Without Mbappé, Ancelotti’s team comes back and is stopped by Palazon’s goal. Meanwhile, Atletico could overtake the Blancos…
After the 3-2 in Bergamo, which Retegui could have transformed into a 3-3, Madrid drew with the same result in Vallecas against Rayo, losing the opportunity to sleep at the top of the La Liga. At the end of a ‘local’ match Ancelotti’s team remains 1-1 behind Barcelona, with the same number of games, and must watch out for Atletico who, if they beat Getafe tomorrow, will overtake the Blancos.
For Madrid, their attention now turns to the Club World Cup (ancient formula…): on Wednesday in Doha the European champions will challenge Mexican Pachuca, who today beat Egypt’s Al Ahly on penalties, in the final. Then Seville and the short holidays.
the choices
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Already without Mbappé Ancelotti initially also gave up Vinicius in Vallecas, starting with Rodrygo flanked by Bellignham as well as Brahim and Arda Guler in a 4-2-4 with Valverde and Modric in the middle. Tchouameni still in defense, and therefore Canterano Asencio on the bench. In Rayo the former luxury player James Rodriguez was even in the stands.
double rayo
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There were 13 La Liga matches that Ancelotti’s team had not conceded in the first half, and yesterday they did so twice, on two headers: the first by Unai Lopez following a cross from the excellent De Frutos, former canterano blanco, the second of the Ghanaian central defender Mumin, a taller and stronger central defender than Lucas Vazquez who scored from a corner by Isi Palazon.
remunerated
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Madrid on the ropes and saved by the class of his men. Rayo, carried away by the crowd, seemed to be in control but things lasted until the 39th minute and ended before the break because the Vallecas team was killed by an absurd right-footed shot from Valverde who, without an angle and from a sidereal distance, sent the ball into the goal centimeters from the post while Batalla, the opposing goalkeeper, ordered his team to go and close the shot.
And a moment later Rodrygo, the most active of the Blancos, put the equalizing ball on Bellingham’s head. For the Englishman, 6 goals in the last 6 of the Liga, always on target. After the break, Madrid’s third arrived quickly: a left-footed shot from Rodrygo’s crossbar touched by Ratiu and a comeback completed in 20 minutes of play.
open game
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But this was an indomitable match, and then Rayo found the strength to score the 3-3 with a touch from Isi following a cross shot from Lejeune with Vinicius already on the pitch. The Brazilian was booked for protesting and will miss the match against Sevilla, he asked for a penalty and then first he saw Batalla intercept his magnificent left-footed shot, and in the 93rd minute he ate the 3-point goal, with Courtois once again decisive in the 98′ on a right-footed shot from Lejeune. Ancelotti said he was satisfied, but Madrid fans are not entirely in agreement.
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