Who is popular today?

Almost 2,000 days – 1,954 to be precise – since they had last managed it, the Santiago Bernabéu saw their team beat Barcelona. Through the rain they watched as Vinícius Júnior scored the goal that changed everything: a night that had begun nervously, watching their greatest rivals dominate possession, and perhaps the destination of the title race too. For an hour they had suffered, as if awaiting in the inevitable against a side seemingly sure of its superiority, but now they celebrated. Madrid are back on the top of the table, suddenly infused with life, electricity running through them. Mariano, on as a substitute, made sure of three points.
Quique Setién had said that his team would seek to dominate possession, and he was as good as his word. He had also said that this game was more important for Madrid, two points behind at the top of the table and in what Zidane had described as a “delicate position” and they appeared to be playing with that. It was as if Barcelona had time, content for Madrid to feel the pressure build, the need to win increasingly drawing them into decisions that could cost them. Continue reading...