Real Madrid arrives for tonight’s game (Tuesday, 22:00, live on 5 PLUS) against Inter knowing they are the only Spanish team to be safe in their place in the last eight of the Champions League. While all four other Spaniards can still join her, they can all also finish their way already at the home stage.
Anyone who remembers Real’s incredible loss at the Santiago Bernabeu to Sheriff Tiraspol may be surprised. But that loss – perhaps the most surprising in the history of the Champions League – was a one-off mishap. He did not testify to any problem that exists in Carlo Ancelotti’s team. On the contrary: the “Blancos” have won all four of their other games, and tonight’s home draw against Inter will guarantee them first place and a more comfortable opponent in the draw that will take place on Monday.
And so, while Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Sevilla will have to sweat tonight and tomorrow, Real Madrid come into the game calm and with a great deal of confidence ahead of the road to the Champions League. What is surprising is that despite the excellent results and impressive ability, no one on the continent really believes that Real can go all the way and also win the trophy.
Fact: In all the betting agencies, Real is ranked only seventh among the candidates to lift the trophy with the big ears. Yes, seventh – after the faltering Manchester United … For example, the betting ratio at “William Hill”: Manchester City first (1 to 3), after Bayern Munich (1 to 4), Liverpool (1 to 4) 5.5), Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (1 to 6), Manchester United (1 to 16) and only then does Real Madrid arrive, with a rather insulting ratio of 1 to 18!
So yes, on the one hand it’s quite insulting, certainly when it comes to winning the Champions Cup – 13 times – and the one who has won the Cup 4 times in the last 8 seasons. But on the other hand, it could be that Ancelotti is actually happy that his team is going under the radar, that it is not really considered and is not counted as a serious candidate. The pressure is on other teams, such as the senior English, Bayern and of course on PSG, who after the addition of Leo Messi, everything except winning the trophy will be considered a failure.
The truth must be told: Real Madrid is in an amazing period. She has won all of her last eight games, looking better week by week. On Saturday she defeated who until recently was considered her main rival in the battle for the championship in Spain, Real Sociedad. And she did so without Kerim Benzema, who was injured and replaced after 17 minutes. Luca Jovic, the infamous Serbian striker, came in to replace Benzema and proved that the decision to keep him was the right one. In his best game since being acquired by Eintracht Frankfurt for 60 million euros, Jovic both scored and cooked for Vinicius, in a 0-2 win.
Real opened a gap of eight points at the top of the table (although it should be remembered that Sevilla who are in second place are missing a game) and if they beat Atletico Atletico on Sunday in a derby, it’s hard to see them not winning the championship. In that case, the gap between Real and the reigning champions would already be 13 points. And it is clear to everyone that Barcelona, which is ranked in 7th place, and lags behind Real by 16 points, has no chance of closing the gap …
Real had two falls this season, coming that week. Five days after the embarrassing loss to the Moldovan champions came the only league loss of the season, to Espanyol. But all this was and is forgotten. Since then Real have won 10 of their 11 games and finished one in a draw (0-0 with Osasuna).
That Benzema will score in bundles, we knew that even before the season started. Indeed, the Frenchman has already scored 17 goals this season in 20 games (12 in the league and another 5 in the Champions League). The surprise came from Vinicius, the 21-year-old Brazilian who is becoming one of the best pioneers in the world. His incredible technique has been no secret since he arrived in Madrid. But this season he has managed to dramatically improve his ability to score goals, and he currently stands at 12 goals – 10 in the league and 2 in the Champions League. In addition it also has 8 cooks. In the first three seasons of Vinicius he scored 8 goals in 82 league games. This season he has 10 goals in 16 league games. This is an improvement of 700 percent!
But it’s not only the attack that looks great, and especially the cooperation between Vinicius and Benzema, but also the defense. And most of the compliments go to Adar Militau, the 23-year-old Brazilian stopper, who was acquired two years ago from Porto. In his first two seasons Militau played little. Makes sense, when the two senior brakes are two world champions, Sergio Ramos and Rafael Varane. When the Brazilian was given the opportunity to play here and there, he seemed insecure and often made mistakes.
But it’s all behind him. In the summer Varane moved to Manchester United and Ramos signed for Passage. Milito dropped to Real’s regular brake, alongside David Alaba, the glittering acquisition from Bayern Munich. And behind them standing between the beams Thibaut Courtois, who is now in the best shape of his career, Ancelotti can be optimistic.
The Italian coach has previously won the Champions League, twice as a player and three times as a coach, twice with Milan and once with Real Madrid. And for him, he has no problem with commentators continuing to ignore his group. So unlike the betting agents, do not fall off the chair if Real are crowned European champions for the 14th time on May 28 and “Carletto” becomes the first coach in history to win the title four times.
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