Os últimos anos de disputa da Liga dos Campeões mostraram, na prática, que o Real Madrid é um dos piores adversários possíveis para se enfrentar. Times como Bayern de Munique, Chelsea e Manchester City foram vítimas de viradas históricas dos merengues, que renderam ao time espanhol, maior campeão da competição, uma certa aura de imortalidade. Hoje, no entanto, os comandados de Carlo Ancelotti precisarão de um dos maiores feitos da história do torneio se quiserem ir à semifinal da competição: reverter uma vantagem de três gols diante do Arsenal, às 16h, no Santiago Bernabéu.
Em todas as edições, apenas quatro equipes conseguiram se classificar após sair perdendo por três gols de diferença no jogo de ida. É a atual situação do Madrid, que receberá os Gunners depois de ver Declan Rice (duas vezes) e Mikel Merino balançarem suas redes no 3 a 0 no Emirates, na semana passada.
Os autores da façanha foram o Deportivo La Coruña, que fez 4 a 0 no Milan após perder de 4 a 1 no jogo de ida das quartas de final em 2004; o Barcelona do trio MSN, que fez o histórico 6 a 1 sobre o PSG em 2017 (com dois gols de Neymar) após um revés por 4 a 0 na ida; a Roma, que fez o mesmo Barcelona provar do próprio veneno no ano seguinte, vencendo por 3 a 0 após sofrer um 4 a 1 na Catalunha; e o Liverpool, que, dois anos depois, fez os culés serem novamente castigados: reverteram um 3 a 0 com um 4 a 0. Em todas as oportunidades, a regra do gol qualificado fora de casa estava em vigor. Ela foi extinta em 2021.
De todos esses donos de façanhas, apenas o Liverpool terminou campeão da competição. Mais um histórico pouco agradável na missão do time de Madri.
Cabeça, coração e…
Perguntado sobre o que o Real Madrid precisava para tirar essa desvantagem dos ingleses, o técnico Carlo Ancelotti foi sincero:
— Precisamos de uma partida no nosso nível máximo, jogar uma partida séria com cabeça, coração e colhões, como diz (o tenista Carlos) Alcaraz, de quem gosto muito — analisou ele, campeão da competição três vezes com os merengues.
Foi sob seu comando que o Madrid construiu as viradas mais épicas na campanha de 2022. Naquela edição, os espanhóis passaram de forma heroica por todos os adversários do mata-mata antes da decisão contra o Liverpool: PSG, Chelsea e Manchester City. Contra os citizens, Rodrygo marcou duas vezes e Benzema, uma, nos acréscimos em vitória por 3 a 1, que reverteu um 4 a 3 sofrido na ida das semifinais. Aquele time terminou campeão.
Em 2024, na terceira conquista de Ancelotti e também nas semifinais, o experiente atacante reserva Joselu marcou aos 43 e aos 46 do segundo tempo na virada por 2 a 1 sobre o Bayern de Munique, após um 2 a 2 na ida. Performances que inspiram os espanhóis a tentarem a “remontada”.
Do lado do Arsenal, não há menção a segurar o resultado. Dono de um futebol ofensivo e atraente, o time inglês tenta voltar à semifinal depois de quatro anos e manter-se no caminho da conquista inédita:
— A intenção é vencer o jogo. Sabemos como jogamos na ida e temos que fazer o mesmo. Temos a vantagem, mas viemos para a Espanha para ganhar o jogo — afirmou o técnico Mikel Arteta.
O dia também reserva o segundo jogo do duelo entre Inter de Milão e Bayern de Munique. Na ida, os italianos surpreenderam e venceram em plena Alemanha por 2 a 1, com gols de Lautaro Martínez e Frattesi. Müller marcou para os bávaros.
This news was originally published on this post .
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