Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti complained his players had lacked zip and shooting accuracy after the La Liga leaders let slip a one-goal advantage and were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday.
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The stalemate at the Bernabeu, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s 52nd-minute penalty was cancelled out by a fine Gerard Moreno strike in the 64th, left Real two points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who host their great rivals in three weeks, with 13 games left.
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It was the first game the European champions have failed to win at home in La Liga since they were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid in September and was their first draw in Spain’s top flight this season.
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“In the first half, our rhythm was very low,” Ancelotti told a news conference.
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“We put in a lot of crosses because the ball circulation was slow,” added the Italian.
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“The rhythm changed in the second half but we weren’t efficient with the chances we created.
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“We didn’t have good fortune with our efforts on goal. We had 24 shots and only seven were on target.”
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Sunday’s stalemate was Real’s latest stumble since the turn of the year after they set a Spanish record of 22 consecutive victories in all competitions at the end of 2014.
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They were beaten 2-1 at Valencia in La Liga, knocked out of the King’s Cup by Atletico and suffered a humiliating 4-0 reverse at their city neighbours in the league last month.
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The Real faithful made their anger clear when they whistled Ancelotti in a subsequent La Liga game at home to Deportivo La Coruna and they vented their ire again on Sunday when he took off fan favourite Isco in the second half.
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“A coach is on the pitch and makes changes because he believes it’s best for the team,” Ancelotti said.
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“If the fans don’t understand it I am sorry but I made the decision and made the change to give the team more balance.”
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Before their trip to the Nou Camp, Real face a potentially tricky La Liga clash at Athletic Bilbao and take a 2-0 lead into their Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Bundesliga side Schalke 04 on March 10.
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