Bellingham connects with the European history of Madrid and demolishes the Berlin Union Wall in 94
The first match in the history of Unión Berlin in the Champions League came at the Santiago Bernabéu, and the place that has touched the sky the most times in the European Cup showed the German rookie what European football is: it doesn't matter what you fight and how high you build your own wall that in the end Madrid, in a relationship as inexplicable as it is forceful, ends up knocking down your heart. Unión surrendered their weapons in the 94th minute, in another extra time of ecstasy in Chamartín to the glory of Jude Bellingham, connected to the history of his new club in the rejection of a corner. As simple as that. [Narrative and statistics (1-0)]
Ancelotti chose Luka Modric, who had only started in the League on the day of Getafe, to complete a diamond that is already the watchword of this new Madrid. A colossal rhombus in which the Italian rotates youth with experience, physique with elegance. And the Croatian, just turned 38, was the best in a soporific first half. That's how simple football is sometimes. Next to him, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, who have had better afternoons.
The whites landed in the Champions League with too much slowness, far from the pace of play necessary to be “one of the four best” that Carletto set as his goal in Tuesday's preview.. The Italian rotated in defense, placing Fran García, taking Alaba to the left side and placing Lucas on the right wing due to Carvajal's injury. Without the two starting full-backs, the best along with Bellingham at the start of the season, the Madrid team lost depth, verticality and speed in their static possessions. It was too predictable against a Unión Berlin comfortable in its scheme of five defenders and three midfielders. A bus, wow.
Erratic between the lines
Madrid's best options came from Lucas Vázquez's centers led by Joselu, who had a couple of chances at the beginning but failed to send the ball into the net.. A little more before the break. Ancelotti scrambled, insisting to the four midfielders and Rodrygo on the need to rotate their positions and move around the entire attacking front, but the white game, slow and erratic between the lines, stumbled again and again against the German wall.
Urs Fischer's pupils, revelation of the last two Bundesliga seasons, felt comfortable on the pitch while their fans made Chamartín their own in the stands.. 5,000 souls who pushed throughout the game and raised the morale of a team that can give many surprises in this group. They did not have clear chances, but they touched Kepa's goal on a couple of attempts and disturbed the Madrid movement.. Enough.
After the break, Madrid woke up. No changes, no modification of the scheme or great fanfare. He increased the speed of his game and began to find space behind the German defense. If there is one thing Ancelotti always tries to do, it is to generate superiority on the wing, especially on the right.. Bring together the winger, the midfielder and the forward on that side and end up getting meters towards the rival goal. This is how his best opportunities came.
Joselu's header against Doekhi's opposition.
On the right, a combination between Lucas, Modric and Rodrygo ended in two shots from the Brazilian, first into Ronnow's chest and then against the post. The Bernabéu smelled blood and the duel leaned towards the German networks.
On the left, Alaba appeared on the back line after a pass from Bellingham and Joselu was about to score the first. The striker, who was unlucky, hit the post with a header from Rodrygo's cross.. All in just five minutes of an unsuccessful Madrid siege.
Better after the break
Carletto then decided to move the tree, retire Camavinga and Tchouaméni and give his football to the feet of Kroos and the careers of Fede Valverde. It sounded logical. As much as the change of Fran García, who came in for Nacho to give access to the left zone of the local attack. Madrid needed to break lines with and without the ball to achieve the three points.
The point was golden for Unión Berlin in its debut in the competition and at the home of the group's most important rival, but Madrid called history and Bellingham came to the rescue with a goal in the 94th minute after a corner was rejected. The Englishman, who produces goals as if he had been winning at the Bernabéu all his life, is the new hero of a stand that only knows one way to win. This.