Real Madrid starts to come back

Real Madrid started in Pasadena against Milan with a formula that allowed them to progress a lot in recent years, a return that concluded with a run from Vinicius behind the defense to solve what was suspended in other ways. After the first performance, Carlo Ancelotti’s side, in which Bellinhgam starred, were left with some hanging adjustments in defence, which is more due to a lack of competitive rhythm than anything else. But above all the great unknown that emerged upon seeing the team on paper and that remained open on the pitch: how Real Madrid would manage to be effective in attack without Benzema or nine other world-class players. That is still pending, despite Valverde’s two-goal victory as a result of two separate failures for Milan.

In search of a solution to the great mystery of the course, Ancelotti set out to rework the classic scheme of recent years to accommodate newcomer Judd Bellingham. Also to try to hide The huge void left by Benzema. From 4-3-3, to 4-3-1-2, or 4-4-2 with a quadruple center in Massa and the Englishman behind the two strikers, who were in the first half, Ibrahim and Joselo. Behind him, Kroos as pivot, with Camavinga on the left and Valverde on the right.

In that first eleven, The best that worked was Bellingham. From his point of view located in the central region, he contributed to the development by supporting those who were building behind them. But mostly he shone as he lunged forward. When he found Abraham just inside the area with a coveted pass. When he shot cannons after the combination also with Abraham and a small zigzag. When he left his head was hit by Militao. The last to arrive seemed to be the temporary least of the team at the start of the shooting.

Especially in defence, where Mendy became Milan’s main supplier of balls, loss after loss. Little was enough for the Italians to disarm the Madrid exit. And from a bad pass from Nacho came the recovery, which ended with the second goal for the Italians, a left-footed shot by Lunin’s team through former Mallorca player Luca Romero. The first came out of another mismatch in the rear. Pulisic took a corner kick and Tomori single-handedly headed it into a small area, between Militao and Nacho.

Milan reached the first half with this advantage (0-2), although Madrid had a longer handle on the ball. but with little superiority, save for the little that Bellingham and Abraham have put together. Barely showing any threat on the flanks, Lucas Vazquez and Carvajal did not arrive. And Joselo was completely invisible.

The unity he introduced in the second half worked better for Ancelotti, when Carvajal and Fran Garcia entered the flanks, moving the left flank a little more. There he met Vinicius, which premiered on VII, and changed the attack with Rodrigo. Real Madrid woke up on the right, quick on their feet, always heading towards the area. Until his appearance on the field, Sportiello did not need to stop.

The attack started working for Real, but the goals were found in errors by Milan, unlike what happened in the first half. The score 1-2 was a gift from Sportiello, who allowed a very long shot from Valverde to pass under his hands. The Italians entered moments of confusion, which led, after only two minutes, to a loss, which the Uruguayan took advantage of to score the equalizer. Milan lost in a heavy sigh what they won in two dizzy spells from Madrid.

Ancelotti’s team was ordered to make changes, above all the threat of the Brazilians in attack. Some wing fantasies are back, and the 70,000 Rose Bowl spectators, most of them Real Madrid fans, flocked to Vinicius. The Brazilian didn’t fit in as quickly as Rodrigo, whose impact was immediate. It was hard for him to rediscover the voids, after three or four falls in which his ankle seemed to be broken, and then there was nothing.

The match was decided by a replay of the Madrid Classics in California, a mechanism that works blindly. Modric fired a long ball behind the defense, and Vinicius won the run, left alone with the goalkeeper and scored. Always a game for the usual result: Real Madrid starts walking with the comeback.

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