Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has admitted that the team’s title race in La Liga is all but over after their El Classico loss against Barcelona by 2-1 on Sunday. The Los Blancos are now 12 points away from table toppers Blaugrana after 26 matches.

With only 12 matches remaining in the tournament, the chances of Real Madrid staging a comeback are dim. Real Madrid took the lead against their arch-rivals when Ronald Oraujo scored his own goal. However, Barcelona bounced back as Sergi Roberto equalized at the stroke of halftime.

Franck Kessie scored in the stoppage time for the hosts to give them a thrilling win against Real Madrid.

“Yes, we have to be honest,” Courtois told Movistar when asked if the title race was over. “We wanted to fight until the end, but now it’s four games’ difference… They’d have to lose four games, and we’d have to win all of them. Nothing is impossible, but it’s very difficult.”

Barcelona is now at the top of the points table with 68 points whereas Real Madrid has 56 points under their belt.

In fact, substitute Asensio had put Real Madrid in front in the 81st minute but the goal was disallowed by the VAR and the decision was questioned by gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.

“We deserved to win,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “The game was won. Then we have doubts about the goal that was disallowed… Do you think it was offside? We have to accept it, but I have my doubts. Nothing is certain. We have the right to have doubts.”

“I don’t know, honestly,” the Italian said when pushed on the issue in his post-match news conference. “I thought offsides were quite clear at the World Cup, with [semi-automatic offside technology]. I have my doubts. It changed [the game]. Was it offside? I’m not sure. If the VAR is sure, great.”

“We’re sad, we’re hurting, but we’re proud of the game we played,” Ancelotti said. “If we play like that for the rest of the season, we’ll win something for sure.”

Real Madrid will once again face Barcelona in the second leg semifinal of Copa Del Rey in April.