Real Madrid s Ancelotti rues late goal in cup final defeat against Barcelona

SEVILLE, Spain - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was devastated as he felt his side should have taken more from Saturdays 3-2 loss in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona where they conceded a late equaliser that led the game to extra-time, when their bitter rivals roared back to score a winner through Jules Kounde.

Real fought their way back into the game after being 1-0 down at halftime but saw Barca forward Ferran Torres snatch a goal in a counter attack in the 84th minute that gave the Catalan giants new life.

We were close to winning and we conceded a strange goal very late ... A ball at the back of the defence ... But against Barca it can happen, Ancelotti told a press conference in the early hours of Sunday.

We tried until the end, we came close... The second half was very good, but thats football. The match was evenly balanced. Barca were better in the first half, we were better in the second.

There is nothing bad to say about the team who fought really hard. We competed very well. If we had won, it wouldnt have been a scandal. We did great until we were shocked late...

In a season in which they are struggling with inconsistency, Real Madrid are now left only with LaLiga as they bid to avoid a trophy-less campaign.

Last-years Spanish and European champions have been left licking their wounds after a humbling loss to Arsenal saw them exit the Champions League in the quarter-finals and are also battling against the odds to retain their LaLiga crown, with Barcelona in the drivers seat.

Barca are at the top of the standings, leading by four points over Real with five matches to play, and they will host Real in a