Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has issued a stern warning to his players not to abandon hope in the LaLiga title race, despite Barcelona being in a commanding position to clinch the championship.

The defending champions kept their slim title hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mallorca on Wednesday night, thanks to Jacobo Ramon's 94th-minute winner after Kylian Mbappe had earlier cancelled out Mallorca's opener.

Despite the win, Real Madrid remain four points behind Barcelona, who can secure the title with a victory against Espanyol on Thursday night.

"La Liga is over? Anything can happen in football. We didn't want to give them La Liga today. They have to play tomorrow," Ancelotti said in his post-match comments.

"If they win we will congratulate them, if they don't we will see what happens. If we had played like this in all the games we would have had a better season," the Italian tactician added.

Barcelona can reassert their seven-point lead and claim the title with a victory against city rivals Espanyol. However, any slip-up would keep Real Madrid's hopes alive heading into the final matches of the season.

The late victory featured another contribution from summer signing Kylian Mbappe, who continues to adapt to Spanish football after his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid's persistence until the final whistle demonstrated the championship mentality that Ancelotti has instilled in his squad, even as they face the prospect of surrendering their domestic crown to their fierce rivals.