0-0: A Real without a blow maintains its privileged position

One point and 930.00 euros more. La Real could not beat Salzburg in their fifth game in the Champions League group stage, but their position continues to be truly privileged: they enter the final round as leaders, a condition they will retain if they draw or lose Inter Milan. which they equalized in Lisbon (3-3) at the Giuseppe Meazza on December 12. It was a dream situation in August, although the draw against the Austrians at home leaves a certain bitter aftertaste because Real wanted victory so much, they managed to achieve it in the end, but ran into a giant goalkeeper like Schlager. It continues to be a walk and participation in the Champions League, unusual. The icing stays put.

Having sold the fish of qualification for the round of 16, Real allowed themselves the luxury of playing a Champions League match with maximum relaxation, with more than half of the starting team on the bench and without qualifying pressures , even if they are at Stake. is the probability that any draw will be worth ahead of the final game against Inter. The stands, after the magical moment of the violin anthem, also understood that this is a game to enjoy and put aside problems and tachycardia. The three-goal advantage that Benfica had in the other match, which was later liquidated by Inter, also helped to level the atmosphere. And there were moments when silence reigned in the Amara Coliseum.

An ‘eleven’ with six changes

Imanol decided to stir the hornet’s nest and change his ‘fierceness’ in the least important match of the entire group stage. He introduced six changes with respect to the match against Sevilla and the players who needed filming like Odriozola, Zakharyan and Cho, which I would never trust from the start in today’s decisive battles. For the coach, it was a kind of first part of the Cup match against Andratx, because he put pillars like Le Normand, Merino and hut, members of his inexplicable praetorian guard, who played despite being wounded. Salzburg also used declassified and declassified elements.

Despite playing half a changed team, Real gave ‘on’ their Champions way and rushed out to try to score before they deserved it, like against Inter, like in Austria. He practiced suffocating pressure with suicidal overtones that overwhelms his rival and steals his last breath, but at the same time allows him to enjoy the opportunities when he succeeds in getting out of it. And that’s what happened.

In minute 1, Zubimendi already searched the squad, taking advantage of a rebound after a good center Aihen. in 8′ Oyarzabal he shot too much centered after combining with braise in an action born of a robbery! Zakharyan!

A stick against

However, the most obvious occasion was FC Salzburg yesterday (the Champions League does not allow them to show their Red Bull bulls). The Austrians broke the pressure with three precision passes and conceded Baby in natural death with Remiro. Cascantino came out quickly and closed the gap for the Malian, who crashed the outside of the post.

La Real continued to search him relentlessly (65% possession until half-time), combined successfully (88% passing success), but lacked the audacity to generate real danger. Zakharyan He explores the goalkeeper’s virtues with a missile from almost no angle and then neither passes nor shoots on a counterattack. AND Turrientes He came closest to playing ‘Freed from Desire’ over the public address system with a distant howitzer coming out muttering obscenities in the corner. Despite everything, Salzburg was not comfortable.

And in fact, the game was balanced in the second half, when the second realistic unit began to weaken due to its inactivity. He entered a period of certain drowsiness, which was broken by two shots of braise from the front and Zakharyan after a center Cho. They both ran towards that goal Schalager.

However, what made the pulse of the parish quicken more was Sadiq, hailed as a hero for his great goal against Sevilla, who in his first game scrambled and shot from an angle to make it past the rival goalkeeper. Also Zubimendi caressed the two.

Harassment without termination

The last minutes were harassment, but no demolition. hut cut off the Austrians on the left and Sadiq He was scary every time he caught the ball. The Japanese almost put the ball into the top corner from a direct free kick, but his goal angel reappeared.

The discount was small: four minutes passed like a greatness. And the game ended with a certain mix of disappointment, without the ovation that Real deserved for its participation in the league. And the Champions League will return to the San Sebastian coliseum in March.