Real Madrid has won 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Atlético de Madrid.
It was a very evenly matched game that was decided by three masterful individual actions. The first by Rodrygo at the start of the match.
Brahim's Winning Goal
Julián Álvarez's equalizer, a brutal strike. And Brahim's 2-1, an example of skill and placement.
Both teams respected each other a lot and played at all times with the thought that there are 90 more minutes at the Calderón. And that they couldn't use all their firepower in the first match.
Neither Real Madrid nor Atlético took unnecessary risks, and the tie reaches the Metropolitano open, although Madrid will start the match winning.
The Whites played with a different intensity. Nothing like the defeat against Betis, but they didn't reach the ecstasy of other great magical European nights either.
Rodrygo's Stunning Goal
Special mention goes to Mbappé. He didn't intervene throughout the match. Only in stoppage time did he make a good pass that could have ended in a goal.
This is not what was expected from Mbappé in the big matches of the season. And today was one of them. Real Madrid won LaLiga and the Champions League with authority last season without Mbappé.
With his arrival at the Bernabéu, a stronger Real Madrid was expected, but it hasn't always been the case. Third in LaLiga and needing the play-off to reach the Champions League round of 16.
Roncero: "I've Seen a Small Mbappé"
"Today I've seen a small Mbappé, I've seen how great Real Madrid is," said Tomás Roncero on his Twitter account.
During the match, Tomás Roncero said on Cadena Ser: "Mbappé doesn'thing! A star has to show up today. This is not Mbappé."
And a detail: Real Madrid didn't look for the third goal. The detail already gives an idea that today's team wasn't the one of the great magical nights.
Vinícius didn't shine at the level he has accustomed us to. The two top-tier stars of Real Madrid were missed. But Brahim took the lead this time to inspire others with that innate commitment necessary on great occasions.
Disappointing also were Camavinga and Tchouaméni as pivots, while Valverde gave his all, Asencio commanded, and Modric organized in the final minutes.
The 2-1 leaves the swords raised for the return match, and many doubts in the air. But it's Real Madrid, and the 2-1 can, and should, be enough.