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Nothing new in Chamartín. As is tradition since April 21, 1996, Madrid defeated Espanyol, whose last win at La Castellana was 27 years ago. A half-hour drive in the first act was enough for Real to overcome Joselu’s sporadic goal. Nothing more said Espanyol, anxious all day even though they went 2-1 in the final stretch. Vinicius and Militão turned the parrots before Nacho, who was player of the match under many circumstances, gave the final cracker.
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Courtois, Eder Militao, Nacho, Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Aurelien Tchouameni (Rüdiger, min. 74), Modric (Marco Asensio, min. 71), Kroos (Dani Ceballos, min. 74), Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior (Álvaro Rodríguez , min. 89) and Rodrygo
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Pacheco, Sergi Gómez (Melamed, min 84), Óscar Gil (Ronael Pierre Gabriel, min 68), Cabrera, César Montes, Braithwaite, José Gragera (Denis Suárez, min 75), Vinicius, Rubén Sánchez, Joselu and Darder
Goals 0-1 min 7: Joselu. 1-1 min. 22: Vinicius Jr. 2-1 min. 39: Eder Militao. 3-1 min. 92: Marco Asensio.
referee Jorge Figueroa Vázquez
Yellow cards Cabrera (min. 18), Vinicius Junior (min. 31), Óscar Gil (min. 55), Dani Ceballos (min. 86) and Dani Carvajal (min. 87)
After a second act with a loose ball game from Real, the white captain got the honor he deserved. Chamartín was already hailing his name – ‘Nacho, stay, Nacho stay’ – as the youth squad’s player, first a centre-back and then a winger, went after Vinicius. He finished off a number of rivals, went out to eat and summoned Asensio with the final 3-1. Nacho, always hardworking, effective year after year and even excelling at times, is the essence of Real Madrid. Now we have to see if it expires in the summer. People spoke up clearly.
Espanyol completed two trips to the moon without scoring at Chamartín. A total of 3,219 days. 20-0 for the whites in the last seven visits. The Conures usually arrive at the Bernabéu so worried that Joselu’s whiplash caused a whole commotion in the Blues and Whites when they were just eight minutes apart.
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Diego Martínez’s team started confidently. Rubén Sánchez, Óscar Gil’s escort in Vinicius’ custody, also had a chance to nag Camavinga, once again an orthopedic winger. With Rubén’s thread, Braithwaite almost scored but was blocked by Militão. And again the blue and white winger brought Camavinga in check, who swallowed a long pass. Rubén, now in the vanguard on time, provided a wonderful support for Joselu, who ended the game with a left-footed shot. The ball stomped towards Courtois’ left corner. More than a great goal, a chest two from the ex-Madridista, who already has twelve league goals under his belt. Immediately the Belgian goalkeeper had to intervene before a header from the other Vinicius, Souza. Real Madrid was still with the vermouth.
The goal made Carlo Ancelotti’s men wake up. Gradually, Real Espanyol overshadowed, limited to Joselu’s initial mirage. With Carvajal and Camavinga embedded in the parakeet field, sometimes even anchored in Pacheco’s territory, Madrid charred its rival. An Espanyol increasingly hid in its ditch.
Kroos and Modric maneuvered with ease, Rodrygo threatened from nine for Benzema and of course Vinicius, the Real Madrid player, went and went. Rubén only shied away from the constant challenges of the Brazilian, who never lacks in effort.
The same, Espanyol gave the former Flamengo soccer player a double touch. No matter how much riot police are ahead, Vinicius doesn’t repair. The same applies if a game is presented to him without anything appearing as a goal in sight. Sure it’s Vinicius.
The winger, parked to the left of attack, pinned Óscar Gil and Rubén, removing the chain from both and it was no use for Gragera to come to the rescue. Vinicius’ shot in the far corner of the goal was categorical. Another great goal in spring Madrid midday.
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Real was already very well taken care of when Tchouameni winked at Modric. The Croatian, teacher as he is, should hold a training symposium on how to deal with the outside of the foot. His coup author. The Frenchman did and Militão, who has bars instead of legs, hung in the air until he headed into Pacheco’s net.
A Madrid monologue to the end. In the second half, it didn’t even need to roll up its sleeves anymore, just more soda. Espanyol didn’t let up, with Braithwaite, their second scorer, away from Courtois’ ranch, forced to defend and defend, sweat and sweat with pickaxe and shovel. Same as Joselu who ran out of gunpowder and ended up stiff and cramped.
Diego Martínez moved the basket to no avail. His team didn’t even have half a chance. Ancelotti, with Liverpool and Barça in the waiting room, withdrew Praetorians like Modric, Kroos and Vinicius. But Nacho, due to Camavinga’s miscastings aside, has remained uncomfortable as a defender where he feels like an outsider.
Nacho for everything, the nacho of life in white. And an unknown nacho. His last game to avoid local agony sealed a game that may just rewind Nacho. The usual for Espanyol. The Bernabeu bothers him more than necessary. So much so that Madrid scored the goal after a few weeks in the dry.
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