Real Madrid, winner in Valencia at the very end of the match (2-1) while reduced to ten men, took the lead in La Liga on Friday in a late match of the 12th day of the Spanish Championship.
Success took a long time to emerge for the Madrilenians, trailing for a long time after an opening score from Hugo Duro (27th) but the Merengues snatched victory thanks to Luka Modric (85th) and Jude Bellingham (90th +5).
At the end of this match initially scheduled for November 2 but postponed after the deadly floods in the south-east of the country (231 deaths), Real is leading La Liga with 43 points, ahead of Atlético (41 pts), which however has one game less, and FC Barcelona (38 pts).
The Colchoneros will have the opportunity to regain control of the championship from January 12 when they host Osasuna (19th day).
Since their defeat in Bilbao (2-1) on December 4, in an advanced match of the 19th day, the Madrilenians remain undefeated for four matches in La Liga, a symbol of renewal after a laborious start to the season, like the adaptation difficult for French superstar Kylian Mbappé.
– Vinicius expelled –
Friday, the captain of the France team initially appeared messy and ineffective, like his partners in the offensive quartet Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, returning from suspension.
After the break, Mbappé found more energy, obtaining a penalty following a scramble in the area (52nd). But Bellingham misfired in his run-up and shot, sending the ball crashing into the post.
Four minutes later, the Frenchman thought he had tied the two teams after an individual exploit but he was whistled for being offside (59th).
As a symbol of Madrid’s mistakes and a certain nervousness, Vinicius was sent off in the 79th minute after a rather tragicomic scuffle with Macedonian goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski who received a yellow.
Immediate consequence: coaching from Carlo Ancelotti who brought in Croatian veteran Luka Modric. A choice that paid off since the 2018 Ballon d’Or snatched the equalizer straight away (85th).
A contagious efficiency with Bellingham which sealed the victory of the White House in the final moments, synonymous with supremacy regained at least temporarily.
gift/cyj
