Bellingham shines and Joselu amazes, Ancelotti's rhombus settles in Real Madrid

Midfield, midfield…. and Joselu. Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid 2.0, like the result that he endorsed Manchester United this morning, is already underway and learning from each game as if it were an Artificial Intelligence algorithm. The white team listened to their coach and continued to assimilate the rhombus and propping up the defense as if it were that Real Madrid of Vicente Del Bosque from the beginning of the century in which the '5' was a certain Fernando Redondo.

Jude Bellingham is not the Argentine, nor is it necessary. The Englishman has fallen on his feet in the Merengue team and, each game (and he only has two) he insists on justifying the price of his transfer.

This time, it didn't take him five minutes to do it.. He picked up a long pass from Rüdiger, perhaps slightly forward, performed exquisite oriented control and chipped the ball over Onana. If we go back to Del Bosque's Real Madrid, European champion in the 1999/2000 season, we have to remember Raúl and his famous 'aguanís'.

It's not just about the goal, Bellingham dominates the stage. His imposing physique, not without quality, causes the team to play in his own way. And that Luka Modric, a Real Madrid legend, shares the midfield with him.

In the absence of flashy forwards, Ancelotti is clear that his priority is to strengthen the midfield and that this line be the one that provides the goals that are missing up front and help close the door for Courtois or, this morning, for Lunin. The Belgian is not yet ready to debut with the white squad.

The one who has not been able to do it either despite the good feelings he has left in training has been Arda Güler. The young Turk continues with discomfort and, despite his desire, the coaching staff does not want to force him in a season in which he could count on his talent.

Regarding the Madrid attack, much more present in the first part than in the second and this has to do mainly with the name of Vinicius, the definition still needs to be fine-tuned. The Brazilian had some clear ones, such as a shot at the far post that Onana repelled but, even without the goal award, it was the one that created the most danger for the white team.

The left wing is still the favorite place of the now 7 of Real Madrid. However, he will have to adapt to reaching the entire front of the attack in this new diamond for Ancelotti.

That place, the left wing, was also the place through which Manchester United mainly entered. Alejandro Garnacho was a true dagger for the 'red devils'. However, the Spanish-Argentinian forward could not cap off his great performance with a goal as the Madrid defense, and if not Lunin, stopped his attacks.

Change of trend

They turned the tables in the second part, in a duel that the first had a white color. In addition to Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, McTominay and Mount were not about to finish with the score at zero. But the defense of Real Madrid corrected the errors of the first match against Milan, both in the balls behind their backs and in the centers behind and, mainly, in the ball out. The white defense was much more serious and we are still in the first pre-season tests.

Although, seeing some sets, anyone would say it. Lisandro Martínez had a hard time with the Madrid attack using too much depth, even if the match had been official. When the first part died, he made a tackle on Bellingham that made all Real Madrid fans hold their breath. The Englishman, fortunately, got up more worried about facing the Argentine than his right knee, held in place by a strap.

striker goal

However, if there is a remarkable period it is the end of the second part. It was a key moment in what could be the new Madrid. A Madrid that must survive not only on goals from the second line, but also needs a '9', even if the number is still free in the white dressing room.

And that 9, after almost two games, appeared. and what a way to do it. Joselu decided to emulate old acquaintances of the Madrid attack such as Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo. They did it in the Champions League, yes; but there is no doubt that a Chilean is always a reason for rejoicing. Especially when you have looked for the goal in all possible ways, most of the time with another outstanding partner like Brahim Díaz, and you had not found it.

Joselu, the '14' of Real Madrid, saw how a temperate cross from Lucas Vázquez fell a bit behind him and, as if he had been scoring those goals all his life, he decided to rise and finish off with a Chilean kick. Great goal and claim. It may not be Benzema, but Joselu is a striker who finishes you off with a washing machine and that, in a team like Real Madrid that tends to reach the opposite area a lot, is a great advantage.

We are in preseason, but Real Madrid leaves very positive feelings even for this period. It transmits solidity, it transmits confidence in what it does and it transmits an adaptation to changes that is inappropriate for these beginnings of the season.. Something, by the way, that could also be said of Bellingham himself.