Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that the criticism following their 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League was "fair and correct," marking the end of the team's 37-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. Jonathan David's penalty before half-time sealed Lille's victory, and Ancelotti acknowledged that his team did not perform up to their usual standards, stating that Lille "played better and deserved to win."

This defeat was Madrid's first in the Champions League since their semi-final loss to Manchester City in May 2023, and it highlighted areas of concern for Ancelotti, particularly given the context of the new 36-team format. Despite Madrid creating chances toward the end of the match, Ancelotti admitted that they did not deserve a draw based on their overall performance.

Reflecting on the broader implications, Ancelotti downplayed concerns about the defeat's impact on Madrid’s progression in the tournament but acknowledged the "sensations" the team gave off were not good. The defeat leaves Real Madrid alongside heavyweights like Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid, who have all lost one of their first two group-stage games.

One notable struggle for Madrid was the underwhelming performance of Jude Bellingham, who, according to Ancelotti, has yet to replicate the success he enjoyed last season. Bellingham, a Ballon d'Or candidate, was booked in the second half, and Ancelotti noted that "it just wasn't a good night" for the team overall.

Lille coach Bruno Genesio, on the other hand, expressed his joy at the victory, labeling it one of the finest results in the club's European history. The win echoed Genesio's previous success against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City when he was in charge of Lyon in 2018. He emphasized that Lille's performance showed they could "cause problems for the best teams in Europe" and hoped the team would build on this result as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid and Juventus in their next group-stage games.

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