Direct Narration and statistics
He hadn't had the option to warm up before replacing Rodrygo, so he had to stay on the pitch at half-time, accompanied by an assistant from Zidane.
From so many times seen, it seemed another sad night for Marco Asensio, one of those lefties who does not know gray.
Either he sees it all black or he goes with the flamethrower.
Without warning, he changed a game with two flashes.
The first, with the spur, hit the pole.
Two minutes later, he served the 1-0 to Casemiro's head with overwhelming smoothness.
With an inspired verse, plus Benzema's triumphal coda, it was enough for this Granada, who never aspires to the lyrical, but to the martial.
[Narration and statistics: 2-0]
In that warped center, next to the bottom line, he fit all night, the last of 2020 in Valdebebas.
From the left, his natural profile, Asensio made it clear that he is still there, in case anyone wants to be aware.
Perhaps there will not be many more days in which
Benzema
only appears in the add-on for 2-0.
Nor will there be plenty of times when Madrid is so short-sighted or so exposed to any gale.
That is why Asensio can appropriate his share of glory, which he could round off with an assist to Isco and a blow from the front.
What was clear is that a couple of brushstrokes are enough for this Madrid.
The range of nuances in recent weeks ranged from that delicious initial stretch in Ipurua to the inconsequential move in superiority against Athletic.
With the loss of the injured
Modric
and the incorporation of
Fede Valverde
, a team more torrential than academic was presumed.
However, the game was for too many minutes a catalog of deficiencies, related to pure football.
Or rather, with his failure to appear.
Granada treasured merits to score at least one point.
In a shot by Molina or in a cross head by
Quini
.
In that almost desperate attempt, he was able to find what he had deserved long before.
Benzema took advantage of despair, with a terrifying coldness of resolution.
The Frenchman walks in a fervor of inspiration that allows him to solve in an instant what previously took him weeks.
Not otherwise could a result so little illustrative of what was seen on the grass be solved.
For many minutes Madrid could not get it out clean, because they were suffocating Ramos and on the contrary
Varane
had the connection cable stripped.
If there was no way to turn the play, or to look for lateral centers, let alone create chances near
Rui Silva
.
Throughout the first half, a shot from Kroos from the front and a subtle combination from the left between
Rodrygo
and Benzema.
In case the problems were not pressing enough, Rodrygo was injured at the end of the break, after a previous takedown by Foulquier.
The intensity of Diego Martínez
"High, high," ordered the pressure
Diego Martínez
.
"From there they do not leave," exhorted the Galician coach, while
Soldier
pestered from the first line of shock.
The Granada did not leave a single detail to chance, pending the blocks in the corner kicks and the rocking to the beat.
With amazing conviction.
Sometimes the game must look more like a cuirassier charge than a chamber quintet.
However, as Martinez well knew, a bit of quality was lacking in the pass.
And let's not say one more pinch of pepper above.
Antonio Puertas
wasted the best chance, when not even a minute had elapsed, and shortly after Kenedy did not take advantage of a bad start by Courtois.
It may seem meager baggage, but everything else was impeccable.
Each piece had been assembled in the exact spot of the red gear.
The involvement of Granada had been evident in a detail, quite early riser, by the way.
At the moment when
Kenedy
was stretched out by a ball in the crotch, Soldado was the first to exhort him to get up.
That team did not give up and even
Martínez Munuera
seemed overwhelmed.
The half hour had not been completed when
Foulquier
stepped on Mendy for an obvious yellow, but even the referee was four visiting footballers.
"If I have to put up with this in minute 27, I notice that someone is on the street."
Shortly before the break, Diego Martínez received the punishment of the yellow card.
So much effort, with the throat and the slate, was without reward, although by no means forgotten.
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