The Bernabeu said goodbye to the League with a bland and goalless game against Betis in a Bernabeu whose interests were far from the pitch. All of Real Madrid is only living pending Mbappé's decision, waiting for the Champions League final on Saturday in Paris.
Betis was presented without a fang, with everything done in the League, out of the Champions League positions but with the Europa League tied. Without the thrill of points, football is something else. For Madrid it was about keeping the competitive tone and not risking injury.
The game was so good vibes that there was a double hallway. To begin with, the whites did it to Betis as Cup champions and then it was the Betis who returned it to the league champions to the applause of the public, delighted with the gesture.
Ancelotti complied with the fact that those in the final were going to play. The only doubt between Valverde and Rodrygo was resolved in favor of the Brazilian. The night was also for a triple farewell to the players who are ending their contracts and are not going to renew them: Marcelo, Isco and Bale,
The Welshman's departure from the club could not have been sadder, as a result of a disastrous final year. Bale was not even in the call and at least he saved the general whistle at the Bernabeu. There is no precedent in the club for a footballer who has given so much and left in a worse way. Since the 2018 kyiv final, when Bale was supposed to take over from Cristiano, the Welshman has been a shadow, an imitation of himself.
The match had hardly any emotion, but more or less sent the signals that Ancelotti wanted. Madrid was seen in a good physical tone, with its starting eleven ready for the final with the only exception of David Alaba, who has not played for a month and whose contest right now seems quite doubtful. Militao, who had been losing a few games, was seen again very quickly.
Modric and Kroos showed no signs of tiredness and Benzema moved well, but had little assistance. The match had an extra incentive for the Frenchman. If he scored a goal, he surpassed Raúl in the ranking of historical scorers, whom he equaled by scoring against Levante and raising his mark to 323 goals, only behind Cristiano's 451.
Almost all of Madrid's danger in the first half, which was very little, came from Vinícius's flank, who overwhelmed Sabaly a few times but could not find a finisher for his crosses.
The first real chance came at the beginning of the second half with a shot by Benzema to the body of Rui Silva. Rodrygo caught the rebound, but sent the ball out.
Marcelo, Isco and Ceballos entered in the 70th minute and the Brazilian got the best applause. Joaquín was also cheered when he came in to play. The game died with a couple of clear chances wasted by Benzema and another very clear one by Joaquín. The result mattered little. At that point, all Madrid fans went home wondering what the blessed Mbappé would do.
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