Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Sunday it would be "difficult" to be Vinicius Junior after the player was sent off against Valencia.

Barcelona, leaders since August, have slipped to third after winning only one of their last seven league matches, losing the top spot to Atletico Madrid in a 2-1 home loss last month.

The 26-year-old Frenchman netted the opener and set up another goal as Real beat mid-table Sevilla to move up to second place in LaLiga, closing the gap on leaders Atletico Madrid to one point going into the winter break.

Carlo Ancelotti warned Real Madrid's La Liga rivals Saturday that superstar striker Kylian Mbappe's adaptation period is now complete.

He became the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe's top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France — and has guided Real Madrid to two Champions League and LaLiga doubles in three seasons.

Real missed the chance to move above leaders Barcelona in LaLiga as they stay second on 37 points from 17 matches, one behind the Catalans who host Leganes on Sunday when Atletico, in third place on 35 from 16 games, welcome Getafe.

Real Madrid have endured a series of injuries this season, with several key players missing significant time, including Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao who are out for the rest of the campaign with ACL tears.

Off the back of a fabulous campaign in which they won record-extending titles in LaLiga and the Champions League, Real have struggle in their European title defence, losing three of their last four continental matches.

Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticised for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his troubled French striker Kylian Mbappe was as down as the rest of the team over recent setbacks but remained motivated ahead of Saturday's Liga clash with Osasuna.

Since Milan's triumph under Carlo Ancelotti in Athens 17 years ago Madrid have won the Champions League six times, three of those victories coming with Ancelotti in the dugout.

Los Blancos' La Liga match against Valencia on Saturday was postponed because of the situation in the east of Spain, where at least 217 people have died and many more are missing.

"We are hurt, it's a tough moment, but I want to thank the fans for their support. We don't have to throw everything away, because there is nothing to throw away," added a downhearted Ancelotti.

"Vinicius is going to win (the Ballon d'Or), not for what he did tonight, but for what he did last year. These three goals are already going to count for next year's Ballon d'Or, that's for sure. He is a player who gets whistled at because he can make a difference."

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday he wants striker Kylian Mbappe to focus on scoring goals over pressing to help the team.

Mbappe's lawyer told AFP this week the France captain was "shocked" to see his name linked to the investigation and he will take action for libel.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Friday that two of the main factors behind his team's poor play this season are "lack of intensity in defence and slow ball circulation".

Los Blancos take on their rivals without the French forward, ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday his team's "many styles" of play have helped them go 38 La Liga matches without defeat.

Vinicius Junior's decisive impact helped Real Madrid come from behind to beat a determined Espanyol side 4-1 on Saturday and move a point behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.