Carlo Ancelotti expresses disappointment after Real Madrid's 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid

MADRID – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his frustration as his team conceded a late goal to Atletico Madrid, resulting in a 1-1 draw in their La Liga encounter on September 29 at the Metropolitano stadium.

He said Real deserved better luck after dominating most of the game but was glad his side were able to come away with at least a point from a stadium where they lost twice last season.

“It is hard to cope with a draw in which we were very close to winning,” Ancelotti said.

“It can happen, the opponents are very strong and have a lot of quality. Their goal was in the last minute, it’s a pity. We controlled the game well, we came close.

“But I always like to think positive. We’ve won a point away from home and we are a point closer (to leaders Barcelona, who lost 4-2 at Osasuna on Sept 28).

“The dynamic is good, we are in contention and we don’t despair, a draw here can mean a good point for the future.”

Real are second in the standings on 18 points, three behind Barca and two ahead of Atletico in third after eight games.

While Real players celebrated Eder Militao’s opener via a close-range strike in the 64th minute, Atletico ultras Fondo Sur, who are located in the south lower stands, threw objects towards visiting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who alerted the referee and he decided to temporarily halt the match for 20 minutes.

After the match resumed, Atletico piled on pressure and finally found the equaliser in the 95th minute, with substitute Angel Correa scoring after a counter-attack.

Ancelotti praised referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer for halting the match until the situation was under control but dismissed the idea that the break had helped Atletico recover momentum following the opening goal.

“I don’t think (it helped Atletico), it affected us both equally,” the Italian said.

“We all wanted to play. The decision to stop the match was the right one. The referee said that lighters were thrown and that he had stopped the match twice, if they threw another one he had to suspend it.

“I think it was a correct decision by the referee. It had to stop, a few things were sorted out, and we started again. The referee acted well.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone said fans that hurled objects onto the pitch should be punished, as well as players who he suggested encourage such action.

“My opinion is that people who have committed incidents should be sanctioned by the club. We don’t need these people. We need the people who accompany and support us. They harm the club, but be careful: that does not justify generating situations that we, the protagonists, generate,” he told DAZN.

“We all have to help. The people who have thrown those lighters, it’s not right. But maybe it doesn’t help when us, the protagonists, undermine people, charge against people, provoke people and then people get angry.

“People have no other way of doing it, in a bad way, which is not right, but we also have to try to be calm, to understand the situations, that you can celebrate a goal by celebrating it, but not by celebrating it by staring at the stands, charging against the stands, making gestures... because then people get angry.”