The long-awaited reunion between Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid brought about a distribution of points that left no one happy, although Sevilla was a little more satisfied. The whites have the consolation of presenting themselves with at least one more point than Barcelona in the Montjuïc classic next Saturday.
Nothing was expected other than a rough and warlike match at the Sánchez Pizjuán and so it was, tense like few others, very back and forth, full of chances and conflicting plays. Ramos and Rüdiger, who had not met at the Bernabéu, had a hard time in the areas, pushing each other and challenging each other with looks that kill. The camero managed to grab the German by the cheeks and things didn't get any worse because his former teammates took him out of there. In the last section there was even a fight over Vinícius pushing Nyland.
Ramos's game was very complete. Kepa prevented him from celebrating a goal in the 80th minute after a save from a Camero header into the top corner. Then another header in added time went high.
Madrid showed up in Nervión with the expected team, with Luka Modric again on the bench; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Kroos and Bellingham in the midfield and the attacking duo of Vinícius and Rodrygo.
To stop the whites, the new Sevilla coach, Diego Alonso, played a brave game, threw his defensive line very forward and turned the midfield into a battle with many people.
Unlike other games in this one, Madrid started very motivated and soon scored two goals, both of which were well disallowed by De Burgos Bengoetxea, a referee that Madrid has lined up and one of the ones it criticizes the most in its official media.
The first goal came after three minutes from a shot by Valverde but it was worthless because Bellingham was offside due to having his heel further forward than the defender. The second play offered fewer doubts. After an elbow from Rüdiger that left Ocampos on the ground, Madrid mounted a brilliant counterattack that ended in a goal for Bellingham. Strictly speaking, one cannot speak of a disallowed goal because the Basque referee had whistled long before to attend to the Argentine striker and the play was stopped while Vinícus went like a bullet to the rival goal.
In any case, the two plays left Madrid very sulky and gave way to a Sevilla team that balanced the game and had several chances in close succession, the clearest being a shot by Rakitic that Carvajal cleared with his head over the line.
Madrid responded with a point-blank shot from Rüdiger that Ramos also took from behind the goalposts with his goalkeeper beaten. De Burgos did not whistle or corner. In the 43rd minute, Madrid protested a push by Navas on Vinicíus inside the Seville area that also came to nothing.
The second half was played at a much slower pace, which was logical after the tremendous wear and tear. Madrid came out more dominant and Rodrygo had the first chance in the 56th, but Nyland saved the shot. The Brazilian is in the middle of a black night. He hasn't scored since his league debut.
After the hour Ancelotti moved the tree to introduce a double change in the center of the field. Modric and Camavinga entered for Valverde and Tchouaméni. The goals came very late. In the 74th minute a lateral center was pushed towards his own goal by Alaba. It didn't take long for Madrid to equalize and they did so thanks to a great header from Carvajal.
The game ended just as tense, with both teams raging from area to area. It is the first draw for the whites in the League. A match that could have been won or lost.
