“On this special Valentine’s Day, I can’t help but confess my love for Madrid,” Brahim playfully quipped in the mixed zone of the Red Bull Arena, where he undoubtedly stole the limelight. Hailing from Malaga, he showcased his prowess by netting an almost ‘messianic’ goal, weaving past three Leipzig defenders from the right flank of the white team’s attack and delivering a precision shot that slipped past Gulácsi’s grasp. “I managed to find the back of the net this time, unlike on other days,” he admitted.

Expressing his gratitude, the Andalusian showered affection on coach Ancelotti, who initially didn’t rely heavily on him this season. However, due to rotations, rest, and injuries, Brahim was given the opportunity, and he certainly made the most of it. “Ancelotti has played a significant role in my improvement, allowing me to evolve into a better version of myself,” he professed with admiration.

This transformation into his best self coincided with the absence of Bellingham, one of Brahim’s closest friends in the team. So much so that after scoring the opening goal, he rushed towards the Madrid faithful and celebrated with open arms, emulating the typical gesture of the British prodigy. “I hold him in high regard. I celebrated just like him because I know he would have loved to be here until the very end. He made countless efforts, and this goal is dedicated to him. We hit it off right from the beginning, and I’m assisting him with Spanish. He’s a genius with an abundance of charm, and above all, a phenomenal person,” he emotionally shared.

Nevertheless, Brahim staunchly insists that he doesn’t want to be viewed as anyone’s replacement on the team. “It’s not something I like to say because we are all on the same page, and he is a world-class star,” he explained empathically. Acknowledging the impact of his physical transformation, he credited the Pintus Method for his progress and growth.

Just a few meters away, Ancelotti continued to marvel at Brahim’s exceptional display on the field. “His goal was nothing short of spectacular and incredible. I remember shouting at him, ‘Don’t lose it, don’t lose it!’ And he didn’t…”, the Italian coach playfully recalled, acknowledging the player’s remarkable improvement. “After spending two years in Milan, he has returned even more formidable, exhibiting greater strength, character, and personality. Despite limited playing time, whenever given an opportunity, he has consistently made valuable contributions,” Ancelotti commended.

However, the surprise of the evening came when Brahim fell to the ground, clutching his right calf in pain. The coaching staff and fans anxiously awaited information about the severity of the injury, as the player required a substitution. Fortunately, the injury appears to be merely a knock as the Andalusian revealed, “I felt a blow, but I’m hopeful that it’s nothing serious. I’ll probably undergo tests tomorrow.” Ancelotti also echoed his optimism during the press conference, stating, “I don’t believe it’s a muscle problem.”

Amidst Brahim’s exceptional performance, controversy loomed as he had the ball when he raised his hand and collapsed in pain. Instead of halting play, the Leipzig players took advantage of the situation and initiated a counterattack, only to be thwarted by Lunin. This provoked Kroos to confront the referee and Haidara, while the Madrid coaching staff expressed their disappointment towards the Leipzig team. “There was a misunderstanding because they failed to play the ball out. They eventually apologized to me, and that’s the end of it,” Brahim clarified.

Since the start of the match, the home team had expressed their displeasure towards the referee, particularly because of the disallowed goal due to Henrichs being in an offside position – a decision made by referee Peljto, which irked Lunin. “There was no offside or foul. We can’t understand why that goal was disallowed,” complained Marco Rose, the German team’s coach. Speaking about the referee’s performance, Rose speculated, “Perhaps he was nervous as this was his first high-level game. He made mistakes, and that’s it,” he concluded.

Sharing his perspective on the incident, Lunin explained, “During the corner kick, a player came towards me, not to challenge for the ball but to impede my movement. It could be interpreted as a foul, but I’m not entirely sure. In my opinion, it did interfere with the play.” Ancelotti firmly supported Lunin’s interpretation, asserting, “I was pushing Lunin, and it was quite evident.”