Real Madrid boss Ancelotti hits out at 'crazy' World Cup calendar
Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti criticised the South American World Cup qualifying calendar that could mean key player absences like Casemiro.
Real Madrid have survived unscathed from a brutal schedule of fixtures and travel as their rivals stumbled and will look to consolidate their dominance at the top of LaLiga with victory over Elche on Sunday.
Real returned from Saudi Arabia as Spanish Super Cup champions after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the final on Sunday and rivals Barcelona in the last four.
They then reached the Copa del Rey quarter-finals after fighting back from going a goal down in extra-time to beat 10-man to beat Elche 2-1 on Thursday.
They will face the same opponents on Sunday in the league, their fourth game in eleven days, as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
"What do you want me to say? There is a calendar which is absolute nonsense," coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters in Elche on Thursday.
Second-placed Sevilla, who trail Madrid by four points, had a game in hand but wasted a golden opportunity to close in on the leaders as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia on Wednesday in a match they dominated.