If the Bernabéu is defined by the atmosphere it gives off, that period has arrived (too soon) in which it is difficult to distinguish the color of the sky and the smells. Sometimes it seems that napalm particles arrive, and everything is going to burn; The game gets stuck because there is less creativity in the midfield than at a notary convention. Others, however, mix up the fragrances; especially when Güler comes into action or Diomande, the 19-year-old boy who cost 140 million, uncorks the bottle of a match about to send Mourinho's Real Madrid to the couch.
But, as a clear example, what happened to Vinícius Júnior (applauded as before) in the 72nd minute of the game. A wonderful drive by Bellingham, which combined power and precision, was solved by the Brazilian himself by finishing the Englishman's back pass with his right foot. It wasn't just another goal. It was the rebirth of Vinícius, on target with Madrid and Brazil, stranded in his dribbling, even with Mourinho's confession that he was not well. The coach, in an unusual image, came out of the bench like a spring, walked 50 meters and hugged the Brazilian. An idyllic photograph. But, in the end, wet from everything that would come later.
The referee was warned by the VAR to go to the monitor to observe the beginning of the play. Before starting the gallop towards the goal, the Brazilian gains the advantage over Saliba because he pulls his hair. The yellow player stops for a second but continues the race, but according to FIFA regulations, this behavior can be punished with a red card due to the violence of the action. It is unusual because, in the League, there was only one case like this last year in a Levante-Mallorca match when Mojica did the same with Brugué. The goal was disallowed. Vinícius was expelled. And San Quentin was set up. They had to take the Brazilian away because otherwise he would eat the referee. Vinícius went from heaven to hell. A setback for their most difficult season.
With 1-0 and one less player, Madrid relied on self-esteem and, surely, brought out its best version, at least the most competitive. Everyone ran, everyone protested, everyone went together. Also a Mourinho enraged with the refereeing. Madrid put the bolt without struggling against an innocent Villarreal.
Before all that serial with the pulses at full speed, Madrid had starred in an exercise in ineffectiveness that revealed its shortcomings. There were timid whistles at Mbappé for the bicycle episode, and the Frenchman, who had them, showed his other side, that of lack of success. Six minutes later he hit the post with a ball.
There was not much news for a Bernabéu that became impatient and dismissed the team at half-time between whistles. Carreras was unwise and was substituted. Tchouaméni and Valverde do not function as midfielders, and Bellingham was locked in a cage without receiving balls. Everything was slow unless Trent or Güler came into play. It was a vulgar Madrid, sometimes passive in the face of the possessions of a Villarreal that was not able to give it a further march despite the impetus of Moleiro, the most diabolical.
After the break, Mourinho brought on Vinícius. Valverde moved to the side and the game headed to the most favorable scenario for the whites. With both teams less restricted, Valverde drove and assisted Diomande who was not offside (the VAR rectified the assistant's decision). The Ivorian crossed it skillfully and became emotional in the celebration.
Little was said about it because of everything that came after. Vinícius, Mourinho, referee... An explosive cocktail, like the smell that, on many occasions, is smelled at the Bernabéu.
