I doubt anyone truly believed Real Madrid could win this match. Not even the most optimistic fan, especially after the events of recent days. The truth is, Madrid entered this game with numerous absences and, above all, without the slightest enthusiasm. It was only logical that they ended up defeated. The problem, yet another this season, is that they hit the canvas in the first round. A devastating knockout. Barely twenty minutes had passed, and the score was already 2-0. They never recovered from the blow.
Was there any reaction from Madrid? It depends on how you look at it, whether you see the glass half full or half empty. Optimists will say Madrid recovered from that unexpected 2-0 (due more to its speed than anything else), while pessimists will argue that the home side chose not to waste energy unnecessarily, given that the match was well under control and Madrid was demoralized.
Vinicius was barely visible, despite having excelled in the previous game. The difference this time was that he wasn’t facing Espanyol. He had one clear chance, but Joan García was quicker and cleanly took the ball from him. Bellingham didn’t stand out either; he was elbowed inside the area, but referee Hernández Hernández chose to ignore it. And I ask: if he had previously called a foul on Gonzalo for a lighter elbow, why not this one? Because he didn’t see it, or because it would have meant a penalty and he didn’t want to spoil the hosts’ evening? The VAR never intervened, of course. Still, that potential penalty would have done little to justify Madrid’s overall performance. A Madrid without game, and above all, without soul.
The defeat could have been even worse, but Courtois, who was making his return, prevented it. In the end, Madrid settled for that meager 2-0. Hardly something to celebrate.
