For the second consecutive year, the Etihad Stadium will resolve a majestic duel between Real Madrid and Manchester City, who exchanged comebacks at the Santiago Bernabéu in a great football spectacle (3-3), which saved the Madrid epic after the demonstration of power without Kevin De Bruyne of the current champion.
Real Madrid took flight in its fetish competition once again with a determination envied by its rivals. Up to two occasions to travel to Manchester with options. Reacting to blows with the fortitude of someone who feels like king of the competition. Confident in his virtues to bury his mistakes.
Andriy Lunin committed it in his first real big game as a starter, leaving a stain that he must correct so as not to feel the long shadow of Courtois on the decisive days. Also Carlo Ancelotti to change the situation when it got complicated in the second act.
The magical night atmosphere of the Santiago Bernabéu, the start full of euphoria of a rested Real Madrid that wanted to overwhelm a City with greater wear and tear, suffered a double blow in the early stages. At 39 seconds Tchouaméni was punished with yellow for his first tackle. Ancelotti’s commitment to a defensive midfielder as a centre-back, in a decision that was difficult for Nacho to digest, left the worst news for the white team. A warning that will prevent him from being at the Etihad.
The bad news has expanded since Lunin’s double error. Confident in the remoteness of the foul, he did not ask for more presence than a teammate on the barrier. Wrong placed. Bernardo Silva accepted the invitation, tried his luck and was met with a late reaction from the goalkeeper. One of those mistakes that take their toll in playoffs between giants.
The panorama, the obligation to overcome City again, now with the label of current champion, reinforced Ancelotti’s initial request to his players. The doubt that he could plan about whether to go up to the pressure or wait to punish the loss, exploiting the weak point this season of Pep Guardiola’s team, was cleared from the obligation. Real Madrid only had to go to an open grave.
With the risks that this entails in the face of the threat of Haaland, stopped dead in most actions by a colossal Rüdiger, but who put fear into the action that lifted Lunin off the canvas. Heeled, after seven minutes, the Norwegian giant broke it to find the goalkeeper’s reaction.
Real Madrid brought electricity, found a way to give meaning to possession. The ball never burns for City, but they entered an unproductive phase. Reflected in his brain, Rodri, with more losses than ever due to the passivity of his teammates. Victims of a good positioning by the Madridista, with an ace up Ancelotti’s sleeve that had an effect.
The absence due to injury of Kyle Walker left a flank to exploit. This is how ‘Carletto’ understood it, which did not surprise in names, but in positioning. He put Rodrygo on the left, freed Vinícius and between them they set the goal of turning the match into a nightmare for Akanji. They found partners in the firmness of Kroos, more of a ball thief than ever, and the quick association of Bellingham.
The fortune factor smiled when Camavinga boldly shot from outside the area. He reserved his first goal of the course, late due to its importance, for a transcendental moment. He rejected Rúben Dias and it became impossible for Ortega, again starting in a surprising decision by Guardiola with Ederson already recovered.
The ecstasy of Real Madrid, a Bernabéu boiling as in the semi-finals of the comeback, reappeared with the same protagonist: Rodrygo. From his double in 89 seconds in a magical comeback that enhanced the history of Real Madrid in the ‘Champions’, 114 seconds from a new reissue. ‘Vini’s pass into space, Rodrygo’s run and the calm finish. Soft against Akanji and a hesitant goalkeeper at the start.
The lethal Madrid version appeared. City short-circuited at times. Without finding his offensive references. Feeling respect for the Real Madrid stampede that broke out after each steal of the ball. In just a few passes he went from Lunin to Bellingham’s vision and Valverde’s shot into the hands of Ortega Moreno. Firm against Rodrygo’s second attempt. With Vinícius away from the unbalancing image of him, with losses when he faced and haste in the definition.
The match was where Real Madrid wanted, with their Brazilian partner always finding each other, Rodrygo forgiving with everything to score when looking for the top corner. An action that would have changed the course of the game before City’s reaction. From an inexplicable factor, the physical. A team that had played two games while its rival rested and recharged.
Ancelotti’s team was short of breath when they ran after the ball. Guardiola’s men found themselves again from possession, now making sense, reducing the number of losses, finding spaces. Grealish assumed the burden of De Bruyne’s longing. He warned by stroking the crossbar of what was to come. Real Madrid was reduced to its counterattacks. With a cross shot from Bellingham and a running left-footed shot over ‘Vini’ as hopes.
He lacked the strength to rebel. Subdued by City, he felt in his flesh what he so often stars in. He was hovering around a tie due to the delay in scoring, the English superiority on the front. Lunin avoided the first two attempts, by Foden and Bernardo Silva, and could do nothing against the ball in Foden’s corner. One of the decisive players of the course, who had been missing until that moment.
In five minutes Madrid’s hopes collapsed. With Ancelotti slow in changes, slow to react to what was happening on the mat. He did it when Gvuardiol, recovered at the last minute by Guardiola to calm his defensive losses, hooked an unstoppable right hand to Grealish’s back pass. The champion’s muscle appeared without the need for De Bruyne.
Real Madrid only had the epic card left and it can never be considered dead. Thus, in his final victory full of pride, he managed to bring life back to the tie. With a great goal from Fede Valverde after a start from Modric and a precise pass from Vinícius. On a bad day, two assists. And he even achieved another feat seconds later, in a ball fought by Bellingham that between the goalkeeper and the defense almost did not end up inside the goal. The Etihad will decide a fight that magnifies football.
#Madrid #epic #sustains #majestic #duel #alive
