Madrid needs perfection to beat Barca: Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti believes that Real Madrid will need to play a "complete" game if it is to topple rival Barcelona in a the potential LaLiga title-deciding El Clasico on Monday (AEST).
Madrid enters the game four points adrift of league leader Barca, with Hansi Flick's team knowing a victory will push it closer to a 28th top-flight crown for the club.
Los Blancos have struggled in recent fixtures against their rival, losing their past 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, have the Blaugrana managed four or more consecutive victories.
Madrid, however, has won four of its past five away games against Barca, achieving the same number of victories in its previous 19 visits, albeit this match is at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys while Camp Nou undergoes its renovation.
"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 said.
"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, 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 [FIFA] Club World Cup."
Madrid has won its past four LaLiga games, but hasn't managed five or more consecutive wins in the competition since a run of nine between March and May 2024.
But it has also conceded 33 goals in LaLiga 2024-2025, its worst defensive record at this stage of the campaign since 2018-2019 (38 goals).
Although 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."
