5-2. Vinicius is preparing for a new return to Real Madrid
Roberto Morales |
Madrid (EFE).- Real Madrid were back at the Santiago Bernabeu as they faced a dire situation in the Champions League, down 0-2 at half-time against Dortmund after losing to Lille.
It was a reaction full of pride in the rhythm of Vinicius, author of three of the five goals scored by the European champion in the second act, to show off his nakedness and boost his confidence before the classics.
The best version of Ancelotti’s men
Borussia Dortmund felt a “vendetta” of the Champions League final, their first conquest of the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid seemed ready for some deep football reflection as they eradicated all the draws in a majestic second half.
The football that was so required of him came in waves to overcome the two goals and cover up his shortcomings. A football storm that no opponent at the Bernabeu can withstand when it roars.
It doesn’t matter how big his advantage is. Where others drown, Ancelotti’s men save the best version of themselves.
It wasn’t a tactical test day out of necessity. Ancelotti buried his bid for Balaidos and reinstated the 4-3-3 formation with Rodrigo returning to the eleven.
Forced to turn to the 39-year-old in search of quality football, which he cannot find. Modric is accompanied in a double pivot by Fede Valverde, who is not enough no matter how many interceptions he makes, and Jude Bellingham, who is losing ball after ball and losing the freshness of last season in attack.
Lack of accuracy in the first half
The obligations were madridistas. Dortmund arrived at the Bernabeu with the liberation that two victories had given them. Nothing to lose.
At the start we saw a motivated, more intense Real Madrid, aware of what was at stake, with determination from the first act.
Which adds to the worry when he can’t make his opponent tremble at the Bernabeu on gala nights, as he did in the second act with a knife in his teeth, and can’t get a shot on goal until the 35th minute, when he was already down -2.
Until this moment, there were sparks on the flanks from Vinicius and Rodrygo, Mbappe’s search for no reward.
The precision that Modric was supposed to provide as the beacon to which Carletto turned turned into regrets for long balls that did not reach their destination.
And Ghirasi, who had already warned in battle about his danger at the point of attack and excellent handling with his back to the goal, set an unexpected direction for the fight.
Whistles from the stands
Half an hour later, with an excellent play, he attracted the central defenders and filtered a pass into space for the appearance of Malen, who easily and forcefully overcame Courtois’ desperate exit.
The strike caused instability in a Real team lacking self-confidence and four minutes later they were destined to save the situation from the impossible. Epic nights that Real Madrid fans love.
He used to fire his players with whistles because it’s hard to accept defeat in the White House, but what they don’t forgive is a lack of attitude. And there was one occasion in defense when Malen overtook Mendy’s team and Gittens scored at will with Lucas Vazquez marking behind him. Unprecedented defensive instability to date. Without stability in the midfield, which lacks figures.
Competitive gene
The champion’s pride was affected and he had no choice but to turn to the epic and find the football overwhelming due to the urgency, the final stretch of the first act being a preview of what would happen in the second.
Bellingham, unsure of himself and worried about not scoring, only forgave Vinicius’s jagged pass, slotted the shot softly into Kobel’s arms, and two minutes later it bounced off the crossbar and did his best to score.
As a result of another kick, the ball fell into Rodrigo’s goal, and then the Dortmund goalkeeper flew to prevent an own goal after a deflected cross.
Real Madrid were already biting, although in every attack of the German team it was a flank. This brought about the emergence of the one who always becomes the savior, Courtois, with the stretch of Brandt’s powerful long-range strike and the clearance of Nmecha.
In a scenario they already knew by heart, with a competitive gene that is passed on from generation to generation, no matter the scale of the task, the Real Madrid players rushed out of the dressing room imagining a new comeback.
They turned the game into a continuous search for a goal. The rival zone, depopulated by finishers, began to offer each center multiple options. The pace of the game forced Dortmund back until Sahin made a mistake on his substitution and put the defense at five.
And ecstasy came
The siege began with the team’s response, a good pass from Mendy, soft, until Lucas appeared at the far post, who was brought down by Kobel. Expanded with the first Vini notice. The goals, which had to be linked to each other, were as important as Courtois’s confidence in achieving them.
The ball taken from Malen gave up playing time as he lifted Real Madrid off the field. Mbappe’s cross with his right foot and Rüdiger’s header into the heart, disguised as the number 9 that Real doesn’t have in games.
Dortmund felt the same way as Manchester City, PSG or Chelsea did as “champions” upon their return. Nothing can stop Real Madrid anymore. After 107 seconds he equalized the score. Emotions were sparked by the disallowed goal, Vinicius’s first, due to an early offside call against Mbappe, which VAR eventually gave with suspicion.
The game was already a draw. The Madrid players could rest for half an hour to finish the job. And after a respite and a new save from Courtois, Vinicius’s confidence with a tunnel in the center of the field, which caused Dortmund’s counter-attack in superiority, ecstasy came to the Bernabeu.
Lucas paid his dues with an attack that culminated with a high cross kick. And Vinicius used all his football to ultimately win with superb precision.
Technical sheet:
5 – Real Madrid: Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Fede Valverde, Modric (Camavinga, m.72), Bellingham (Guler, m.90); Rodrigo (Chuameni, m.85), Vinicius and Mbappe (Ceballos, m.90).
2 – Borussia Dortmund: Male; Ryerson (Emre Can, d.76), Süle, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Brandt, Gittens (Anton, m.55), Nmecha (Beyer, m.76), Malen (Gross, m.64); and Ghirasi.
Goals: 0-1, m.30: Malen. 0-2, m.34: Gittens. 1-2, m.60: Rüdiger. 2-2, m.63: Vinicius. 3-2, m.83: Lucas Vazquez. 4-2, m.86: Vinicius. 5-2, m.93: Vinicius.
Referee: Istvan Kovac (Romania). He showed a yellow card to Vinicius (86) for Real Madrid.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the third day of the Champions League, played at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in front of 82,500 spectators.