MADRID – Real Madrid has found a vein. The champions weigh and praise MBappé and Neymar. But Zinedine Zidane He has explored and invented his own duo. He has found another unexpected couple: Nacho and Militao, heroes of a new evening of European success, this time at Anfield, which puts Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the tournament and makes him dream of his fourteenth title.
Madrid drew a serious game. With a massive physical display of Nacho and Militao, mindful of crossing, herding and minimizing the entire arsenal of Mane, Salah and Firmino. All that defensive festival, crowned by the security of Courtois, excellent throughout the match.
Maximum concentration. Ambition and personality were arguments for a solid Madrid, which had the help of Casemiro, again immense in yet another moment of truth for his team.
It is also impressive to see an empty Anfield. To paraphrase Francisco Umbral, it would be like dancing without music. It was a shame to see the stands of De Kop without an audience, without those people who have football as an argument to be a bit happier in life.
Jurgen Klopp tried to explode the right flank. And get some oil for a while. There, Zidane placed Valverde and Mané was immediately activated. The initial siege of Liverpool lasted ten minutes, which was answered by an immense Courtois. Courtois sank Salah and Milner’s morale with two miraculous actions. And Valverde was restoring the site until he met solvency in an abnormal space.
All eyes were on Vinicius. Their astonishing match in the first leg impressed Klopp. He was not surprised, which is different, but he was impressed – he repeated this week – by finally showing his talent in a competition of European origin. Today Vinicius was neither surprised nor impressed. He drew a quiet evening.
Real Madrid left a champion scent on Anfield. Especially to make it clear that Madrid has life without Sergio Ramos and Varane. A drinkable quality of life. And likely to take Chelsea down in the semi-finals, it does what it can in the Premier, twenty points behind leader Manchester City.