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Carlo Ancelotti believes Barcelona did not deserve to win their Copa del Rey semifinal first leg and has backed his team to make a comeback
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes that Real Madrid have the pedigree to make a comeback from their Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg loss to Barcelona.
Ancelotti has said he has faith in the team to overturn the deficit in the tie, as they have done on many occasions in the UEFA Champions League.
Ancelotti believes Real Madrid can comeback despite strange Barcelona tactics
Real Madrid enjoyed a lion's share of possession in the Copa del Rey first leg against Barcelona but failed to register a shot on target at home for the first time since 2010 in all competitions, as an Eder Militao own goal condemned them to their first loss at the Santiago Bernabeu this season.
Despite this, Ancelotti was adamant that Barcelona did not deserve to win the first leg and that his team could win the second leg if they play with the same intensity.
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti said, "Barcelona didn't deserve to win and that's obvious. We are aware that we have to come back, but it wouldn't be the first time we've come from behind in a tie.
“If we replicate that intensity, we’ll have the chances to turn the tie around.”
Real Madrid hoping for more open game at Camp Nou
Real Madrid finished the game with 64.7% possession of the ball, their highest in an El Clasico fixture since 2013/14 season, and had 13 shots on goal to Barcelona’s four, but still failed to create many clear-cut chances in the game.
The biggest chance they had to breach Barcelona’s defence came through Vinicius in the second half as he saw his effort repelled by a brilliant block from Ronald Araujo.
Apart from that, Real Madrid struggled to break Barcelona down, as the Catalan’s deployed what Ancelotti referred to as strange defensive tactics to keep Los Blancos at Bay.
With the second leg of the tie still to come, Ancelotti believes that Barcelona will be more open at Camp Nou and this will allow Real Madrid to create more chances and hopefully overturn the tie.
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