BarcelonaThree French, two Germans, two Brazilians, an Austrian, a Belgian, a Croatian and a Uruguayan. These are the eleven players who have formed a historic line-up at Real Madrid. And it is that, for the first time in its 121 years of life, the Chamartín club has presented a team without a single footballer born in Spain. It happened in Vila-real, in this weekend’s League match.
In the months before the World Cup, Madrid and its surroundings had caused the pot to boil because Luis Enrique, still the Spanish coach, gave very little presence to the Madridistas in the Spanish team. In the end there were only two: Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio. But time has ended up proving the Asturian coach right, because Real Madrid has gradually increased its roster of footballers with foreign signings and has reduced the presence of the Spaniards to a secondary role. In Vila-real, Carvajal did not play due to injury and Asensio watched the game from the bench.
Vila-real defeats Madrid
With Courtois in goal; Militão, Rudiger, Alaba and Mendy in defence; Modric, Tchouameni and Kroos in the midfield, and Valverde, Benzema and Vinícius in the front, Real Madrid lost at the Estadio de la Ceràmica, in a duel where VAR was once again the protagonist (2-1) .
After a goalless first half but with local dominance, Villarreal opened the scoring in the second half in a lucky move. Yeremy Pino was left alone in front of the goalkeeper and shot at goal. Courtois was able to deflect the ball but Mendy, who was running towards his goal, deflected it and made it enter between the three posts.
The game got lively, Madrid took a step forward and were able to equalize with a penalty. The VAR has intervened to whistle for Juan Foyth’s hands, in which the ball has slightly scratched the groggy defender’s arm. Benzema has not failed. And, right after, another penalty, now whistled in plain sight: Alaba slipped in the area and, while getting up, he cut an inside pass with his hand. Gerard Moreno has not failed and his team has advanced again. It was 1 to 2 in the 63rd minute.
Ancelotti’s side were desperate for an equaliser, but showed many collective shortcomings against a well-organized Villarreal on the pitch, who had good arrivals to extend their lead. Even a shot, in an empty net, in the discount – Courtois had gone up to finish a corner – which Danjuma kicked wide. The whites have looked more for individual actions than collective, but this time neither Benzema nor Vinícius have had their aim sharpened.
The score means that Barça, who visit Atlético de Madrid, are guaranteed to finish the day as leaders of the First Division. Right now, the Blaugrana and Merengues are tied on 38 points.