Ancelotti: Madrid slowly getting 'back to our best'

Real Madrid, aiming for a first La Liga title since 2020 and a 14th Champions League crown this season, are gradually rediscovering their best form, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti's side went top of the standings after beating Real Valladolid 2-0 on Friday following a 5-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League three days earlier.

Real enjoyed a swashbuckling start to the season, winning their first eight games in all competitions and scoring 28 goals, but then drew four in a row in October.

They have since bounced back with a 3-1 win at Barcelona after beating Elche 3-0 and Valladolid 2-0, which has lifted them two points above Barcelona at the top of the standings.

"We're getting back to our best but we're not there yet. We have to keep improving," Ancelotti said on Friday.

"We're more solid now, we're defending better, and we're keeping clean sheets, which is very important," he added.

"We still have to improve our attacking play, we still have to improve our movement off the ball, but we're on the right track."

Despite the recent improvements, Ancelotti knows his team can still do better and he is demanding more from his players as they approach a crucial period of the season.

Real face Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 next month, while they also have a huge La Liga clash against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on March 19.

"We have to keep working hard, we have to keep improving," Ancelotti said.

"We have a lot of challenges ahead of us, we have to be ready for them."

"I have no doubt that we can achieve our goals if we continue to work hard and improve."

Real will look to continue their good form when they host Villarreal in La Liga on Thursday.