A decaffeinated Real Madrid tied 2-2 against Mexico's Club América in the Whites' second game on the Soccer Champions Tour through the United States. After falling in the classic against Barça (0-1) in the first pre-season game, Carlo Ancelotti's men have not been able to beat the Mexican team in San Francisco either.
The eagles started very connected and the striker Henry Martín converted the first goal of the match with pleasure after the rejection of a shot by Miguel Layún in the 5th minute.
It was difficult for Real Madrid to get the ball played and when they reached three quarters of the field they found Benzema, Asensio and Vinícius together in a few meters and facilitating the defense of América. And it is that the first ten minutes were from Fernando Ortiz's team, whose men linked good combinations and even heard olés in the stands.
Uruguayan winger Federico Viñas and Mexican midfielder Alejandro Zendejas were a headache for Nacho and Rüdiger, with very comfortable arrivals from the 10th lane while Casemiro took a long time to recover his position.
Madrid could not shake off the pressure from América, which even put the meringues in danger with some counterattack until in the 22nd minute, Karim Benzema placed a very close shot from outside the area to the left post of Memo Ochoa to tie the game.
The Frenchman, who was playing his first preseason game, tried to spur the team on and was seen haranguing Asensio and Vini Jr. to add more intensity to the game. The Frenchman wanted to lead by example and in the 40th minute he sent a lofted shot into the side of the net that threatened to be his second goal of the night.
The last 20 minutes of the first part were white dominance. Ancelotti's men, at half throttle, were able to put America's defense in a tight spot thanks to several approaches led by Benzema and directed by Kroos in the engine room.
In addition, the defense was more solvent and in triangulations of two or three passes after recoveries in midfield, Benzema found himself in clear situations against central defenders Emilio Lara and Sebastián Cáceres. However, the score was still 1-1 at intermission.
Madrid went to Oracle Park in the second half with many changes. Militao, Alaba, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Ceballos, Valverde, Rodrygo and Hazard were chosen in what seemed like a clear message to Mariano, which Ancelotti does not have.
In the second half, Madrid accumulated many men in midfield and complicated the transitions to America with the superiority generated by the association between Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde and Ceballos.
In one of those, a driving start by Hazard in the 54th minute led to a semi-miss opening wide for Lucas Vázquez that ended up causing Reyes to penalize him in a large error. Hazard took the ball and transformed it.
After being traced back, the Mexican team also opted to refresh the team and incorporate seven new substitutions, including Álvaro Fidalgo, a footballer trained in the lower categories of Real Madrid.
However, the Spanish team managed to consolidate themselves in the game, limit the rival's chances of danger and reach the Eagles' area very comfortably, with Ceballos and Camavinga inspired and covering a large field.
Until in an isolated play in the 80th minute, Vinícius Tobías committed a penalty and Fidalgo took the ball to shoot. Lunin saved the first shot and the rebound, but the referee ordered it to be repeated and, although he was about to repeat the save, the ball ended up going in for the ex-Madridista to level the scoreboard.
In the final stages of the match, the two teams did not have great chances to reverse the tie. Madrid will play their last Soccer Champions Soccer game against Juventus (July 30) with the mission of, in the third round, winning their first game in preseason.
Real Madrid: A. Monday; Lucas Vazquez (V. Tobias, m. 66), Nacho (Militao, m. 46), Rüdiger (Vallejo, m. 60), F. Mendy (Praise, m. 46); Casemiro (Tchouameni, 6 m.), Modric (Ceballos, 46 m.), Kroos (Camavinga, 46 m.); Asensio (Fede Valverde, 46 minutes), Benzema (Hazard, 46 minutes), Vini Jr. (Rodrygo, 46 minutes).
Club America: William Ochoa (O. Jimenez, m. 32); J. Sanchez, E. Lara, S. Caceres, M. Layun (Fidalgo, m. 60); F. Aquino (Damm, m. 60), J. Two Saints (Valdes, m. 60); A. Zendejas (R. Sanchez, 60 m.), F. Viñas (D. Valdez, 60 m.), M. Reyes (R. Martinez, 60 m.); H. Martin (J. Rodriguez, m. 60).
Goals: 0-1m. 5: H. Martin; 1-1m. 22: Karim Benzema; 2-1m. 54: E. Hazard (pen.); 2-2m 82: A.Fidalgo.
Referee: Joseph Dickerson. He admonished Casemiro (m. 35) and Ceballos (m. 52).
Incidents: Friendly match corresponding to the Soccer Champions Tour between Real Madrid and Club América that was played at Oracle Park in San Francisco (USA) before 40,630 spectators.
