Narration This is how we live it
At times, Real Madrid believed that they had the League in their hands. That
Nacho's
shin
was going to be a passport to get closer to glory, while the news came from the Metropolitan that Osasuna gave the surprise, that he resisted the tie, that later he went ahead, that later Atlético returned to tie ... While defending itself against an Athletic more impetuous than precise, Real Madrid prayed to San Fermín. But his prayers were not heard and his victory, essential, ended up having a bittersweet taste. He won, which was what he had to do, but ...
The three points harvested in San Mamés gave
Zidane's
team
the lesser evil, to remain hooked on the fight for the title without depending on himself, and without Barcelona in the equation.
His accounts for the alirón are simple: he must win in Valdebebas against Villarreal and trust that Valladolid, who will be playing the permanence, scratch at least one draw against Atlético in the Nuevo José Zorrilla.
Numbers that do not invite white optimism, but neither did those of this day and Madrid was aiming to give the bell and place itself in the bow of the championship.
Zidane's bet
On the day that his chances of winning the League were at stake, Zidane clung to his convictions above the hierarchies. Hence, with all due merit,
Miguel Gutiérrez
was a starter ahead of
Marcelo
and that as the third man in attack he opted for
Rodrygo
instead of
Hazard
or
Asensio
. Generous legs in the defensive effort, thinking of a game development in which the priority would be to minimize risks and attack without losing sight of the power of Athletic on the counterattack. And in that, young people are today more reliable than veterans.
The duel did not allow any of them to shine, because it was played at low revs, without a single shot on goal between the two teams before the break. Madrid dominated the stage more, but always did it by half, looking for depth through the bands without knowing how to take advantage of it. Athletic, a team that tends to be distracted by rivals of its size or smaller, rarely loses concentration when it runs into a behemoth.
Thus was the party, rather thick, clinging to the certainties without wanting to explore the unknown, when
Morcillo's
hand arrived
. Yes, a hand in a Real Madrid game. It seems like a recurring song, even forced, but the reality is what it is.
Odriozola
crossed and the ball hit Morcillo's elbow. It is true that the Biscayan made an attempt to retract his arm towards the torso, but it is no less so that at the moment of impact he was in an unnatural position, occupying an extra space, ultimately slowing the sending of the Gipuzkoan side.
Mateu Lahoz
had it clear: there was nothing.
Iglesias Villanueva
reviewed it from the VAR and gave the go-ahead, more perhaps due to the limitations of the protocol (it is, after all, an action subject to interpretation) than due to his own personal evaluation of the play, whether or not it was consistent. with that of the field referee. Whatever it was, the final decision not to award a penalty fuels the feeling of refereeing offense felt by Real Madrid in this final stretch of the League.
Reached the rest without more incentive than a lack of Berenguer next to the stick, Real Madrid made an amendment in the break.
Atlético was not capable of winning either and not only did the Whites have the option of taking the lead, but at that time Valladolid, the last mattress season, was a Second-class team.
Madrid could hardly rely on someone else's puncture at Zorrilla in those circumstances.
A step forward
So Zidane's men understood that it was time to start taking risks, even if it meant exposing themselves to counterattacks like the one that ended with
Courtois
making a save against Morcillo. And Madrid began to overturn Simón's goal, each time more insistently, each time producing a greater sensation of suffocation in Athletic, with Simón appearing before
Modric
in a low and far shot. His tremors even with Casemiro's header to the crossbar at game time.
And then: Nacho's pimple.
A corner, a 'gilicórner' of those that so unnerve the fans, transformed into a ball that goes from here to there, like a 'pinball', until the ball reaches
Casemiro
, that omnipresent guy, in the second stick, with
De Marcos
hooked and denying the offside.
The Brazilian finishes crossed, or centers, or who knows what he does.
The fact is that the ball beats Benzema (who was in positional offside, but without disturbing any rival) and when Nacho wants to realize that he has the goal in his boots, the ball is already inside Simón's goal. .
With the shin, rebound, unconsciously ... What difference does it make, it is the same.
The news from the Wanda
He ran the minute 68, more than 20 ahead to preserve a result that at that time was a treasure, a passport to win the League in the last day depending on himself.
Even more after Osasuna's goal.
But then, not so positive news began to arrive (for Madrid, of course) from Wanda.
Just as Vesga touched the head tie, Lodi scored the tie.
Just when Mateu expelled
Raúl García
with a direct red, Suárez scored the second.
And Madrid was left with the feeling of having touched a perfect day.
He continues in the fight, but the League is not in his hands.
Still not.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Real Madrid
Athletic Bilbao
Casemiro
LaLiga Santander 2020 - 2021Militao dons Sergio Ramos' suit to give life to Real Madrid
FootballThe 'renewal plan' of Madrid and the great decision of Zidane
LaLiga Santander 2020 - 2021The time of Miguel Gutiérrez, Valdebebas star and model student: "He is the best of his generation"
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