaign since 2018-19 (38 goals).
And though his team may end the season without a trophy, Ancelotti still regards this term as a decent campaign.
"It's been a good league and a good season," he said."You need continuity to be able to win it, or to be close explains very well what tomorrow's game is going to be.
"We both have a lot at stake. Barca will have more chances than us, but if we win it will still be all to play for."
