PreviousLive Chronicle
When the match ended, Vinicius, Modric and Benzema returned to the pitch.
There was a party.
With a return to the field and choreography in front of the south end.
As in the nights of the crazy comebacks last season.
“The atmosphere was that of an afternoon in the Champions League”, said Ancelotti.
It was a party, for beating Barça, and also a pre-party, for the Ballon d'Or that Benzema is expected to collect this Monday in Paris, as Modric anticipated: “With Karim, we all know what is going to happen and we all want it to happen tomorrow.
We hope that he will win the Ballon d'Or, because he deserves it for what he has done”.
RMAReal Madrid
3
Alaba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Kroos, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Vinicius Junior (Rodrygo, min. 84), Federico Valverde, Andriy Lunin, Benzema (Marco Asensio, min. 88), Modric (Camavinga, min. 78) and Dani Carvajal (Rüdiger, min. 88)
bcn barcelona
1
Ter Stegen, Raphinha (Ferrán Torres, min. 59), Lewandowski, Sergi Roberto, Koundé, Alex Balde (Alba, min. 59), Pedri (Kessié Franck, min. 82), Frenkie De Jong, Ousmane Dembélé (Ansu Fati, min. 72), Eric Garcia and Busquets (Gavi, min. 59)
Goals
1-0 min.
11: Benzema.
2-0 min.
35: Federico Valverde.
2-1 min.
83: Ferran Torres.
3-1 min.
91: Rodrigo.
Referee
Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
Yellow cards Vinicius Junior (min. 30), Modric (min. 74), Gavi (min. 80) and Kessié Franck (min. 92)
The classic has enough to do with being the classic, but this time Real Madrid seemed willing to make it the first act of Benzema's enthronement.
Ancelotti's team works so well at times that it is not essential for the Frenchman to appear, who this year is still progressing towards a better moment.
But the framework seems so solid that Benzema can appear only at the last moment, to put the bow on the gift, when everything is ready.
More information
Photogallery: The images of the match
Thus he opened the scoring.
The goal was from the French, but all of the above was Madrid resorting naturally to lethal automatisms.
even evolved.
Kroos was about to take the ball from behind, but it took a while for a clear option to appear for the next pass and he took off running.
He accelerated in front of Busquets, Busquets clung to his shoulders and the German kept running, full of enthusiasm despite the fact that he threatened to retreat.
And so, with a guy in tow, the German saw Vinicius gallop on Sergi Roberto's back.
Xavi got desperate: “It can't happen, it has to be a foul”, he lamented.
The play seemed like the 7.0 version of that of another classic, the last one before confinement, in which the German, standing for about three seconds in the Barça field, raised his arm and waved it to indicate to the Brazilian where he should run.
The difference between both plays also marks the measure of the passage of time, particularly for Barcelona.
The helpless Busquets, Vinicius flying alone towards Ter Stegen.
In March 2020, Piqué reached the Brazilian's side as far as the small area.
So, between the two they scored 1-0.
This time, the German goalkeeper stopped Vinicius's shot, clean, alone.
The rejection came to Benzema on the front.
Valverde immediately launched to celebrate the goal with the Frenchman.
The Uruguayan tunes like no other to the most passionate frequency of the Bernabéu.
And if you had to be at this classic Ballon d'Or pre-party somewhere, it was with Benzema.
Twenty minutes later, Vinicius put together an entire attacking system just by standing still.
He seems one step away from having tamed the pause as well.
Standing at the front, he bought time for everyone to arrive.
The play ended with a whiplash from Valverde, who has a mix of scythe and point basket shot.
It was his fifth goal so far this season.
Half seriously, half joking, Ancelotti had told him that he would either score 10 this year or he would tear up his coaching card and retire.
Still in mid-October, Valverde reached half of the challenge and after scoring he went looking for Benzema to drag him to celebrate with him.
The French resisted, but Valverde did not let up.
When he managed to get away, Benzema grabbed the Uruguayan and lifted him.
Valverde flies.
Still in the locker room
The game had time left, and Benzema wanted another goal.
He marked it, but he was caught offside.
The next act of the pre-party took place when Ancelotti removed him from the field and the Bernabéu saw him off standing, heading for his coronation.
Without him on the grass, another one of those scenes happened that suggests that Madrid fuels also in his absence, or when he moves at low revolutions.
Rodrygo caused a penalty that the VAR had to point out.
Without Benzema in play, and with the doubts that he left from 11 meters against Osasuna, the Brazilian holed the shot.
The end was approaching and the stands vibrated almost as if it were night, and that was the Champions League.
And he celebrated like when they went to the next tie.
They were going to Paris.
Again.
You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on
and
, or sign up here to receive
our weekly newsletter
.