• Chronicle: The classic sanctifies Vinicius
  • Vinicius. "I always try that goal"
  • Analysis: Barcelona collapses in the classic of decrepitude
  • The clause: With Cristiano Ronaldo everything was better
  • Piqué. "The Madrid of the first part is the worst I've encountered in the Bernabéu"

At the end of September 2018, just three days after that brilliant 3-0 against Rome, yawns at the Bernabéu became a unanimous cry to ease the tedium against Espanyol: Mariaaaano !! The striker came to amaze with a great goal in the Champions League and Julen Lopetegui accepted the popular request. However, in that half hour, the heir of 7 Cristiano Ronaldo could not repeat successful auctioneer. Nor later, given that in his next 12 league games and four Champions games he only converted three goals. At Zinedine Zidane's orders, his progression seemed so stagnant that the transfer option was handled as more than feasible last summer.

It is worth the bitterness of the precedents to better understand what the classic supposed on Sunday for Mariano Díaz, author of 2-0 in the added time. With 24 to the back, and forgotten any heavy load of 7, had entered the lawn one minute before replacing Karim Benzema. Given the narrowness of the result, the Bernabéu barely noticed his presence. However, it was a very relevant moment for Barcelona: nothing less than his first minutes of this season in LaLiga.

"He is the third striker"

The inexplicable designs of football smiled at Mariano, one of those players who must carve out in each training that reaches others with mere talent. "He is the third forward of this team," said Zinedine Zidane, aware that this goal will not suddenly change his status on the squad. The Frenchman, who had left Luka Jovic out of the call by technical decision, preferred to send a message to the rest of the meritories. «Mariano hasn't had many minutes so far, but I'm very happy for his goal. Today he had the opportunity and he has done very well. I will continue to count on everyone because they fight throughout the week and deserve this kind of opportunity ».

Mariano's indefatigable spirit, of course, should serve as an example to Luka Jovic or James Rodríguez , both outside the call by technical decision. The alarming introspection of the Serbian, inside and outside the lawn, added to the parsimony of the Colombian, almost always mired in the abulia, contrast with the involvement of the Barcelona, ​​who until now had only had 44 minutes in the Super Cup, against Valencia and Atlético . A sprained ankle frustrated his Champions debut against Bruges and various injuries further truncated his plans in recent weeks. In the winter market, Madrid had returned to study various offers, although the most surprising came from his hometown. As this newspaper reported, Barcelona's interest was finally frustrated due to its five million salary and the subsequent commitment of Quique Setién to Martin Braithwaite . To add more pepper to the matter, the Danish was stunned before Thibaut Courtouis in his clear chance for 1-1. The three points remained in Chamartín and Real Madrid regained the gallantry of who is seen again at the front of the table.

The calendar

"The triumph gives us high, moral, because it has been a complicated week and it has been an opportunity to change that," Zidane admitted, more than satisfied with the improvement after the break, concretized in the quality of Toni Kroos and the incessant laboriousness of Casemiro with the broom. «We deserved it for everything we have done offensively and defensively. It is what I highlight today, our strength, first is to defend together and then we know that at any moment we can have opportunities to score goals and the second part has been very clear to us. The first part has been matched, our pressure above was not perfect and in the second it was much better, ” Zizou analyzed about those waves of Fede Valverde that spurred the entire stadium. Of course, the final images of Marcelo , celebrating as a possessive the clearance that truncated the possible 1-1 of Leo Messi , evidence the growth of Madrid after the break. Now the duel back at El Etihad Stadium is looked more optimistically. Waiting for what happens with Eden Hazard , who could go through the operating room in the next few hours, the horizon suddenly looks much more encouraging.

Zidane, obviously, must opt ​​for prudence. «Triumph means nothing. We have to continue in what we believe, because it will be complicated until the end », the Frenchman predicted, aware of all the curves that await a leader with only one margin point. In the remaining 12 days, six of them at the Bernabéu, Madrid must still travel to San Sebastián (April 5) or Bilbao (May 3) and receive Valencia (March 22) or Getafe (April 26). The rest seems somewhat simpler. Meanwhile, Barcelona visits Pizjuán (April 5) and La Cerámica (May 3) and receives Athletic and Atlético at Camp Nou on April 12 and 26.

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