Real Madrid fans protested their team’s loss and left a sign lamenting the “shame” that had been caused by a 4-3 defeat to bitter rival FC Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday.
Los Blancos went into the latest edition of the world’s biggest derby having already lost three times to Hansi Flick’s men this term – with two of those defeats coming in the Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals in 2025.
As Barca nursed a four-point advantage at the top of the La Liga table with three games to spare, there was everything to play for in Montjuic.
Going 2-0 up inside 15 minutes through a Kylian Mbappe brace, against a side that suffered a gruelling 120 minute heartbreak at the San Siro in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday versus Inter Milan, Madrid couldn’t be blamed for thinking that it was on its way to dashing Barca’s hopes of a domestic treble.
Unfortunately for Carlo Ancelotti and his troops, however, Madrid soon succumbed to another remontada comeback that has been typical of Barca this season.
Equalizing through Eric Garcia and Lamine Yamal, the Blaugrana led 4-2 by half time as Raphinha struck twice and ran out 4-3 winners overall.
Now seven points behind, it seems unlikely that Madrid will retain its Spanish top flight crown which can be snatched away by Barca through a win at Espanyol on Thursday night.
Real Madrid fans express their anger
Post-match, Ancelotti pointed to his side missing five defenders as one of the motives for the defeat, but Madrid fans that gathered at the club’s Valdebebas HQ didn’t want to hear any of it as the squad made its way back to the Spanish capital and picked up their vehicles to head home.
Leaving a banner that lamented the “shame” that had been caused by the loss, angry gathered supporters told Ancelotti to “go now”.
The Italian is expected to leave at the end of the season to take up the Brazil national team head coach role while being replaced by Xabi Alonso in the Bernabeu dugout, though nothing regarding any of those appointments has been confirmed yet.
One thing is for certain, the legendary former midfielder has work on his hands to get Real Madrid back on track and appease an expectant fanbase that has forgotten all that Ancelotti did for the club just a year ago.