Ancelotti calls for Real reaction after losses

BENGALURU:

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wants a positive reaction from his side after they suffered losses against Barcelona in LaLiga and AC Milan in the Champions League, as the team prepare for Saturday's league clash against Osasuna.

After a humiliating 4-0 home defeat by Barca, Real were again dominated at their own ground, falling to a 3-1 loss to Milan in a display that exposed last season's Champions League winners' poor defending and lack of firepower.

Ancelotti's side sit second in the league standings with 24 points from 11 matches, nine points behind leaders Barcelona, who have played a game more.

"Osasuna are doing very well, playing brave football and well positioned in the table," Ancelotti told reporters. "We see tomorrow as a great opportunity to get back to doing things right... at this moment in time, which is obviously difficult. We have a chance to get back to our best.

"We have analysed the situation. We think we have found the solution, but it has to be seen in practice. We want to see a different version tomorrow. I see the team united, motivated and aware. But we have to wait until tomorrow to see if we act in the right way."

The Italian was confident forward Kylian Mbappe, 25, would return to his best form. Mbappe, who joined from Paris St Germain in June, has been playing a more central role at Real than he was accustomed to at the Ligue 1 club and has scored just once in his last six games in all competitions.

On Thursday, the France captain was also left out of his country's squad to face Israel and Italy in this month's Nations League games, stretching his absence in the national team to four matches.

"He's training well, he's going through a difficult moment... like each one of us. And like all of us, he has to think that this is an opportunity, that if he is clever he can get through it, but it requires more concentration and attitude," Ancelotti said.

"This is a strong, motivated group and the biggest club in the world. This is the best place to get through difficult times. And I am convinced that we will," he added.

Goals Galore

La Liga leaders Barcelona have been in sensational goalscoring form this season and visit Real Sociedad on Sunday in La Liga high on confidence.

The Catalans have netted 55 times in 16 matches across all competitions and have scored three times or more in each of their last seven outings.

Basque side La Real have historically proven difficult for Barcelona to overcome in San Sebastian but Hansi Flick's side have swept aside any team to cross their path since September.

Barcelona suffered their only league defeat six weeks ago at Osasuna and since then have thrashed Spanish and European champions Real Madrid 4-0, as well as beating Bayern Munich 4-1 in Europe.

"The results speak their own language and it's really good to see that," said Flick, with his team nine points clear of Madrid at the top of La Liga.

One of the key factors in Barcelona's form has been the resurgence of veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski under his former Bayern Munich coach Flick. After struggling for form at times last season the 36-year-old has been nigh-on unstoppable this season.

Lewandowski reached 19 goals in 16 games for the season with a brace on Wednesday as Barcelona strolled to a 5-2 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade.

"Since the beginning of this season we have a goal -- we have to play very attacking football... we score a lot of goals," said Lewandowski afterwards.

"The defensive line also plays very well, everything works so far almost perfectly...

"We have many games until the end of the season, no matter if it's La Liga or Champions League, we have to always look at what we can do better and what we improve too, no matter how many goals we have scored today. The next game is a new game and a new chance to win."