Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was not unduly worried after his side were made to survive a late rally in their 3-2 victory over Alaves in LaLiga on Tuesday.
Goals from Lucas Vazquez, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo had Madrid cruising at the Santiago Bernabeu, only for Alaves to threaten a comeback with two goals in as many minutes late on.
Los Blancos held on for victory in what was Ancelotti's 300th game in charge, making him just the second coach to reach that milestone with the club after Miguel Munoz (605 matches).
Madrid have already dropped points twice this season to trail Barcelona in LaLiga, but Ancelotti preferred to focus on the positives after Tuesday's game.
"This is football and when you think the game is over, you get distracted and allow your rival to score, you give them a confidence boost while your own confidence is shaken," he said.
"It's something that happens all the time in football and it won't stop happening. Sure, we don't want that to happen to us, nobody does, but we need to highlight that for over 80 minutes our team played really, really well and that is what gives us confidence moving forward.
"For over an hour the team played very well, looking for opportunities in different ways, in transition, filtering passes through the opponent's lines...
"The team is improving, it's good for us because the schedule is very demanding. Sunday's game [against Atletico Madrid] will also be very demanding."
Ancelotti added he was delighted with Mbappe's progress since his move from Paris Saint-Germain, praising his combination with Jude Bellingham for the second goal.
"Mbappe is playing great, we are doing really well in attack," Ancelotti said.
"Bellingham is growing, he gave the assist to Mbappe and played a very complete game. He needs to get used to playing a bit more inside the box, like he did last year.
"It's more complicated against a team with a low block like Alaves. What I ask Bellingham is to do that kind of work, not to score goals. With the players we have, we can score at any moment."
Madrid's opening goalscorer Vazquez, meanwhile, told Los Blancos to sharpen up after their late scare.
"It's a shame that with the performance that we were putting throughout the match, it had to finish the way that it did," Vazquez told Real Madrid TV.
"We played a great game until the 88th minute, when two lapses in concentration led to two goals and we had to suffer a bit more than we should have.
"We didn't deserve this ending, with the game we had played, but let's look on the bright side, we did a lot of things right."
Mbappe: 'I know what I have to do to win Ballon d'Or'
Kylian Mbappe is confident he "will win" the Ballon d'Or, insisting he knows what he must do to land the prestigious individual accolade.
The Real Madrid forward has scored nine goals in his first 15 LaLiga appearances since joining Los Blancos from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, he has found the net just once in the opening five games of Madrid's Champions League defence.
The Champions League is the title that has eluded Mbappe over the years, with the 2018 World Cup winner coming closest when he helped PSG reach the 2019-20 final, before losing to Bayern Munich.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old believes he is at the "best club" to win Europe's premier club competition, while there are other notable achievements on his wishlist.
"Which top trophy is left for me? The Champions League, that's why I’m at the best club," Mbappe told Canal+.
"And the Euros, and why not make it to the Olympics one day? Individual trophies count, too, like the Ballon d'Or. I know what I have to do to win it, a lot of things on and off the field. When I do everything I need to do to win it, I will win it."
Mbappe also addressed his recent omissions from Didier Deschamps' France squad for their Nations League campaign.
"The French national team has always been the highest level of football," he said. "My love for the French national team hasn't changed.
"Yes, I miss it, because I haven't been there for a long time. In September, I asked the coach not to go. I had just arrived in Madrid. I had a very short vacation. The coach insisted that I go.
"After October, I got injured, I wasn’t on the list. I was talking to them, and the coach told me it was better not to call me up. He's the boss, I'm behind him. I wanted to go, but I can't say why they didn't call me."
Atletico Madrid 4-3 Sevilla: Griezmann brace settles seven-goal thriller
Antoine Griezmann's second-half brace earned Atletico Madrid a stunning 4-3 victory over Sevilla in LaLiga on Sunday, claiming their ninth straight win in all competitions.
The result moved Diego Simeone's side up to third in the standings after 16 games so far, a point behind Real Madrid and three adrift of leaders Barcelona.
After Griezmann had rattled the crossbar early on, Atletico took the lead in the 10th minute through Rodrigo De Paul's fierce effort into the roof of Alvaro Fernandez's net.
But Sevilla responded just two minutes later, with Dodi Lukebakio levelling the scores before Isaac Romero rounded off a quick counter-attack with a fine finish.
Juanlu Sanchez then put the visitors two goals in front in the 57th minute, tucking the ball past Jan Oblak after being picked out by the influential Kike Salas.
But Atletico's comeback started five minutes later as Griezmann reduced the deficit before substitute Samuel Lino's effort from distance restored parity in the capital.
However, more drama would unfold after Griezmann gathered Lino's pass, firing the ball in off the crossbar in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.
Data Debrief: The late late show
Atletico laid down a huge marker of their title credentials this season on Sunday, with their powers of recovery on show with their late turnaround on home soil.
And the hosts were worthy of their dramatic triumph, having registered an expected goals (xG) of 2.11 from their 14 shots compared to Sevilla's 0.39 from their four efforts.
Griezmann proved to be Atletico's saviour once again, with the Frenchman putting on an impressive display in the process. He registered the most shots on target (three) and touches in the opposition box (nine) for his side, while also accumulating a team-high xG tally of 0.76.
Friends For Real triumph in 2024 Pocket Rocket Foundation Six-A-Side Football Competition
Friends For Real emerged as champions of the 2024 Pocket Rocket Foundation Six-A-Side Football Competition, defeating Medley Mixers 1-0 in a thrilling final at the Red Stripe Field on Sunday. The victory was sealed by Emeil Atkinson, whose decisive goal crowned the Olympic Gardens-based team champions in their first appearance at the tournament.
The competition, organized by track and field legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation, saw spirited performances from all participants. Medley Mixers had secured their spot in the final with a commanding 3-0 win over Legacy, while Friends For Real edged out Legend 1-0 in a hard-fought semifinal clash.
In the final, both teams battled intensely, but Atkinson’s clinical strike proved to be the difference, handing Friends For Real the championship trophy and a cash prize of JMD$300,000. Captain Wyan Nelson expressed his team’s joy and gratitude following their triumphant debut.
“Words can’t describe how we feel as a team. It is our first time entering the competition, and to be unbeaten is a great feeling,” Nelson said. “Shelly-Ann is doing a great thing, and we look forward to entering next year again.”
Medley Mixers, who gave a valiant effort in the final, received JMD$200,000 for their second-place finish, while Legend claimed third place with a 2-1 victory over Legacy in the playoff. Pelleco Shaw and Devontay Ricketts scored for Legend, who were awarded JMD$100,000 for their efforts.
The tournament showcased not just the competitive spirit of the participating teams but also the community-building impact of the Pocket Rocket Foundation. The event continues to provide a platform for local talent and an opportunity for camaraderie among communities, all while supporting the charitable mission of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
With this victory, Friends For Real have set a high bar for next year’s competition, promising more excitement in what has become a highly anticipated annual event.
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