Real Madrid's miracle lamp in Europe is over
The comebacks, the feats, and the excitement are over. They were engulfed by a football machine, a rival shredder called Manchester City, which destroyed the white team in their best night in the Champions League (4-0).
Two goals from Bernardo Silva, one own goal by Éder Militao, another one from Julián Álvarez, and, above all, a torrent of gameplay in the first half erased Carlo Ancelotti's team from the map. Always late, always worse, the Madrid team lacked a better tactical scheme, many minutes of football, and the hunger that this time City had, which will never see the desired 'Champions' as close as this time.
Perhaps Real Madrid had never been seen so blurred on their favorite stage. Disappeared, defeated, without concentration, chasing a ball that was always elusive and had to be thankful it didn't end up in the net play after play. Real Madrid, the team that should never be considered dead, this time went to the Etihad without life.
Bound by a City that gave one of the most brilliant displays ever seen in the first half. The chances, which came one after another, were a reflection of an insulting dominance against the king of this. Only two impossible saves by Courtois, two close-range headers from Haaland, avoided the bleeding in the first twenty minutes. Real Madrid stood tall, but it was only a deception. They held on, only to fall repeatedly and deservedly.
De Bruyne delivered a magnificent pass to Bernardo, who finished fiercely, bringing down Courtois' wall, who had already exhausted all miracles and who couldn't do anything when Bernardo himself headed the ball floating in the area. He elegantly placed it in the corner with an unusual delicacy for this sport, more similar to making a tray in basketball or a drop shot in tennis, and dissipated Madrid's spirit, who could consider the 2-0 at halftime as acceptable. that was the level.
The break disrupted the rhythm of the hosts and allowed the courage of the white team to emerge, which, accustomed to European feats, trusted in a spark that would trigger another catharsis.
It could have been a free-kick from Alaba, who touched Ederson's fingers, it could have been one of the desperate runs from Rodrygo or Vinicius, but without consistency and without faith, it was impossible for the miracle to happen this time.
Only Courtois, once again, prevented his team from definitively throwing in the towel before time and extinguished Haaland's fire with a one-on-one in which the ball bounced off the Belgian's body and hit the crossbar from above.
Real Madrid, who deserved to be on the ropes for many minutes, was once again smiling at luck, but it was a smirk of sarcasm, of superiority. Like that prince who looks at the king knowing that someday he will fall and he will be the one sitting on the throne.
When Militao, in an attempt to clear a free-kick, sent the ball into his own goal, Real Madrid collapsed completely, surrendering to the new king, the one who will be crowned on June 10 in Istanbul if Inter Milan does not work a miracle almost as great as the one Real Madrid had in front of them on Wednesday: beating the best football team in the world, Pep Guardiola's team.
The goal from Julián Álvarez in the last breath was the final blow to a Real Madrid that few times, if any, was so surpassed in Europe. Now it remains to be seen if a squad that has won everything and that is aging in many positions is capable of rising from this.
EFE.