Real Madrid returned to victory, but the main thing almost stops on the scoreboard. After a worrying series of three defeats and a draw in the last four matches, the Madrilenians beat Deportivo Alavés at the Santiago-Bernabéu in a particularly heavy atmosphere. The Madrid club’s season is sinking into a strange routine where each success only seems to push back against the obvious. The elimination in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and a Liga which seems promised to FC Barcelona have left a bitter taste in the Spanish capital. Faced with an opponent who is struggling to remain, the objective was simply to win to save the honor of the Merengues on the verge of drowning, and to try to calm a growing frustration around a season which risks ending, once again, without a major trophy – even if the championship is still mathematically open.
On the pitch, however, Real Madrid did the job, even if the scenario once again left a strange impression. The first goal came from Kylian Mbappé, author of a long shot deflected by a defender who deceived the Basque goalkeeper. A happy, almost accidental goal that the French striker didn’t even celebrate. Subsequently, Vinícius Júnior gave his team a little breathing space with a superb long-range strike, synonymous with a break and momentary relief. But even with a two-goal lead, Real Madrid never completely convinced. Alavés continued to play with courage and ended up reducing the gap in the final minutes, once again reminding us of Madrid’s fragility this season. A victory (2-1) which looks more like a bandage than a real recovery, almost a placebo remedy for ailments and wounds which continue to make Madrid’s socios suffer.
A booed Mbappé who looks grim
Because the real event of the evening did not only take place on the pitch. In the stands of the Bernabéu, the atmosphere was icy well before kick-off. The bars around the stadium were half empty and the atmosphere unusually silent for a Real Madrid match night. Very quickly, the supporters’ frustration turned into bronca. Several players were targeted, notably Vinícius and Mbappé, who were repeatedly booed by their own public. The Frenchman, despite his goal, suffered heavy whistles after a huge missed opportunity just before the break. A failed lob attempt against the goalkeeper which was enough to trigger general annoyance in an increasingly impatient stadium. This climate perfectly illustrates the state of mind that currently reigns around the Madrid club. In Madrid, scoring is no longer enough when the collective results disappoint and the season already seems lost on the big stages. Mbappé experienced it during this very strange evening, even though he opened the scoring. Madrid fans expect not just goals but landmark victories, trophies and clear domination.
“This is not the first time this has happened. Vinicius has always strived to carry the team on his shoulders. He doesn’t hide it, he’s a true madridista, he wears the crest with pride and he’s very courageous. I’m delighted that the fans rewarded him with applause. Will he extend his contract? It’s not for me to decide, but I hope it stays for many more years. I don’t think this is a widespread, or even everyday, phenomenon. This debate about the requirements of this stage will never end. What pleases me is that Vinicius turned the boos into applause. That’s what matters to me“, said Alvaro Arbeola about the boos heard in the bays of Casa Blanca. In a club accustomed to summits, the slightest drop in level quickly transforms into popular anger. And even the most anticipated stars of the Madrid locker room are discovering that the Bernabéu can become one of the most demanding stadiums in Europe when the promises of a season are not kept.
