Real Madrid beat Celta 1-2, in a match marked by Ancelotti’s strange technical decisions, which his men have carried forward thanks to their great individual quality. Modric’s presence on the field was decisive.
Madrid presented a prototypical eleven in Vigo, with the only exception of Fran García in place of Mendy and the relative surprise of the lack of rest for Valverde, with the Uruguayan having only one training session behind him after landing from his journey beyond the seas. It is not difficult to fear for the health of the former Pajarito, today Halcón for glory shared between Real Madrid and the Uruguayan team. The 442 was a priori obvious, with Bellingham at the top of the rhombus. It seemed to confirm that Ancelotti values the solidity and control that comes with fielding four midfielders, even if this means leaving pieces as estimable as Rodrygo, or as promising as Endrick, on the bench. Lucas Vázquez seemed to start as a right back, inaugurating this new post-Carvajal era.
It turned out that the alleged 442 was not such, but that Ancelotti had opted for a new line of three centre-backs with Tchouaméni, Militao and Rüdiger, placing Fran and Lucas as wing-backs on each wing. Carletto’s forest move that left everyone, including this chronicler, with a changed pace, exactly the same as how he grabbed the Madrid defense with a sparkling counterattack that forced Courtois to perform our daily miracle. The advantage, however, of the new system was that it allowed the Vikings to reach the top with more troops. Valverde, as a result, tested Guaita with a long shot after a very well-planned play by Mbappé and Vini.
Madrid seemed vigorous, although the lack of adaptation to the new system raised visible doubts that made Carletto angry. The first corner was taken by Lucas Vázquez, so another doubt was added to those doubts: who takes care of the dead ball when neither Modric nor Rodrygo nor Güler are on the pitch? Quick transitions and lively movements on both sides became the tone of the first bars.
In the 20th minute, Mbappé took advantage of a recovery by Camavinga against Beltrán to put together a huge shot from Stockholm. The shot, with a trademark curve, became the best goal the Frenchman has scored to date in the white shirt. Also notable is Eduardo’s theft of the ball in the advanced zone as a result of everyone’s high pressure, something we would like to see more of.
Little by little, and with the tranquility of the advantage on the scoreboard, Madrid seemed to settle. Vini came out like a flash on the counterattacks, well supported by a threatening Kylian. The whites, now blue, gave ground, confident in the lethality of said counterattack. Camavinga was taking over the center of the field, stealing balls and even rehearsing the shot after doing so. The biggest hesitation around the new formation was the position of Bellingham, who seemed disoriented and came into play little. Madrid controlled the game without fuss, and Vinícius headed wide a good cross from Valverde. Immediately afterwards, the Brazilian dazzled by entering the area with a miraculous zigzag, but he shot wide. Jude wasn’t very happy that he didn’t have a good time, notwithstanding the fact that they are still good friends.
With the score at 0-1 and a feeling of white control, despite Ancelotti’s bad temper, the break was reached.
Real Madrid beat Celta 1-2, in a match marked by Ancelotti’s strange technical decisions, which his men have carried forward thanks to their great individual quality
As soon as he returned from the break, Bellingham was about to score a goal, advancing alone and dribbling past Marcos Alonso, but he shot wide after standing in front of Guaita’s beard. A shame, because the sacrifice of the Englishman, who is doing a dirtier job than last year with great self-denial, deserved reward.
However, the one who scored was Williot in a center from Mingueza. It is not understandable that the Celtic forward finished completely alone in the center of the area when, if there was something we had on the field, it was an abundance of central defenders. Unexpected, but you can’t say undeserved. Madrid then equalized after a great steal of the ball by Bellingham, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside by Mbappé.
Celta collapsed, and miraculously did not score in a new attack by Williot that Borja Iglesias narrowly missed. Mbappé fell in the area, it seemed that he was caught, but Colchonero Cuadra Fernández did not see anything in the VAR images that the member of the board of directors of a Barça subsidiary, Tatxo Benet, gave him. Ancelotti had to react and he did, giving Modric and Rodrygo half an hour.
The entry of the Croatian, who with these minutes became the oldest player to ever wear the Madrid shirt in an official match, surpassing Puskas, was providential. He read Vinícius’s fabulous unmarking and gave him a pinpoint pass. The Brazilian smoked Guaita and scored 1-2.
The game did not let up. Courtois had to save another goal by coming out at the feet of Bamba. Mingueza shot wide. Ancelotti got scared and put Mendy on. The changes had gone well, but now it was time to find out, with these new players on the field, what the system was. It was not clear, and the footballers, sitting back excessively, seemed to notice the chaos. Cosín pointed out in the La Galerna chat that it was a 451. He is surely right.
Even more jealous of the result, Carletto removed Mbappé and brought in Ceballos. There were ten minutes left and it was time to keep the ball. However, the team seemed determined to give it to Celta and hold out. Everything indicated that Madrid would suffer, and in what way. Surprised this time on the counterattack, in the 93rd minute, the Madridistas saw how Douvikas failed alone against Courtois.
Three points, and the so-called classic.
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