Real Madrid prolonged in Butarque the good performances shown against Osasuna and began to show the potential that was presumed. Present and future, with Camavinga in the middle and Ceballos by his side, the white team discounted another two points to Barcelona by tuning the fearsome BMV. Bellingham, Mbapp and Vinicius opened and closed the uncontested victory of Ancelotti’s team 0-3 against a willing Legans. They held out for most of the first half, but had no choice.
In Legans, the most solid Madrid was confirmed despite (or thanks to) Ancelotti’s lineup changes. For rotation or rest ahead of the match against Liverpool, he moved the eleven and got it right. It was no coincidence. He set Madrid up in Butarque with four midfielders without the ball and a 4-2-3-1 in attack, with Ceballos at the base alongside Camavinga, Arda on the right and Mbapp on the left.
Within five minutes, Kylian had already tested Altimira twice. A complicated evening awaited him. The Lega joined with five at the back to resist from the start and to get their heads out later. The plan was only half successful. He could have conceded the first in a dizzying run by Kylian, but he again anticipated the start and ruined his goal with another offside. It’s a LaLiga record.
Madrid overcomes first scare
Because Borja Jimnez’s team minimized the damage from the start. With the parameters that gave them the promotion, Lega is an orderly, self-sacrificing and versatile team, where even the most talented players work hard. Juan Cruz started as a right winger and, when the initial intensity of the visitors slackened, he went to the right to seek a duel with Fran Garca. There, he broke away to beat the full-back and Camavinga to pass to Munir, who shot against the crossbar. The offside was obvious.
Despite the shock, Madrid did not suffer at the back. With Raul Asencio stabilized, responding to the classic profile of an aggressive central defender. He went out to cross and came back early, with his head. The return of Courtois, essential, and the sacrifice of Valverde, who accepts the task imposed on him as a good captain, also played a part in this new-found solidity. The fact is that the top players began to appear. Like Arda Gler, who has class to give away. Dmitrovic saved a shot on goal after escaping from Munir and Javi Hernandez. Also Bellingham, who enjoys like a little boy in the midfield. He put in two exquisite balls to Vinicius that Dmitrovic, very attentive, had to keep out.
Mbapp gives Madrid clarity
But the match was already being played in the Puebla’s half, exposed to the possibility of a local mistake or an away goal to tilt it. Both happened. Altimira wanted to come out on the ball, Camavinga pressed, Bellingham stole, Vinicius collected and delivered the goal to Mbapp, who came from the left. The BMV tuning up at Butarque.
The goal gave Madrid the upper hand before and after the break. Without generating chances, it is true, but comfortably. Ceballos played in the middle, taking fewer risks than usual. He improves when he is contained. Mbapp changed position in the second act so that Vinicius frequented his favorite lane. In the center, the Brazilian collides with more defenders. Sometimes he fakes, as in a foul where he complained about his face when he was brushed in the chest. And at other times he is penalized by his fame. As in a knockdown of Altimira in the area that was more penalty than 150 others that have been called this season. Alberola didn’t call it and the VAR didn’t warn him. Well, that’s fine.
Valverde debuts his badge with a great goal
Lega and Madrid assumed that the sentence was a matter of time. It came from a set piece, from an indirect free kick that Ceballos touched, Gler stepped on and Valverde smashed it past the post. First captaincy and 25th goal as a madridista. Well executed and poorly defended, with a scarce and not very intense barrier. These concessions condemn a team that needs to do everything perfectly to give a response to the big teams in LaLiga.
With the changes, the outlook did not improve for Lega, who only threatened to generate danger with Juan Cruz’s details and Brasanac’s criteria. On the other hand, Madrid were grateful for the substitutions. They were few and far between, as is the norm at the club. Brahim came on (for Gler, lest the Turk complete a match even if he shines) and was right to try to finish a corner kick rejected at the front. The rebound hit the crossbar and Bellingham headed in the third. Second consecutive goal for the Englishman.
Mbapp could have added to the scoreline, but he was unable to get a hand to hand shot off the stump. From more to less the Frenchman, who was substituted. Modric and Endrick came on for the final whistle, but the score remained unchanged. BMV Madrid came out of Butarque reinforced and look to Anfield with confidence. There is still a long season ahead.
