This is the answer. After two hits as frustrating as those suffered in Malaga and Alcoy there were only two paths. Get carried away and consummate the free fall of the project in Vitoria by clinging to weight losses (Ramos, Carvajal, Nacho … and Zidane!) Or jump onto Mendizorroza’s lawn with pride, ambition and a spirit of revenge to give back to the fans a lost smile amid so much competition lost in a bad way. With Bettoni on the bench (Zizou, get well soon, mister!), The current league champion faced the centenary of the historic Alavés as if it were his own. He took over the ball thanks to that pair formed by Kroos and Modric, who being plugged in, they have no one to overshadow them. Especially Luka, who went back to playing with the Aladdin’s lamp sewn into his boots. The little Croatian genius is the thread and needle of this Madrid that needs his clairvoyance to find motorways without traffic where others only see a tunnel with poor lighting. This is where a necessary, fair and therapeutic triumph began to emerge. This victory was much needed to regain self-esteem, a sense of duty and the power of intimidation so that Atleti de Simeone does not think that they will win the League in March due to the unconditional surrender of their neighbor. Madrid must squeeze the cholitos and be prepared to jump on the dam the first day they fail. Why not this Sunday against Valencia?
Karim 15, Messi 14. You already know that this centennial Alavés has the nickname of ‘El Glorious’. Well, that name is the one that Benzema has earned today. Brutal his display in attack. He made it 0-2 with control and an unstoppable shot for Pacheco, and at 1-4 he made a cut and a crossed shot to frame. Little by little it is billing. Add 15 goals in the course, one more than Messi and only one less than top scorer En Nesyri. The ‘captain’ goes at his own pace and we cannot ask him to accumulate goals like Lewandowski (the present) or Haaland (the future). But his resources in attack and his plasticity allow him to continue believing in his hierarchy as the spearhead of the team. With matches like Mendizorroza’s and at 33 years old, there is Karim for a while …
Belgian shoots. So is. Finally Hazard gave us 40% of what he can do and what he often did in his successful time at Chelsea. At the moment we settle for a touch with the heel that is counted as assistance to Karim in the 0-2, and with a goal of beautiful definition (good control and splendid shot with a mince in the 0-3). In the 62nd minute he left the contest to give Vinicius quality minutes. Hopefully the Belgian goes to more and is finally decisive now that the dangerous Atalanta (he scored three against Milan at the San Siro!) Begins to appear on the horizon of Europe (the Bergamo game will be played just in a month).
Much Alavés. It is true that it was not the Centennial that the people of Vitoria had dreamed of. But Madrid also took a stick in its Centenary (the Cup final lost with Depor at the Bernabéu) and after three months it raised the Ninth in Glasgow. Del Alavés I am left with that unforgettable final of the UEFA Cup in 2001 with Liverpool (I promise you that I cried with rage with Geli’s final own goal) and with that enthusiastic fans that when I return to the stands Mendizorroza will turn into a party. Congratulations slime foxes!
Go for the double. I’m not kidding. Despite everything, Madrid is in a position to fight for the league title and only seven games to lift 14. The other day I saw everything lost, but today I believe in a happy end of the course. It’s football. There is no logic. Blessed passion.
