His name is Gonzalo and he is the new idol of the Madridist fans. His goal in stoppage time has placed Real Madrid in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. Leganés, 2 - Real Madrid, 3.
Just three days before the Madrid classic, Carlo Ancelotti has sent a message to his colleague Diego Simeone. This Real Madrid is very much alive. It aspires to LaLiga, the Champions League, and also the Copa del Rey.
Gonzalo's performance was expected
With a makeshift team. With newly minted academy players and regular starters who usually enjoy the status of substitutes.
And the great Madridist star has been a new player: Gonzalo, 19 goals out of the 38 scored by Castilla. Today's performance is not a coincidence.
He is a player with a knack for scoring. In the 92nd minute, when everything indicated that the match was going to extra time, he headed a cross from Brahim into the net.
Spectacular Modric. It's true that he is 39 years old, but he is still a phenomenon. And if he can't play for 90 minutes, we would appreciate it if Ancelotti let us enjoy him for 70.
It was a makeshift Real Madrid against a top-tier team that had just beaten Barça at home. And Real Madrid, with the Second Unit, knocked them out of the cup competition.
Modric's scolding to Vinícius
Modric opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Seven minutes later, Endrick finished a play initiated by Rodrygo to establish the 0-2. The tie seemed settled.
But shortly before halftime, Leganés closed the gap with a penalty thanks to a handball by Jacobo inside the area. 1-2 at halftime.
In the second half, Getafe took advantage of a defensive lapse by Real Madrid to score again through Juan Cruz.
Nerves on the Butarque field. Modric and Vinícius had an intimate scolding, but a scolding nonetheless. The Croatian doesn't like some things about the Brazilian.
He didn't drop back to defend on a corner and Luka reproached him. Vinícius was as mad as a hornet.
And Ancelotti sided with Modric: "You always have to respect what Modric says," he said at the end of the match when asked about the clash between his two players.
Ancelotti's message to Simeone
Vinícius didn't like Modric's public reprimand. He barely celebrated Gonzalo's goal and went to the locker room cold, as if none of it concerned him.
The tie became complicated for Real Madrid, but Ancelotti bet on Gonzalo and it worked out. He brought him on in the 83rd minute, replacing Fran García, and the move worked.
Carlo Ancelotti breathes easy. Real Madrid is still alive in La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey. A serious warning for Cholo Simeone three days before the Madrid classic.