A double from Joselu Mato and a goal from Dani Ceballos culminated Real Madrid's 3-2 comeback against Unión Berlin.
With the utmost respect for the competition, coming back with nothing at stake and fighting for victory until the last minute of the match, the Real Madrid found full victories in the group stage of the Champions League, for the third time in its history, winning 3-2 against Union Berlin with goals full of vindication of Joselu y Dani Ceballos (2-3).
This is what the shield of the team that dominates the history of the European Cup with its fourteen conquests requires. And they are not words thrown into the air before the appointment. The Real Madrid footballers demonstrated this at the imposing Olympic Stadium in Berlin on a night in which, with the pass to the second round as the first already signed and with seven casualties, they emptied themselves in search of a new comeback.
A bad start to the match and a worse end to the first act conditioned Real Madrid's final chapter in the group stage. Saved by Kepa, back to ownership, at the start. He flew to the shot at will, from Behrens' point-blank range, to save Luka Modric's mistake in the first minute. The strange failure in an outside pass is a trademark that turned into a scoring opportunity for the rival.
In an inconsequential match, because Real Madrid was only putting prestige at stake, which Modric will not forget. Uncomfortable with the role he is playing in what looks like the final year, with less prominence than desired in the White House. Staged with his anger in Seville when he was substituted against Betis. Starting in Germany, with the opportunity to cure penalties with a penalty that he took in the worst possible way. In the center, flat and soft.
Ronnow took the maximum penalty with his feet and seconds after the most basic action in football, a long ball to be prolonged, he found a chain error that became a gift. From going ahead on the scoreboard in the last breath of the first act, Real Madrid found themselves behind. From Modric's failure to Nacho's, who misjudged his jump, and Alaba's, who forced a clearance towards his area. A gift for Volland, who did not waste it.
The reaction to their bad start when Fede Valverde appeared in a new position, midfielder with Dani Ceballos nearby, and especially Jude Bellingham, made Madrid's dominance useless. Ancelotti gave him no rest, choosing to take an avoidable risk in a match with nothing at stake for his team. He was exposed to a bad kick while playing with a shoulder and ankle. Or a sanction, reprimanded for being involved in an argument. Warning of sanction for the round of 16.
His importance is vital and without Vinícius, 'Carletto' cannot imagine his Real Madrid without Bellingham on the field. Although on this occasion he forgave what he had, to put his team ahead after nine minutes. Appearing as always with discretion into space, after a chipped pass from Lucas Vázquez. He cut and forgave with his left foot.
Real Madrid had already taken over the game by then, with Rodrygo's first appearances, associating with everyone. A volley from Ceballos, a second from Bellingham to a center from Fran García, one of the few novelties at the start with Joselu, who claimed themselves with hunger for minutes in the subsequent comeback.
Joselu caressed him, stopped by the wood in the first half when his powerful header to Fran's center was repelled by the crossbar. An action that was repeated to give victory to Real Madrid. The award for his respect for the competition. The forward had been around for the goal, with an outside shot that the squad looked for, and found the reward for his insistence in claiming the figure of 9.
Two goals from a pure center forward in eleven minutes. Union Berlin was minimized to a minimum, locked in its field with a greater spectacle from its fans in the stands than from the players on the field. They could not sustain the attempts of a pressure-free Real Madrid that collided with Ronnow in a scissor shot from Lucas and a double chance from Rodrygo. A handball goalkeeper's save on the Brazilian's header left him unmarked for the second consecutive match.
Joselu did it, fighting with his marker to prevail and take advantage of Rodrygo's cross, which Ancelotti threw to the right to increase his danger. He repeated it with a second header, diving to hit Fran García's center.
The Madrid team felt everything had been done, with all their victories in their pocket, when they relaxed in their defensive work and were punished. He lacked forcefulness against Brahim and Kral, with a right hand that hit the post, restored equality in the game five minutes from the end.
He could have been satisfied with the draw, but Real Madrid buried the doubts about his physique by finishing in the rival area and finding the winning goal in the prize for Ceballos's fight. His right cross from the front, between the legs of rival defenders, was unreachable by the Union Berlin goalkeeper and gave, with one minute left, the financial prize to the Madrid team.
