Three takeaways for Carlo Ancelotti from Lille 1-0 Real Madrid

Stade Pierre-Mauroy wasn't the paradise Real Madrid expected last night as they waited for a hungry opponent to make it in Lille Los Blancos fight until the end.

The men in white were far from their best, dry in their build-up and uninspiring in the final third. A penalty towards the end of the first half didn't help either and gave the hosts the lead that evening.

However, their failure to equalize in the remaining 45 minutes handed them a resounding defeat in the UEFA Champions League, their first defeat in the competition since last May.

More importantly, it drops the team to 17th place in the league table, even behind Barcelona, ​​who lost to Monaco on matchday one.

Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways for Carlo Ancelotti from the first defeat of the season.

A downward spiral

Ahead of Wednesday's game, Real Madrid were not in a good mood after the weekend's events.

The controversial Madrid derby put a strain on the dressing room and was an emotionally draining result in more ways than one. Ultimately, not only did the team suffer late heartbreak, but they were also hit by controversy in the stands.

So the Champions League clash against Lille was always going to be about how the men in white responded to the midweek setback, and it's safe to say they didn't bounce back as expected.

The version of Real Madrid that took the field last night lacked the spark that the team usually displays in Europe and was dull for much of the game.

Lacking inspiration, they slogged through 90 minutes without really asserting themselves and finished very poorly in the final third.

Winning with underwhelming performances was always going to be untenable in the long run, but with a draw and a loss in the last two games, Los Blancos are in a downward spiral for the first time this season.

Mediocre midfield

Although Kylian Mbappe was included in the squad for the game against Lille last night, he was not fit enough to start, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to once again opt for the 4-4-2 system used last season worked well.

However, the midfield largely disappointed last night, particularly in terms of creativity, with players lacking the movement and symphony necessary to play through Lille's narrow lines.

On the night, Ancelotti used Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga as double pivots to hold the fort, while Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde played higher as centre-backs.

Because none of the players grow into it 'media point' In this role, the team lacked presence in the final third, especially given that both strikers were wingers by trade.

This only happened after the introduction of Luka Modric and Arda Guler in the second half Merengues began to move the ball forward into space and create some opportunities in attack. Unfortunately it was too little, too late.

Ancelotti therefore has a lot to think about, especially the system and the selection of players for the next game. Ultimately, the team urgently needs more presence in the final third.

Endrick's horror show

Endrick made an impressive UEFA Champions League debut for Real Madrid on Matchday 1 when he came off the bench and scored a stunning goal against VfB Stuttgart to secure the team's victory.

Last night the manager recognized his achievements with a first start and it's safe to say he had a torrid night that he will hopefully forget.

The Brazilian youngster took Rodrygo's place in the lineup and contributed nothing to Real Madrid's presence on the field. He was largely invisible and contributed neither to the buildup nor the attack.

In nearly an hour on the field, Endrick completed six passes, which averages out to one pass every ten minutes. In total he only had 19 touches of the ball and one shot on goal.

The young man is only 18 years old, but he still has a lot to learn and still has a long way to go. However, last night's game provides a reality check of the areas where he needs to improve at the earliest.