The unexpected impact of the retirement of a legend like Karim Benzema hit Real Madrid and Real Madrid at the end of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu, where the white team added a point (1-1) conceded by Courtois’ saves against Athletic , who enjoyed the European ranking until the penalty kick at the end of the history of the French striker in a stadium that will always remember his excellence.
An eternal player who will remain in the retina of Real Madrid. A virtuoso who turned doubt, even the whistle about his lack of punch, into leadership and goals as soon as he took on the role of Cristiano Ronaldo. The loss of a reference. Farewell to a legend marked the end of the course at the Santiago Bernabéu.
A Real Madrid that navigated between the emotionality of the moment and the lack of competitive tension due to the little that was at stake. A handful of millions for the club for second place. More for an athletics that gave it their all in their fight for a European place. Ballasted by a bad season finale in one of the most complex scenarios, where he showed personality.
He initially made Vinicius’ return to the scene, after two games away from the spotlight, to play Athletic judiciously. With no defensive suffering, he sought a win that has held him back in the League at Madrid’s Colosseum since 2005. And he ran into Courtois, for whom there are no small matches. He flew left to save Vesga’s penalty on nine minutes, after spotting Kroos from behind who cut off Iñaki Williams’ shot from a corner with an outstretched arm.
Real Madrid were imprecise with the ball and wanted to end a closed season since being knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League. In his time, Real Madrid were looking for Benzema. Despite his setback this season, with fourteen goals less than the previous one, the best of his career, Karim still had a lot of football to give to Real Madrid. When he appeared and associated with his companions, he brightened up a gloomy afternoon.
He got Vinícius close to the goal and avoided it with a great save under Unai Simón after a dry shot. The most dangerous play along with an electric end to the first act in which Rodrygo delivered a one-on-one pardon and Carvajal headed a side cross straight off the crossbar. Athletic had previously encountered Courtois again with a long shot from Yuri and again a cross from Iñaki Williams.
The difference in motivation had to be reflected on the scoreboard. He avoided it as much as Courtois could until it was impossible for him. He saved Sancet’s first, after a foul by Ceballos, soft at the start of the game, and the Belgian goalkeeper could not do anything for the rebound that put the Athletic footballer on top to make his team dream with Europe at times. Osasuna tied up at home. Seventh place was attacked.
The joy lasted barely three minutes. Osasuna’s goals came while Real Madrid failed to increase the intensity at the Bernabéu, with no ideas with the ball and no attacking poise to generate danger outside of races against Vinicius’ world.
Courtois kept his team afloat, with a saving move, taking up space and coming face to face with Iñaki Williams with his right arm out of nowhere, as in so many games, Carlo Ancelotti’s team awoke from lethargy. From a penalty requested by Vinícius, after four consecutive feints against Vivian, not declared. He rigorously went to one from Yuri on Militao in a fight for a high ball with the Athletic defender taking an arm out.
Benzema could not miss the parting gift. From a penalty kick, he scored his 353rd goal in 648 games with Real Madrid and enjoyed his last moment of happiness at the Bernabéu, where he felt all the love of Real Madrid. It was the last point in the white shirt for one of the best forwards in Real Madrid’s history, an eternal figure in LaLiga.
His dimension overshadowed a finish in which Real Madrid could even turn the game around after all Athletic’s achievements. A goal disallowed by Vinícius for offside and an unforgivable mistake by Rodrygo, with everything to score after a great play by ‘Vini’ that he defined badly, ended a League with a closing gift.
Second place returned to the Bernabéu with Villarreal’s last goal against Atlético de Madrid between the farewell of Marco Asensio and players living their last moments at the white club and receiving the love of the fans.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
