Carlo Ancelotti makes La Liga title admission after Valencia loss | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti glumly conceded that it will be "difficult" for his side to defend their La Liga title after suffering a stoppage-time defeat to Valencia on Saturday.

The capital club squandered the chance to take the lead against their struggling visitors when Vinicius Junior had a tame first-half penalty saved. Madrid swiftly fell behind to Mouctar Diakhaby's header before Vinicius earned some redemption with a 50th-minute equaliser only for Hugo Duro to snatch all three points at the death.

"It is much more difficult to fight for La Liga," Ancelotti told the assembled media following the 2-1 Bernabeu defeat. "But we have the idea of doing well until the end of the season because we still have options, albeit much less after this game."

Barcelona also dropped points on Saturday, playing out a 1-1 draw at home to high-flying Real Betis, yet remain four clear of Madrid at La Liga's summit with just eight matches remaining.

The defending Spanish champions have been uncharacteristically porous this season. Ancelotti's side are on course to concede an average of more than one goal per game for the first time since they finished third during the 2018/19 campaign. This form has unsurprisingly prompted Madrid to focus on a defensive overhaul this summer.

Looking ahead to the much-anticipated Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal - the first leg of which takes place in London on Tuesday night - Ancelotti said: "We missed the chance to fight for the league with more forcefulness. The match against Arsenal will be different because they will attack more and we have to be more solid. In addition, we need to be more effective in front of goal."

There is no let up for Madrid. The record European champions will contest eight matches in April alone, ending the month with a Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. The two clubs clash again in May at Montjuic for an almighty league match which could decide the fate of La Liga.