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The game against Real Madrid was rounded off with Joselu hitting the grass to make it 2-0. It was his seventh attempt, several very clear ones. But nothing. See you then. Hence the outburst, the defeated frustration. On the way to victory, Ancelotti’s team just ran into themselves, one ball after the other into the opposing goalkeeper’s body. UD Las Palmas offered very little opposition until Brahim unleashed a game that allowed Real to overtake Barça in the standings and return to the top spot in Girona on Saturday. This time Bellingham wasn’t needed.
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Arrizabalaga, Alaba (Lucas Vázquez, Min. 40), Nacho, Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy (Fran Garcia, Min. 76), Camavinga (Kroos, Min. 76), Brahim Diaz (Dani Ceballos, Min. 56), Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Joselu (Vinicius Junior, Min. 57)
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Álvaro Vallés, Saul Coco, Julian Araujo, Daley Sinkgraven (Sergi Cardona, Min. 45), Curbelo, Munir, Cristian Herrera, O. Mfulu (Kirian Rodríguez, Min. 45), Jonathan Viera (Máximo Perrone, Min. 76), Javi Muñoz (Enzo Loiodice, Min. 76) and Sory Kaba (Marvin Olawale Akinlabi Park, Min. 57)
Goals 1-0 min 47: Brahim Diaz. 2:0 minutes. 53: Joselu.
referee José Luis Munuera Montero
Yellow cards for Saul Coco (min. 78)
After the Metropolitano’s setback and with many games still to come, Ancelotti changed the line-up and put the Englishman through for the first time. That didn’t even happen last season. In addition to the Englishman (Kroos and Modric), he also changed the two full-backs (Fran García and Lucas Vázquez) and two others in midfield. Despite Bellingham’s absence, the Italian coach retained the diamond, with Brahim in midfield. The man from Malaga moves in the tight areas between the lines with enormous skill.
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Once the geometric problem was resolved, the game created an unsettling sensation. In the wake of the Champions League comeback, Ancelotti spoke a lot about the magic of the Bernabéu. Against UD Las Palmas, that magic became more and more murky as the minutes went by. There was no way they were going to hit Álvaro Valles’ net. It is true that García Pimienta’s team appeared in La Castellana with a very remarkable defensive record, scoring the fewest goals in the league with four like Athletic. But the resistance they offered was not even fleeting.
Madrid immediately recognized the space behind a very advanced defense and opened up the penalty area for long passes. The throws complied with all the rules, but on the other hand, the first inaccuracies became apparent: one step less that prevented the ball from being reached, poor control when the area was already entered, mishaps like that.
Real also got into the penalty area in other ways, many of them assisted by Brahim, who appeared to clarify ideas as the attack faded. Other times it came from Valverde’s advances or crosses from the wings. But then the magic appeared. Joselu, Rodrygo and even Nacho were in comfortable positions inside the penalty area and all their shots fell to Valles. Always to the body, to the hands, to a foot, always within a radius that barely required extending an arm.
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Between these almost direct attempts and others that failed further afield, frustration mounted in Madrid. The game was played almost exclusively on the Las Palmas pitch. It was the team with the fewest goals scored, but also the lowest scorer: with two goals, they got five points in six games.
García Pimienta’s team behaves with the desire to develop that the coach brought with him from La Masia. Jonathan Viera and Javi Muñoz, a white youth player, ensure order, ideas and calm in the center, but that is where their game usually dies, also because this time Madrid came to the game the moment it started, and not five or ten minutes later it was like that. They defended high and energetically, and many of the Canaries’ attempts didn’t even reach Viera and Muñoz’s line.
It wasn’t difficult for Madrid to arrive, but the arrival hardly caused despair. There were 17 missed shots before the injured Lucas Vázquez, who had just come on for Alaba, advanced to the right and made a short stop to create deadly space in the penalty area. Brahim received the penalty just before the penalty spot, which gave him time to maintain control and aim before the shot. Finally, the ball went into the goal after lightly touching Julián Araujo, on loan from Barcelona. Brahim’s relief was final. From the gate to the locker room.
Upon his return, the stands were delighted to see Vini running on the Bernabéu pitch once again. And that was just a warm-up. But Madrid have sorely missed the Brazilian’s ability to stun defenses and break plans. And when he wanted to return from his month-long injury recently before the Metropolitano derby, gastroenteritis prevented his return.
It was under this breeze of optimism that Joselu’s night opened. Of Madrid’s 18 shots in the first half, six, the clearest, were their own. In the seventh attempt he managed to head a Rodrygo cross into the net. Freed from the nasty spell, Ancelotti removed him from the field to give Vini just over half an hour. The stands were overdue for the Brazilian and celebrated his every move. It lacks rhythm and some precision, but retains the pervasive scent of constant menace. When the ball comes his way, everything around him vibrates, from the stands to the defense. It has arrived in time for the attack on the top of the league and the visit to Naples in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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