The illusion of Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu lasted ten minutes, those that were from the beginning of the game to Carvajal’s penalty on David Silva, and the subsequent resolution of Mikel Oyarzabal. Because from then on, Real Madrid woke up, the txuri-urdin defended again in a block that was too low, and the outcome of the story could be seen coming. Because if you give Carlo Ancelotti’s team the whole field to think and elaborate, being plugged in and focused, in the end they end up executing you. It is impossible to believe in getting something out of a scenario like Chamartín limiting yourself to just defending. Not even having a one goal lead. That is why I did not understand why Imanol Alguacil’s plan did not contemplate the possibility of maintaining the intention of continuing to hover around Courtouis’s goal.
I suppose that if Luka Modric steps on the accelerator, everything becomes more uphill for everyone. And that influences. But The start of Real Sociedad was so hopeful at the Bernabéu that what came after it is true that it hurts a little more. Because unconsciously you think you can get something else. But she threw herself too brazenly. And the truth is that I wasn’t in too much trouble, but when you have such a clear defensive plan, you should try to do more damage with the ball, startle fear from time to time with a claw, so that White’s dominance wasn’t so overwhelming. But with the ball this time the txuri-urdin were not good at all. And the fair punishment came with two great goals from outside the box by Camavinga and Modric.
Yes, you read correctly, fair punishment. Because once again it was shown that when Real is more reactive than proactive, it rarely gets a positive result. It is not a team to wait for the rival, but rather to look for him and go for the match. And that should already have been clear before raising this match. And I don’t mean the system, the mantra of the five defenders. It is more the intention with which it is played. I understand that Imanol knows better than anyone how his players are physically, that they arrived punished after playing again during the week, conditioned by casualties and with the accumulated wear and tear they carry. And perhaps that is why it would have been an anticipated suicide to go out and play Real Madrid in their field. But thinking only of defending is also impossible.
There is a middle term that was never seen in Real, except in the first ten minutes, which Real lasted alive in the game, although the white goals took longer to arrive. Honestly, seeing the end of the game, I would have preferred that brave and aggressive Real of Imanol that this season is having a hard time seeing on the big stages, repeatedly replaced by a more rational, strategic and defensive Real, a suit that suits him fatally to this team. And it makes me very sad, because it tarnishes all the good that the people from San Sebastian are also doing, as their career points out, which will once again be overshadowed by the umpteenth lopsided result this season.