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‘Cup exit can boost Real’s league chances’

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to turn the disappointment of their Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid in midweek into an advantage in the La Liga title race.

'Cup exit can boost Real's league chances'
Photo: Andrew Yates /AFP

Whilst Atletico will now face Barcelona in a two-legged quarter-final over the next two weeks, Real will be able to concentrate solely on league matters until they return to Champions League duty away to German side Schalke 04 on February 18th.

Real currently lead Barcelona by a point at the top of the table and have a game in hand on the Catalans.

"The conclusion was that in the two games we had little control of the game. We played well, but committed errors that prevented us from going through," Ancelotti said on Saturday.

"We're disappointed because it was one of the club's objectives, but now we have to look forward and think about the two competitions we are still in.

"We have a month now to concentrate on La Liga and if possible gain points on our rivals."

Real Madrid had ended 2014 on a club record 22-game winning streak as they won their fourth trophy of the year at the Club World Cup in December.

However, the European champions haven't been able to replicate that form so far in 2015 as Thursday's 2-2 draw against Atletico means they have now won just one of four games so far this year.

Ancelotti, though, insisted that his side's drop off in form isn't due to tiredness.

"I don't need to rotate. Rotating is not indispensable. It is important to change a player if they are tired, but I don't see any of my players as being tired. There is neither tiredness nor a lack of attitude.

"The squad isn't short. Toni Kroos and Cristiano (Ronaldo) have played more than others because they are very important. I don't think they need to rest at the moment, but when they do I will rest them."

Ancelotti will be forced into at least one change from midweek as Rafael Varane will replace the injured Pepe in central defence.

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OFFBEAT

Madrid police end escaped camels’ night on the town

Eight camels and a llama took to the streets of Madrid overnight after escaping from a nearby circus, Spanish police said on Friday.

A camel in a zoo
A file photo of a camel in a zoo. Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP

It was not immediately clear how the long-legged runaways managed to get out but Quiros Circus, which owns them, blamed sabotage by animal rights activists.

They were spotted at around 5:00 am wandering around the southern district of Carabranchel close to where the circus is currently based.

“Various camels and a llama escaped from a circus in Madrid overnight,” Spain’s national police wrote on Twitter, sharing images of eight two-humped camels and a llama hanging around a street corner.

“Police found them and took care of them so they could be taken back safe and sound,” they tweeted.

There was no word on whether the rogue revellers, who are known for spitting, put up any resistance when the police moved in to detain them.

Mati Munoz, one of the circus’ managers, expressed relief the furry fugitives — Bactrian camels who have two humps and thick shaggy coats – had been safely caught.

“Nothing happened, thank God,” he told AFP, saying the circus had filed a complaint after discovering the electric fence around the animals’ enclosure had been cut.

“We think (their escape) was due to an act of sabotage by animal rights groups who protest every year.”

Bactrian camels (camelus bactrianus) come from the rocky deserts of central and eastern Asia and have an extraordinary ability to survive in extreme conditions.

These days, the vast majority of them are domesticated.

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