Real Madrid's undefeated streak in the ongoing La Liga season came to a screeching halt as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium. The loss, which was Real's first of the 2023-24 season, saw them drop to third place in the league standings.
The match started on a sour note for Los Blancos as Atletico's Alvaro Morata netted two goals, with Antoine Griezmann adding another, putting the hosts 2-0 up within the first 18 minutes. This marked the fourth time this season that Real Madrid conceded an early lead. While they managed to bounce back on three previous occasions, they couldn't replicate the feat against their city rivals.
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's head coach, expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, particularly highlighting their defensive frailties. "We didn't start well. We didn't defend well, we were soft in our own area and we weren't clinical. After they went 2-0 up, they played the game they wanted to play, defending very well and looking for quick transitions. They were better than us," Ancelotti remarked in the post-match press conference.
The Real Madrid boss further elaborated on the goals conceded, stating that all three goals were strikingly similar, likening them to "photocopies." He lamented the team's lack of compactness and positioning, which allowed Atletico to exploit gaps in their defense. "Our problem was more in defense than in attack," Ancelotti emphasized.
Questions arose regarding the absence of forward Joselu from the starting lineup. Ancelotti explained his decision, stating that he opted for a diamond formation with Luka Modric at the center of midfield, flanked by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo as forwards. The aim was to have more control of the ball by incorporating an extra midfielder. "It wasn't a problem of who played, it was a problem of defensive frailty," Ancelotti clarified.
Despite the loss, Ancelotti defended Luka Modric, who faced criticism for his performance. "We don't point the finger at anyone, to point the finger at Modrić is a bit too much. He didn't have a good game, like his team-mates," Ancelotti said, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the team.
With this defeat, Real Madrid now sits in third place in La Liga with 15 points from six matches. FC Barcelona leads the table with 16 points, having narrowly escaped a loss to Celta Vigo, thanks to late goals from Robert Lewandowski and Joao Cancelo.
