Vinícius Jr.'s two goals helped Real Madrid secure a crucial draw against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals.
A spotless outcome in Germany leaves the second leg well-balanced and Ancelotti hopes fan support will propel his side to victory.
"Today we didn't see the best Real Madrid," Ancelotti said to journalists. "Let's hope we'll see it in the second leg."
"It's going to be a challenge because we're playing against a great team, but the fans will definitely help us in the second leg," he added.
Vinícius Jr.'s first half strike provided an early lead for Madrid, but Bayern's Leroy Sané and a Harry Kane penalty saw them trail 2-1 before Vinícius tied it up with a late penalty, both sides producing an exhilarating display in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
Vinícius, receiving the Player of the Match award, spoke to reporters: "It won't be easy, we need to stay calm and rest before the next leg in the Bernabéu."
The tie's back-and-forth nature captivated audiences as both sides showcased their attacking prowess. Madrid's 24th-minute goal sparked excitement with its quality. First, Vinícius made a dazzling run and drew his defender towards the ball. Then Toni Kroos' perfect pass left the Brazilian forward in acres of space to give his side the advantage.
Bayern's spirit remained high and they leveled the score through Leroy Sané's sublime solo goal. In the second half, he terrorized defenders, creating a yard of space in the box, and then curled an unstoppable shot past the goalkeeper.
However, Bayern gained a lead in the 57th minute through a penalty, after Lucas Vázquez, deputizing for the injured Dani Carvajal, was penalized for taking down Jamal Musiala.
Kane stepped up and cemented their advantage, drawing praise from Bayern's captain, Thomas Mueller: "Jamal took it really well and Harry took a great penalty."
Madrid equalized again through another penalty, this time after Kim Min-jae brought down Rodrygo in the box. Vinícius slotted home, thrilling his fellow Brasilero buddies among the crowd.
Jude Bellingham's performance was a concern, but Ancelotti's post-match statement suggested he'll be back to his best for the second leg: "He's had an injury and it's affected him significantly. He hasn't been at his top form yet, but he'll be back shortly, and by Wednesday, he'll be at 100%."
Having surrendered the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern can focus all energy on claiming the Champions League trophy.
Kane described the touching nature of the semi-finals: "It's anyone's game, whichever team wins the second leg will win it all. These are the matches you want to be involved in. We caused Real Madrid a lot of problems in the second half. We didn't finish our chances firmly enough. We're ready for an amazing game next week. I'm thrilled."
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In the exciting first half of the game, Vinícius Jr.'s stunning run and pass from Toni Kroos led to a well-deserved goal, putting Real Madrid ahead in the football match. Despite Bayern's late efforts, including Leroy Sané's solo goal, Vinícius equalized with a late penalty, ensuring a thrilling 2-2 draw in the football championship.
Source: edition.cnn.com
