Real Madrid must win today’s La Liga game at relegation-battling Real Valladolid or their hope of snatching the title from Atletico Madrid or Barcelona will be over, coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Real missed a chance to wrest the initiative from leaders Atletico and second-placed Barca when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia on Sunday and Ancelotti warned there was no more room for mistakes.

Atletico are top on 88 points after Sunday’s shock 2-0 reverse at Levante with two games left. Barca, who host Atletico on the final day of the season and were held to a 2-2 stalemate at home to Getafe on Saturday, are on 85.

Real Madrid are two points behind Barca in third before their game in hand at second-from-bottom Valladolid.

“We have to win our three remaining games,” Ancelotti, whose side are through to face Atletico in this month’s Champions League final, said.

“The Valladolid game is like a final for us because not winning it would mean losing the league,” added the Italian, in his first season in charge at the Bernabeu.

“It is a crucial match for both teams. They are fighting for survival and it won’t be easy.”

Ancelotti said Real’s Wales winger Gareth Bale would miss today’s game along with full-back Dani Carvajal. Reports said the pair were feeling the effects of Sunday’s match and had not trained with their team-mates.

Luka Modric, who missed the Valencia match with a calf problem, was available and fellow midfielder Sami Khedira, who has not played since tearing knee ligaments in November, could also feature, Ancelotti added.