Ancelotti: Ball Was Out Before Equaliser

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said Manchester City’s equaliser in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg should not have counted.

Ancelotti was not happy with the referee for failing to consult with VAR after City’s goal because he felt Bernardo Silva took the ball over the touchline in the build-up to Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning strike.

Referee Artur Soares Dias showed Ancelotti a yellow card for entering the field of play as he protested the goal and the Italian was still unhappy with the official after the game.

“The ball was off the pitch,” Ancelotti said. “The technology said it. I don’t understand why VAR didn’t check it. The referee didn’t pay attention to many things tonight.”

Vinicius Jr had given Real Madrid the lead against the run of play with a thunderous effort before De Bruyne stepped up for his team to bring them level with an equally-impressive strike when the hosts were in charge.

Ancelotti’s side had struggled to cope with City for the opening half-hour, but grew into the game after going ahead and looked the more threatening in the second half.