Very little is enough for Arda Güler to leave a trace. And it was enough for Real Madrid with Arda Güler to get a little closer to mathematically securing the League (they are missing four points in five games) and to go through without a scratch, and giving refreshment to many players, the last stop before the giant event that He has next Tuesday in Munich, in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern. Ancelotti’s team had enough with the Turk’s goal to double a Real team with more control and more chances, but they did not find a way to beat Kepa.
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Remiro, Javi Galán, Le Normand (André Silva, min. 89), Álvaro Odriozola (Elustondo, min. 75), Zubeldia, Take Kubo, Merino, Beñat Turrientes (Arsen Zakharyan, min. 66), Barrenetxea (Sheraldo Becker, min. . 75), Martín Zubimendi and Oyarzabal
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Arrizabalaga, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Fran Garcia (Camavinga, min. 76), Dani Ceballos (Federico Valverde, min. 68), Brahim Diaz (Rüdiger, min. 76), Aurelien Tchouameni, Modric (Lucas Vázquez, min. . 84), Arda Guler (Vinicius Junior, min. 68) and Joselu
Goals 0-1 min. 29: Arda Guler.
Referee José Luis Munuera Montero
Yellow cards Arda Guler (min. 15), Le Normand (min. 39), Fran Garcia (min. 55), Zubeldia (min. 70), Aurelien Tchouameni (min. 83), Merino (min. 87) and Nacho (min. 88)
Madrid thus saved a catwalk match. At first, only two of those who had played against Barça appeared on the field, Tchouameni and Modric. There were, however, those who wanted to show Ancelotti that he had been wrong about them all this time, especially Dani Ceballos and Arda Güler, perhaps also Kepa Arrizabalaga, now that the return of Thibaut Courtois is even beginning to appear. And then Militão, who is gradually returning from the same knee injury as the Belgian goalkeeper.
The Brazilian started again for 32 days after falling on the first round of the League in San Mamés, less than 100 kilometers from the stadium that saw him start again. Although Militão’s perspectives are different. Ancelotti is monitoring his progress to see if he could count on him in the Champions League semi-final tie that opens on Tuesday and closes the following Wednesday at the Bernabéu. At the Reale Arena he showed more energy than finesse. He was attentive, lively in coverage, energetic in the collision, but still at a certain distance from the central defender who was sure to be at the start and in the cut.
Güler’s case is different. The Turk, who had barely played 100 minutes all season, only 36 in the League, finally found his moment. Also the public to taste a footballer in whom he has glimpsed an extreme inspiration, meat of highlight. The flashes that he has shown in the championship have been memorable: a shot against the crossbar from the center of the field in six minutes against Osasuna, a goal against Celta in two. Against Real he took a little longer, but he scored again when not even half an hour had passed. Tchouameni opened Carvajal diagonally to the right, the winger crossed a cross with the first touch that crossed the area and at the end of which the Turk appeared to find the net between Remiro’s legs.
The lightly crafted play summed up Madrid’s moment in the match. His relationship with the ball had also been rather light until then. The pace was set by Real, determined to consolidate the sixth place that they sent them to the Europa League next season, and not fall to the Conference. Zubimendi and Turrientes were in charge in the middle and Barrene and Take were threatening on the sides. The first section saw Madrid under a downpour of crosses on the rainy San Sebastian night. Nothing serious, nothing too dangerous, except for a goal disallowed for Take due to a previous foul on Tchouameni. But all quite annoying.
Ancelotti’s battalion maintained positions while Alguacil’s battalion handled the ball: a classic plan in which Madrid seems tied up, disappeared, and ends up biting first. He found the goal before the game.
Already in the second half, Güler got closer to Ceballos and Modric, who left another performance of class and unreserved delivery. They didn’t flow too much, nor for very long stretches, but they were appeasing the threat of Real, in which Take continued challenging Fran García.
The first phase of the catwalk lasted just over an hour, when Ancelotti brought in Vinicius and Valverde for Güler and Ceballos. The Turk had left his mark; The Utrerano did not find the thread of the game.
The wind did not change. La Real continued to push in search of its European destiny. Alguacil brought in Zakharyan, Becker and Elustondo, and Oyarzabal almost equalized with a chipped ball that Rüdiger deflected with his neck. Madrid endured the progress of the stopwatch without anxiety. Little more. Nothing less. And after another night of crouching, he was about to extend the lead with a shot from Camavinga from point-blank range. Enough to fly happily next week to Munich.
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