Rodrygo buries hopes

Photo Credit To Agencia EFE

The scoring resurrection of Rodrygo Goes, a reference from the left side of a Real Madrid without Vinícius, buried with a beautifully crafted double the hopes of the leader’s pursuers, who increased the pressure with their triumphs, trusting in an Athletic Club that before the final of the Copa del Rey came up against a decisive save by Andriy Lunin at the Bernabéu.

Combining in the shaker the return to the competition after a break that burdens the Real Madrid squad with minutes and trips, and the proximity of the Copa del Rey final, the date with the history of Athletic Club, the result was a insipid football drink that Rodrygo improved. Between the longing of Vinícius and Nico Williams. The rhythm and verticality of two footballers who missed a match with the rhythm of a summer friendly.

It didn’t go badly for any of them. Because it seemed that Athletic had its mind elsewhere. More focused on avoiding a misfortune, like the one Yeray suffered with a muscle problem six days before the Cup final, than on firmly grabbing the fourth place that gives access to the ‘Champions’. There will be time for that. And a better stage than the Bernabéu. To Real Madrid for signing a victory that shortens the path to the title and with slight wear and tear in the face of an event marked in red: Manchester City.

Athletic’s brave start, with three corner kicks in just four minutes, taking the ball away from Real Madrid, collapsed in the first chance that Ancelotti’s team could take. Bad pressure after loss. Good reading by Brahim. Best ending for Rodrygo. Precisely at the Bernabéu, but with the Brazil shirt, he had closed his bad scoring streak. Seven games in a row without a goal for his club that he left in oblivion with one to add to the video of best goals.

Starting from the left lane, where Vinícius lives and which he was able to occupy today. Launching his drive inwards to culminate with an unstoppable inside hit with his right hand for Agirrezabala’s late flight. Out of nowhere, by one stroke, the leader already won before the eighth minute was up.

Inaccuracies marked the duel. Construction losses that cut off the pace. Real Madrid lacked a reference when Kroos increased his reliability with the ball. Longing for the lethal and participatory version of Bellingham. Back after his suspension after almost a month without presence in LaLiga. Indefinite between anchoring in the 9 zone, away from the ball, or looking for it falling to the center of the field.

Ancelotti looked for the defensive imbalance of Athletic’s centre-backs with the freedom of movement of Rodrygo and Brahim. Until his rival took risks in the second act, he barely found the path to danger. A left foot shot into the hands of Kroos’ goalkeeper, the saving hand down from Agirrezabala to Fede Valverde’s volley, the clearance that almost became an own goal from Vivian after Brahim’s death pass. Just a soft centered shot from Guruzeta for the visitors.

The moment of the match for Athletic was about to arrive. Still alive because the post repelled Brahim’s cross shot with which he returned to the game. He felt he had options as he found spaces but Lunin stopped them dead with a decisive stop.

From a serious Madrid defensive mistake in the marks on a corner kick, with Iñaki Williams alone at the far post to hook Berenguer’s cross. The response full of reflections on the line of the Ukrainian goalkeeper, protagonist of a progressive growth to ensure that the longing for Courtois is less than feared.

The leader did not want any more scares, to feed Barça’s hopes in his pursuit. He first regretted the referee’s interpretation in an action that could have been a penalty on Rodrygo, knocked down by Lekue in his race, annulled by an offside that should never have existed when receiving a pass from a rival. Later he found in Carvajal’s physical display an argument for the sentence, with two actions that should have ended in a goal.

But it was Rodrygo again, with Athletic increasing risks by advancing lines, finding the entire lane behind Lekue, who put brilliance in the definition to bring the curtain down on the match. The superior counterattack led by Bellingham, the Brazilian’s cut inside and the pass to the net. The joy mixed with the concern of a change due to Fede Valverde’s physical problems and the applause for Militao’s return to the playing fields against the team against which he was injured on the first day.