In Nuevo Los Cármenes, two very distant worlds crossed. Two and a half hours before the game, Granada knew that there was no way to squeeze out the math to stay in First Division. Mallorca had beaten Las Palmas and there, more than 600 kilometers away, their long-suffering journey of this season had ended. With the blow just received, they received the League champion with a corridor on the grass, while their people shouted with a heartfelt interpretation of the anthem. Madrid entered triumphantly into a wake that had just opened, and in which a lot of anger was distilled against the box. The contrast was extreme. Ancelotti’s team was already beginning to savor the celebrations for the League title prepared for this Sunday morning in Madrid, a championship that, after the win in Granada, can still close with 99 points, which would be the second best title of its history.
0
Augusto Batalla, Carlos Neva, Piatkowski, Bruno Méndez (Ricard Sánchez, min. 74), Miquel, Pellistri, Sergio Ruiz (Hongla, min. 53), Jozwiak (Callejón, min. 45), Gumbau (Gonzalo Villar, min. 53 ), Myrto Uzuni (Óscar Melendo, min. 81) and Lucas Boyé
4
Courtois, Fran Garcia, Rüdiger (Nacho, min. 70), Lucas Vázquez, Eder Militao, Modric (Kroos, min. 69), Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Joselu, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz
Goals 0-1 min. 37: Fran Garcia. 0-2 min. 46: Arda Guler. 0-3 min. 49: Brahim Diaz. 0-4 min. 58: Brahim Diaz.
Referee Pablo González Fuertes
Yellow cards Lucas Boyé (min. 25) and Gumbau (min. 44)
The other milestone that is already looming also contributed to the contrast, the Champions League for which they qualified on Wednesday in the cauldron of emotions at the Bernabéu. But to reach those happy moments, Madrid had to first cross Granada’s corridor of pain. Although it was not just a procedure. The match, like the other three remaining League matches, had a lot to offer for Ancelotti as he looks ahead to the match at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund.
In Granada, as against Cádiz, Courtois appeared again in the starting eleven. After his two knee injuries, the cruciate in one and the meniscus in the other, the goalkeeper is still under observation. It is not easy to determine where the Belgian is, which is why the Italian coach entrusted Lunin with that job in the semifinal against Bayern. That’s also why he needs to see him in action. Against Cádiz, he already left a good one-on-one, a gesture of determination. In Granada, he also looked alive: a jump to head a loose ball over Jozwiak, a dive to try to avoid a corner, a Boyé header tapped over the crossbar. The list reflects the spirited start of Sandoval’s team, which took advantage of Madrid’s few emergencies to start threatening. At that time, it did not seem like a team that deserved such an early sentence, with several afternoons still ahead. That time also allowed us to review Courtois’s evolution a little, although that little bit is insufficient to determine how close he is to the giant he was in the last Champions League final, the one in 2022 in Paris.
Militão was also under observation, who broke the same cruciate and did not start against Bayern either. The Brazilian continues adding kilometers with his sights set on Wembley.
There were other footballers who have spent time in the back of the closet wanting to show themselves. Ceballos had less command than the infinite Modric, once again fired standing away from home. Fran García scored his first goal with Madrid and gave an assist to Arda Güler, who always wants more, he always leaves something behind.
Although in that group of voracious footballers the one who has stood out this season, and also in Granada, is Brahim. The man from Malaga gave another dazzling performance in Los Cármenes. He travels at a different speed, discovers unexpected spaces and leaves with an assist for Fran García and two goals, the second from a formidable authority: he received in the center of the field, he got rid of the first rival with the turn, he flew towards the area, he cut back to another and scored. Madrid fulfilled its plan heading to Wembley and left Granada mired in the regret of relegation.
You can follow The USA Print in Facebook and xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.
