As expected, the first fight from the Metropolitan in 454 days was taken by
Cristiano Ronaldo
. It was the first of a few. In the warm-up, when his name was mentioned over the PA to announce the line-ups and a good handful when the ball approached his boots. But it was not the only one. It also rained on Luis Enrique from the stands when the
speaker
, the same one who entertains Atlético de Madrid matches, mentioned his name after the initial line-up of Spain. Come on, the typical thing that happened until the pandemic put football and much of the planet into mute mode.
The official number of spectators was
14,743
. Just a pinch less than the 15,000 seats that were available for the duel because of the capacity limits. But Wanda once again sounded like football, which is what really matters. All seated and at a distance. And, of course, nothing to eat or drink on the seat so that the mask does not move from its natural place even one millimeter.
In the north end, next to the scoreboard, a handful of Portuguese fans were making themselves known. They even came to celebrate a goal, from the central
Fonte
, which was annulled for getting on the back of
Pau Torres
. As there was not much rhythm on the grass, anything was worth to liven up the matter. Including the "Oops!" when Unai Simón cleared with his feet a ball destined for his hands, which ended up crashing against Cristiano's body, to the delirium of a large part of the stands.
In the box, despite the almost 30 degrees in Madrid, no one loosened his tie or took off his commemorative match scarf.
The number 100 between both teams.
From time to time, King
Felipe VI would
clean up a play with
Marcelo Rebelo
de Sousa, the president of Portugal, whom he had at his side.
And
Pedro Sánchez
, the President of the Government, did the same with
Luis Rubiales
, the highest representative of the Spanish Football Federation.
The mayor of the capital,
José Luis Martínez-Almeida
,
was also in that noble area
, who had been there just two weeks for the ceremony of delivery of the League to his Atlético.
The box of authorities of the Metropolitan.Manu FernandezAP
The Iberian candidacy to jointly organize the 2030 World Cup had been made official minutes before the start of the match, in the anteroom of the stadium authorities.
King Felipe VI and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, symbolically exchanged shirts from both countries with their names on the back.
Hours before, they had met privately to eat on a terrace in Madrid's Plaza de Oriente.
Also present were the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and Antonio Costa, Portuguese Prime Minister.
Luis Rubiales, president of the RFEF, and Fernando Soares Gomes, head of the Portuguese federation, signed the official document.
Let koke come out
Some amazing things happened. For example, that
Pepe
, the central defender who continues to lead Portugal's defense at 38 years old, received a standing ovation, without division of opinions when
Fernando Santos
, the Portuguese coach, at about time of the game, decided that it was his turn to return. to the bench. The former Real Madrid player, naturally, returned the gesture, probably hallucinating, with another applause to the fans. It was the first time he had stepped on the Metropolitan.
Without Sergio
Ramos
, the Spanish bracelet was worn, as planned, by
Sergio Busquets
, the new captain. But in his absence, without
Jordi Alba
or
Koke
, the captaincy went to
Morata
, who was playing his 40th game with the Spain shirt. By the way, the rojiblanco midfielder, whom the fans claimed from their seats while warming up on the band, ended up taking the other ovation of the afternoon. From Pepe to Koke. Curious.
The public was left with the desire to see a goal.
And that they were already singing, with time expired, when Morata, who scored half of his 22 goals as a rojiblanco in that same stadium, left alone towards the goal of Portugal.
His shot crashed into the crossbar and the stands dedicated a: "How bad you are!"
At least next Tuesday, he will have a chance to make amends not far from there.
It will be in Butarque (Leganés), against Lithuania.
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