MADRID: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said he was delighted with his side`s play and resiliency in their La Liga clash against Espanyol on Saturday, fighting back to win 4-1 after falling behind due to a rare blunder by their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Ancelotti praised his players poise under pressure as they dominated proceedings, earning a win thanks to goals by Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe that canceled Courtois` own-goal early in the second-half.

`We did well, with combinations inside, even if it didn`t all work out, we always kept trying,` Ancelotti told a press conference.

`In the second half, with the game open... it`s a context that suits us. It`s clear, tonight was rock & roll. We started well and reacted well after the 0-1.

It was complete.

`We played better than in other matches; with more rhythm and generating more chances. It was a good game. At the back, the recovery was good, as was the pressure after a loss. We came out with a good dynamic, little by little we are getting back to our best. I am happy.

Unbeaten in La Liga for almost an year, Ancelotti said that he is content with his side`s performances, finding ways to win despite having several players injured and others struggling to reach peak form.

`We have now gone 38 games unbeaten and that means that we are doing things very well,` Ancelotti said.

`However, in this season there is a fact that must be highlighted: we only scored one goal in the first half. It`s something to be aware.

Real were stunned when the visitors took the lead in the 54th minute, with Courtois clumsily deflecting Jofre Carreras` cross into his own net.

But Vinicius, who started on the bench, created a goal for Rodrygo before scoring himself to complete Real`s turnaround.

Carvajal levelled for Real soon afterwards before Vinicius took the reins, with Mbappe adding a late penalty to net in his fourth consecutive game for the club.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Valencia earned their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Girona, 13th.-Agencies