There is little doubt that in Real's European matches the field turns unequivocally towards the goal of the rival goalkeeper of the Txuri Urdin. Yesterday, with less finesse and, of course, less fluidity than against AZ Alkmaar, the men of Imanol they repeated siege before an entrenched opponent without blushing with five and six men within their own area. The result, however, was once again another monument to that impotence that is accompanying the Real in their journey in the Europa League. Far from the exuberance he has exhibited in various phases of the league championship, reaching the goal in Europe costs the realistic team blood, sweat and tears.
The percentage of possession of the ball yesterday touched surrealism. 75% and 25%. It is difficult to have less the ball than the Croats and take more loot: two goals and one point. But that is not a reading that allows the Balkans to be looked down upon. They had a plan and they executed it well. And they scored. His idea, of course, included near-perfect defensive and set-piece behavior. The one that the Real lacked. Because in this game the only numbers that work, the only numbers that count, are the ones that stand on the scoreboard and, in that regard, La Real is an ode to despair.
20 shots and 10 corners per game
The sum continued yesterday against the modest Croatian team. 28 more shots to accumulate than those already fired to date. 98, almost 100 in the five games of the group stage. And 12 more corners for the collection of useless executions from the corner. 50 in total. Round numbers. No goal from a direct shot, or similar, after crossing from the corner flag. Averages that are difficult to find in most matches of any competition: 20 attempts on the opponent's goal and 10 corners per match. Outcome? A desperate goal from Baptist in Croatia after a good collective action, another from Portu after semi-fallow of Oyarzabal against AZ in Anoeta and both yesterday, the first after a great maneuver by the Errenteria striker and the second in full final harassment. An analysis away from the fever associated with any end of the game will conclude that it is too little.
With a few more goals in these games, it is possible that Real would also have to go to Naples to score a point to continue living in the Europa League. But, at least, he would travel without that degree of despair that has been generated in almost all the Europa League matches and, above all, with the certainty that the distance that separates him from the goal in this competition is not as much as reality is responsible for demonstrating.