Like many of the important moments in the history of Real Madrid, this League that was billed last night springs from a stir . The resurgence of mud is in the club's DNA, be it on nights of European comebacks or in Lisbon . Do things very badly and then correct them in a big way. Few shields have that ability to resuscitate, that taste for explosive moments, like couples who enjoy anger and subsequent reconciliation. An exciting journey. And stressful.
The new Madrid champion of Zidane arises from a lousy 2018/19 season finale, which did not improve even with the sudden return of the French, crowned by a friendly embarrassment against the worst possible rival.
"They have taken it as a final," Ramos said in New Jersey after falling 7-3 , in a phrase that ended up embittering the white fans at dawn, many convinced in the middle of summer that the course would be a ruin without solution. They and all the analysts (also the one who writes these lines) forgot that burying Madrid in a hurry is not usually a good habit, especially when Zidane, a true wizard of titles , appears in the equation .
TRIAL IN PIZJUÁN
After a disastrous preseason, between bad results, injuries ( Hazard, Asensio ) and stuck exits (Bale, James), Madrid started to stumble, between victories and league draws and a start to Champions never seen. He reached the third day with a single point and serious risk of being eliminated in the group stage. In Pizjuán, against a Sevilla that led the table in the first days, Madrid had an important victory with a formula then squeezed and improved: defensive seriousness, few concessions and a winning goal by Karim Benzema .
THE GREAT CRISIS
But the victory in Pizjuán did not stabilize the white team, without luster in the game and still fragile at times. The night of Bruges, in the Champions League, became an unexpected trance due to defensive holes. Madrid advanced with difficulties, as if it still dragged Atlético's summer goring. No stellar signings ( Pogba was still in Manchester), with Hazard out of shape, the young people for the first time ... The solution, suddenly, were footballers who had brushed the exit, like James and Bale, a couple that dragged conflicts with Zidane, at that his unshakable faith in the old guard was questioned, from Marcelo to Luka Modric or Toni Kroos.
At the club there was doubt as to whether it had been a good idea to recover the Marseillaise. Thus came a defeat in Mallorca that completely stressed Madrid, just on the eve of risking the European future in Istanbul. The possibility, advanced by this newspaper, that the coach could lose his position in the event of defeat in Turkey shook the expedition, amidst bad faces from the players and an atmosphere of suspicion for the name he was willing to take over the bench: Mourinho. In the previous, Ramos asked to go to a press conference to defend his coach:
"I think Zidane deserves more respect." From that conspiracy came a relief victory (0-1) and a change of tone. On the pitch, the Frenchman opted for two fresh faces that would become regular, Valverde and Rodrygo . His physical deployment gave the team another air, more secure on all lines.
SOLID PROGRESSION
Winter brought the consolidation of Zidane's new plan, which made his team understand that only from defensive rigor would he have options to compete. Firmness behind, possession in the middle and efficiency above. Courtois began to be decisive , while the results made the curves forget. From the classic wandering at the Camp Nou, Madrid came out convinced that the draw was little prize. The images of the Varane squad that the VAR did not point out have been remembered by the dressing room in recent weeks, when the classic singing of refereeing help thundered.
The progression was awarded in the Arab Super Cup in January, an exotic trophy that made Madrid feel good and Barcelona fatal, in crisis since then. In the victory Valverde stood out for a field action (kick and red for cutting an athletic counterattack in overtime) that saved his team. The Uruguayan was already one of the names of the season.
Two weeks later, Madrid took over the league leadership in Valladolid. The night was marked by the death of Kobe Bryant , known minutes before the game. The white locker room, very much an NBA fan, was shocked. The win was dedicated to the Lakers star.
BEWILDERMENT
The second crisis of the season came on the eve of the epidemic. When Madrid seemed better to move, he stumbled in two straight starts, Levante and Betis, and lost the first leg of the Champions League. Hazard's relapse was the finishing touch to a few weeks of turbulence, where the whites alternated firecrackers with energetic nights like the classic at the Bernabéu. Vinicius' goal opened the victory and the conquest of the goal average for Barcelona, an important psychological blow to the maximum rival. The displeasure that remained - still solvable on August 7 - was 1-2 against City.
FULL AT TEN
From the confinement came the intractable Madrid. Good physical work plus the commitment point of a team in need of proving that they could be champion without Cristiano Ronaldo have propelled them to a streak of ten consecutive victories. Courtois grew, Ramos led the defense and from the penalty spot and Benzema moved the attack with goals and assists (that heel). League 34 is drawn with many faces.
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Know more- Real Madrid
- Eden Hazard
- Thibaut Courtois
- Gareth Bale
- Toni Kroos
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Karim Benzema
- Kobe Bryant
- Luka modric
- Marcelo
- Sevilla FC
- Champions League
- First division
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See links of interest
- Last minute
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- Themes
- Eibar - Real Valladolid
- Real Madrid - Villarreal, live
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- Barcelona - Osasuna
- Celta de Vigo - Levante