After pointing the finger at Kylian Mbappé, who was at fault for Mallorca’s equaliser against Real Madrid (1-1) last Sunday, Madrid journalists are absolutely incapable of explaining why the captain of Les Bleus was marking Vedat Muriqi. The situation was, however, highly improbable. How did the Bondy player, 1.78 m tall and non-existent in the air since his debut, end up letting go of the Kosovar striker, a 1.94 m striker who is an excellent header, on this corner in the 52nd minute?
In reality, contrary to what the TV images and slow motions show, Mbappé is not tasked with marking Muriqi. That much is clear and simple. In a longer sequence that shows the start of the corner in question, Mbappé is indeed heading towards Antonio Raillo, the Mallorca central defender (also a good header, by the way). But Raillo gets behind Muriqi, who is then followed by Rodrygo, and the two Real attackers are completely lost on the corner taken by Daniel Rodriguez. Muriqi can rise without embarrassment to head the cross and beat Thibaut Courtois with force.
Mbappé and Rodrygo rather than Rüdiger and Militao
Mbappé and Rodrygo are therefore at fault, but we come back to the real question: how are these two attackers marking the two best players in Mallorca? Heresy! The Madrid journalists do not ask themselves the question (or at least do not provide information). We must turn to Real Madrid followers, who have two suggestions. Antonio Rüdiger and Eder Militao were precisely marking Muriqi and Raillo in the first half. Did the two central defenders ask to go into zone defense on the opposing corners? Or did the staff suggest this system to them at half-time?
Suddenly, the management of defensive corners will now be closely monitored during Real Madrid matches. Starting with Sunday with the visit of Valladolid to the Bernabéu, for the grand debut of the new number 9 in the sumptuous setting of the capital. As decided by Ancelotti, Mbappé will return in front of his goal on opposing corners (Vinicius being the only player outside the area in Mallorca), but it would be surprising to see him marking one of the best opposing headers. That would be very stupid…
