Joaquín Sabina writes in Motivos de un sentiment, the anthem for Atlético’s centenary:
“”What a way to dream,
what a way to learn,
what a way to suffer,
what a way to clap,
what a way to live.”
Girona experienced a bit of all of this this afternoon at the Bernabéu, where they took an important step back in their aspirations for the title, thoroughly shaken by Real Madrid, as already happened in Montilivi against the only team that has known how to win. this season, in which it is already five points away from them in the table.
Without players like Yangel Herrera, Daley Blind and without Míchel on the bench, Girona, despite the beating, was faithful to its style at all times. He began by taking the ball away from Madrid from the first minute and presented a very offensive scheme, with a pressing midfield and three midfielders: Portu, Tsygankov and Savinho behind their Ukrainian striker, Dovbyk.
The truth is that in the first half, Girona’s choral football silenced the Bernabeú in many moments. Madrid, on a day without natural centre-backs because they were playing with Tchouaméni and Carvajal in the axis of the defence, took a minute and a half to touch the ball, but Girona learned very quickly that Madrid has never been a tuned orchestra that plays music Theirs would rather be a band of bugles and drums and its rhythm a military march.
Madrid only has direct play in its DNA and three horizontal passes in a row make the Bernabéu very nervous and the whistles are already emerging.
While Girona interpreted their game and surrounded Lunin’s area in the sixth minute, Vinícius was hit by a ball. The Brazilian hit a formidable shot that beat Gazzaniga into the top corner. When Vinícius focuses on the game and does not go crazy with fights with referees and opponents, he has things that point to world-class success. Today’s game may have been his best of the season.
Girona did not fade with the hit. He followed his team, touching the ball, but too soft and harmless as soon as he stepped into the opponent’s area. Madrid had immediately found the game they wanted. He waited behind and found free spaces to counterattack and Girona, rather than enjoying themselves, spent the entire time suffering.
The second goal seemed more likely than the tie because Lunin did not have to intervene once in the entire first half. After some errors in the last pass in plays that seemed very clear, it was 2-0 in the 35th minute with an outside pass from Vinícus that left Bellingham facing Gazzaniga. The Englishman had the ability to dribble and score into an empty goal, he had not scored since December 17
The second half began with a change in Míchel’s team. Pablo Torre entered for Portu. Girona came out more threatening because in the first five minutes they finished off Lunin twice, something he had not been able to do in the first act. However, his good intentions came crashing down again at the first opportunity. In the 54th minute, Vinícius tore through Girona’s defense like a soft cheese. He told Yan Couto that he was being watched a lot and came out very badly. After getting away from him with ease, his shot was barely rejected by Gazzaniga and he was there to plug it into the Bellingham net. who scored his double, his twentieth goal of the season.
Moments later Ancelotti replaced him with Brahim because the Englishman had injured his ankle and on Tuesday Lepizig awaits in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
The afternoon was already going bad for Girona, who continued attacking with a lot of people but couldn’t find a way to hurt the white defense and their two improvised centre-backs.
The punishment continued in the 61st minute with another individual play, this time from Rodrugo, who started everything and made it 4-0 to continue the party at the Bernabéu, which started with shouts of “Xavi stay, Xavi stay.”
From there and with everything decided, massive changes came. Girona brought on Valery, Stuani and Solíis and Ancelotti withdrew Vinícius, Kroos and Mendy for Modric, Brahim and Fran García.
The last quarter was torture for Girona, who suffered counterattacks that seemed like they were going to make a comeback. Brahim missed a couple of chances due to a lack of precision in the shot and the handball did not finally arrive because Joselu took a penalty in added time. Madrid moves away from the lead.