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‘No drama’ says Madrid’s Ancelotti despite Rayo draw

BARCELONA (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said there was “no drama” despite his team failing to build on their Clasico triumph, dropping two points in La Liga’s title race with a 0-0 derby draw against Rayo Vallecano yesterday.

Los Blancos spurned several chances as they drove Rayo back throughout at the Santiago Bernabeu but could not find the last-gasp winner they so often manage to produce.

The draw leaves Madrid second, two points behind shock leaders Girona, who came from behind to beat Osasuna, and two ahead of Barcelona after the Catalans’ fortunate win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

The Italian said the result was not fair on his team, who could not find the goal they craved.

Ancelotti lined up with the energetic Eduardo Camavinga replacing injured holding midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, as well as starting Luka Modric in place of Toni Kroos.

Real Madrid took the game to their neighbours from the off, with Rayo Vallecano’s Macedonian goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski kept extremely busy.

Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti talks to Vinicius Junior during the Spanish league football match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. PHOTO: AFP

He made a superb save to thwart Fede Valverde who burst through on goal early on.

Madrid had an early scare when Jude Bellingham, the league’s top goalscorer with 10 strikes, went down hurt, holding his left shoulder. After a couple of minutes the England international recovered and was able to stay on.

Fran Garcia flashed an effort narrowly over after good work by Bellingham to play him in and Dimitrievski made a fantastic save to deny Joselu after Vinicius Junior cut the ball back to him.

The Brazilian winger was increasingly involved as the game ticked towards its final stages and struck in the 66th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Joselu.

Vinicius was booked for dissent as his and Madrid’s frustration grew in the face of the visitors’ staunch defending.

Bellingham, already the author of several decisive late interventions in matches for Madrid, could not repeat his heroics from last weekend when he scored a brace against Barcelona.

Rodrygo Goes came closest for Madrid in stoppage time with a backheeled effort straight at Dimitrievski, which he collected gratefully.

Ancelotti said before the game Brazilian wingers Vinicius and Rodrygo would end up outscoring Bellingham and Joselu this season, but his prediction did not begin to come true soon enough.

The denouement to the match was bad tempered, with Antonio Rudiger and Florian Lejeune booked after squaring off, and the Madrid defender is now suspended for their next La Liga game against Valencia.

Rayo are now unbeaten in eight league games, with their most recent defeat coming at the start of September – and are level with Madrid and Barca on six clean sheets.

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