The spell of Zinedine Zidane with the Champions it finally evaporated in the Etihad after more than four years of immaculate path in the maximum continental competition because of a Manchester City superior and Raphael varane, author of two very serious errors that condemned Madrid to their second consecutive elimination in the round of 16.
The streak of twelve consecutive knockouts overcome (finals included) and three titles in a row found its antidote in the figure of Pep Guardiola, an arch enemy of Real Madrid and instead a benchmark for the French coach, who has never tired of emphasizing that for him he is the best coach in the world.
What for more than four years could not achieve other teams of the stature of the Juventus, Bayern Munich, Naples, Liverpool, PSG or Atlético de Madrid, or coaches with proven track records such as Cholo Simeone, Maurizio Sarri, Jupp Heynckes Massimiliano Allegri, Unai Emery, Carlo Ancelotti or Jürgen Klopp, who were irretrievably in the gutter when they crossed the Madrid of Zidane, has achieved it Manchester City of Guardiola. The British team reaches the final phase of Lisbon, where a Lyon that surprised the Juve (2-1).
At the worst moment, the main bastions of Madrid lowered their best level several steps. There was no trace of Hazard, Modric, Casemiro and Kroos They were very erratic, but the double photograph of Varane in goals.
The Champions It is an indomitable competition that does not take prisoners and Sergio Ramos knows that better than anyone, who served as coach from the stands of the Etihad. The concert of whistles and directions the captain gave did not seem to go with Varane, lost without his common-law partner in the rear and executioner of his team in the worst performance that he has been remembered since he arrived.