Against thickness, against some confusion and a very closed team, there is nothing in football as a good cannon. Like the one who nailed Militao From outside the area to Espanyol and cleared any questions. With his goal as a flag, but then the Mbappéa Madrid more gray than other days he added the three points again. There was a lack of fluidity, it is not clear that some ideas that put Xabi into practice but the truth that the leader of LaLiga It was better than Espanyol and never suffered. It cost him more to play than win. And that is good news, not excellent, but the sign that the team has resources.
Worse impression gave the Espanyolwhich came as a third in the classification and left the Bernabéu without leaving anything remarkable, very concerned with covering the white attack and very little to generate something to harm. He real Madrid He has made the rivals see how a feat hurt him and that fame may be starting to run. And that is also good news for the team of Xabi.
It is true that the party lacked rhythm and occasions, perhaps because Real Madrid did not need it and because Espanyol almost never broke, as it is usually done when things are going wrong. As if you care more losing no matter how much to lose.
In Madrid, Xabi Alonso He experienced: he is a coach who seeks to innovate, not to be predictable, but it does not always come out as he should. Against him Espanyol It came, surprisingly, with Gonzalo In eleven, next to Vinicius and Mbappé. Especially next to this, which made a spice of Mediapunta. Modern media, that the other, the position of the languid, weak and great player is a position that has become extinct with modern football. Mbappé He is not a player to flitter passes because he first thinks about his play and then, already, spending it. He tried some start, had to make more defensive efforts, but found the goal in the second half, arriving from behind to the edge of the area. He had another chance a little later, after a combination with Mastantuonobut Kylian He tried a petroleum jelly without too much space to carry it out.
Mbappé He left his goal, because he has an inimitable record in that aspect, Racing His ability to also occupy midfielder positions, but it was Mastantuono The one who really encouraged an afternoon that was doing something heavy. The Argentine is a promise even to be fulfilled, but its verticals and its dribbling to go out in small spaces are leaving clues, crumbs that will have to be following and announce something that is worth it. While he finishes settling (because Bellingham is almost ready and we will have to see what decisions he makes Xabi), It leaves flashes and a sacrifice that comes phenomenal to the rest of the team. He is a talent footballer who does not deny effort.
The game was what it was Mastantuono; fleeting flashes, but more than enough. He Bernabéu He did not live the brilliant afternoon he expected after what was seen in the last clash in Champions but he also did not take his hands to his head because Militao He put things in his place before the despair or fear that the goal did not arrive at the stands. The Brazilian defense was a bit in the shade because the signings and personality of Racing and of Huijsen They had lost prominence upon their return after their injury. However, he has returned without memories of his nightmare and concentrate, which is when he becomes an elite defense. To that added its launch from afar, slightly unexpected and very grateful for Xabi Alonso. In all matches he has had problems to make goals and he took a weight off him.
Mastantuono’s flashes were over ten minutes from the second half and then the time passed between the heat, a match that left salt and nerves and with the standing stand of what to do next, which was Saturday afternoon and is almost autumn, and that looked at the players of Madrid they warmed. Among them, Bellingham and Camavinga, two midfielders who already seem to be ready for what is coming. Near the end, both jumped into the field to try a real game, although turning. It is the first step, the second is to demonstrate that they can be holders and the third, that Xabi It makes a place removing one of that area.
Thus, with those ideas in the head, the game was reaching the end. It cost him, some would think, that they left before while part of the public encouraged and sang: “Espanyol, Espanyol”
And Xabi Alonso replaced a Viniciusthat does not end a game this season.