• This is how we live it Narration and statistics

The only regime with which Madrid can be associated without any debate is the European Cup, the Champions League, in black and white or color, in dictatorship as in democracy. Stamford Bridge is another of the places where he imposes his law and his order that so many times is a different, incomprehensible order, on the way to the meeting, if logic is fulfilled, with the coach who owes so much to Joan Laporta. Pep Guardiola coaches Manchester City, but he is Barça in the flesh. A Barça, today, in flames by a video of Madrid that remembers him with his arm raised, in response to the populist soflama of his escapist president. Taking up arms from the offending always produces more offense, and more with something that produced so much pain and confrontation. Madrid is doing better on the pitch, in its true regime, in the Champions League.

The semi-final for which he qualified at Stamford Bridge, under the gaze of the King Emeritus, invited in the box, also had in a former Barça the man who could give hope to Chelsea, that hopeless rich man who makes so much jewel extravagant. Marc Cucurella appeared to Polyphemus in the area. It was Courtois, the first mast of a Madrid that did not need to be the best to win also in the second leg of the quarters, but it was enough to wait for his moment, executed by Rodrygo, a player who appears and disappears, subtle, elusive, and who has with the Champions the same idyll as his team. Last year's comebacks proved it. In the new ownership is the prize of Carlo, the righteous.

It was up to Frank Lampard to change dynamics, but what he did was change to two stars. Joao Felix, indolent in Chamartín, started on the bench in exchange for the spirited Gallagher. In quality they are not comparable; in commitment, either. He also disappeared from the eleven Sterling and in his place came Havertz, a plethoric footballer, who gave problems, but did not bring the goal. Like none of the individualities in two complete matches. Dramatic. Kepa's good stops don't sustain anything respectable.

For the rest, the English coach opted to use the same line of five in defense, although with casualties of his starters, such as Koulibaly, and throw Kanté to the interior area. That's where the greatest danger came to Madrid, since partnering with James was too much for Camavinga. Vinicius doesn't help. It's for something else. Kanté arrived at that place at the first opportunity to change the tie, at the start. Alone to Courtois, he threw outside. At the beginning of the second part, he returned to the same place. Militao prevented the goal. Vinicius needed Madrid to stretch, but he remained behind, more speculative than usual, despite Ancelotti's gestures on the wing. Any goal could make Chelsea believe. Rodrygo arrived earlier, who threw to the post, and when Modric served him the goal, Vini mistook his leg.

The match had entered, already in the outcome of the second half, in an exchange of blows that was prolonged, given the needs of Chelsea. It was more than ever Lampard's all or nothing. In that situation, nobody runs like Madrid. The lightweight Rodrygo came out throw, got rid of Chabolah in a gesture. Over the line he sent Benzema. The ball followed for Vinicius, who this time chose the best. Rodrygo scored head-on. The tie was over. Then it was time for Joao Felix. These quarters have proved Simeone right. It's humility. It's time to run.

In Madrid they all do it and much closer to the end, when the spaces appear. Valverde had done it in the first half without his effort finding fruit. Now he has returned to the Chelsea area, which was already a gruyere cheese, after Lampard's changes made the team unintelligible. Rodrygo was again its beneficiary, while at Stamford Bridge "Viva España!" was sung and the supporters left.

Madrid's semi-final may be the best club match to be witnessed if City assert a 3-0 first leg win in Munich today. The only downside is the loss of Militao, cautioned at Stamford Bridge, especially if the duel is against Haaland. It is for football, since it opposes the culture of the game that Guardiola personifies against the culture of faith, of mentality, which Madrid embodies like no one else. Play and believe, believe and play. That's football. The contamination is going to be great, in the middle of this civil war that will insist, if necessary, on asking Guardiola for a position. A pity, because if City does not fail we are facing a huge semifinal, which does not need misery.

  • Real Madrid

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