As if the collective uproar unleashed with Vinicius in the Mestalla had caused a space-time shift, the Bernabéu appeared to harbor a massive anomaly. A game was being played on the field, but one of the brightest football stars in the world was sitting in the box next to Florentino Pérez. An unusual image: an active footballer, at the right hand of the President of Real Madrid, not even in a private box. Vinicius, a player who has not missed a game since suffering a ligament injury in his right ankle against Ajax, was removed from the list four years later because of a left knee problem. Exactly in the game after the earthquake. But it was everywhere.
The banner that hung in the background above the animation initially reads: “We are all Vinicius, enough is enough.” Then the full starting XI came in their jerseys, after the formation photo, the substitutes joined them, and even Mariano, who was not called up in denim. They posed with their backs to the photographers and then the Brazilian appeared a little off the grass to greet the stands briefly before going up to settle in the box.
The teams also posed together behind an anti-racism banner, the result of another unprecedented movement: LaLiga de Tebas and the Rubiales federation had reached an agreement under the guidance of the Higher Sports Council. And so the game went on in Trantra, while the captains also wore the same anti-racism bracelet, with the aim of taking Vinicius to the next point of the program in the 20th minute. At that moment the stands sang his song name and he stood up to say hello.
The 1-0 was also a rarity. As if Palazón had fallen into the box after a shot from Nacho in a Madrid corner, the Whites demanded it be stopped. As Gil Manzano dropped the ball to resume play, Kroos suddenly accelerated and passed it to Benzema. The Rayo players were still chatting, waiting for the German to play backwards as usual. But he was looking for the depth of the Frenchman who combined with Valverde and ended up scoring.
The party was weird too. Benzema limped as if injured by the shot while Andoni Iraola’s players surrounded the referee, trying to understand what had happened to them.
Until then, they had not suffered either, and under Isis’s command they had lived very close to the Courtois area, even with a dangerous shot from Comesaña. The counterattack worked more for Madrid than midfield with Modric, Kroos and Camavinga, who hasn’t played on the left since the Manchester debacle. Ancelotti placed Rudiger there very safely throughout the afternoon, as did Alaba and Nacho, the central pair.
Real’s greatest danger and perhaps the most worrying anomaly in the race was a combination between Benzema and Rodrygo. The Brazilian was left alone in front of Dimitrievski and slipped on the penultimate step before the shot.
Despite the tiring rhythm and environmental emotions, the plucky Rayo de Iraola seemed unwilling to give up the option he had and still has after the game in Europe next season. They got the game going: a first Arreón with Trejo and then two smart forwards, Falcao and Real Madrid squad player RDT, who equalized the duel.
Then Rodrygo accelerated again and dug in from outside the area to end the afternoon where it had started: in Vinicius. The celebration consisted of standing still and raising the right fist against racism.
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