At a time in Real Madrid’s season when the spotlight is rarely on Rodrygo, the Brazilian reminded everyone of his abilities with a brace to beat Athletic Bilbao and restore his side’s lead to eight points at the top of La Liga .
Madrid fans descended on the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening, eager to welcome Jude Bellingham back from suspension – three weeks without the Englishman felt like an eternity for supporters.
But it was Rodrygo who was the team’s most impressive player. He scored two goals that also served as a warning: now that spring is starting, now that the defining moment of the season has arrived, he is here to contribute as much as anyone, and maybe even more.
Easter Sunday! Doublet and victory! Special day…⚽️💜 Happy Easter to all 🤍🙌🏾 “And on the third day, HE rose again! The tomb is EMPTY! Because HE LIVES…” 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/AJrclQK7Wm
– Rodrygo Goes (@RodrygoGoes) March 31, 2024
Many have already written off Rodrygo, expecting him to be the player sacrificed for Kylian Mbappe this summer, to which he responded with actions and words.
“I only think about being focused and finishing the season with as many titles as possible,” Rodrygo said after the match, when asked about the Frenchman’s arrival. “Next year (if he comes) it will be a problem, a good problem, for the coach. I’m calm.”
The international break, so treacherous on other occasions, has revitalized the striker. In Brazil’s victory at Wembley against England, Rodrygo was a standout performer.
A few days later, at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Brazil drawing 3-3 against Spain, Rodrygo scored to end a 45-day streak without success or luck. The stadium didn’t react as if it was a Spanish goal, but there were plenty of happy non-Brazilian fans.
“He will repeat on Sunday, that’s for sure!” a person very close to Rodrygo said Athleticism at the time.
And Rodrygo was quick to prove him right. More precisely, over seven minutes and seven seconds, which delayed the traditional “Illa, Illa, Illa, Illa, Juanito Maravilla!” ”, a chant that never fails in the eighth minute at the Santiago Bernabeu in honor of the tragically deceased legend Juan ‘Juanito’ Gomez.
Rodrygo lived up to his nickname “El Rayo”: he received the ball from Brahim Diaz, drove at high speed, dodged his opponents and returned the ball from the edge of the area. He almost didn’t even get a chance to celebrate because his teammates surrounded him so quickly to offer him affection. In the dressing room we know that the season has not been easy for Rodrygo, but at Real Valdebebas headquarters, coaches and teammates highlight his ability to work hard during training at Ciudad Deportiva and at home.
As soon as Rodrygo emerged from the crowd of congratulations, he showed his personal quality by running to the technical area to hug Jaime Salom, a physiotherapist who had lost a very close family member a few days earlier.
Rodrygo loves Real Madrid… and Madrid fans, despite some criticism, love him too. This is why the chants of “Rodrygol, Rodrygol, Rodrygol, Rodrygol…!” were heard again.
🤳 @RodrygoGoes: “Good morning #Madridistas! I am very happy with the victory and the two goals! Hello Madrid!”#RealMadridAthletic pic.twitter.com/Yh4XHyKrH2
— Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 31, 2024
Rodrygo’s goal ended a run of 465 minutes in seven La Liga and Champions League matches without scoring, having had 15 shots (nine on target) along the way.
“There are very isolated cases of strikers who always score,” Carlo Ancelotti said. “Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema… with experience, Rodrygo will improve in this aspect.”
The expected goal value (xG) of his shot was just 0.058 (meaning the average striker would be expected to put away that chance 5.8% of the time), but Rodrygo is more art than math and he is invariably sure to master almost all types. shooting. His long-range record is also decent, with only two La Liga players scoring more from outside the box in all competitions since the start of the 2022-23 season.
5 – La Liga players with the most goals outside the box last season, in all competitions:
🇫🇷 Antoine Griezmann – 6
🇺🇾 Federico Valverde – 6
🇪🇸 Brais Méndez – 5
🇧🇷 Vinícius Júnior – 5
🇧🇷 RODRYGO PART – 5Trust. pic.twitter.com/uMlGQr4nDc
– OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 31, 2024
The minutes passed and although Real Madrid were not particularly suffering, they were also not as comfortable as they would have liked. This was seen in a gesture from full-back Dani Carvajal, who gave urgent instructions to Rodrygo and Brahim during an injury stoppage.
But the second half was marked by another moment of joy for Rodrygo, who was very active after half-time. He serves Brahim who hits the post; he also appeared to have won a penalty which was not awarded, prompting bemused anger from the Madrid bench.
Then, in the 74th minute, he took Bellingham’s pass in his stride, clipped an Athletic defender and finished calmly to seal the game.
He went to the touchline, drank some water and thanked Carlo and Davide Ancelotti.
“He played very well, he made the difference,” his coach said after the match. “People say he’s better on the left, but he’s good everywhere. Let’s not forget that he scored two goals on the right in the Champions League semi-final.
Ancelotti never lost confidence in Rodrygo. He is the player Ancelotti has allowed the third most minutes (2,935) this season, with Rodrygo contributing with 15 goals and eight assists, and being third on the team in both statistics.
When he was substituted in the 81st minute, Rodrygo left the field to a grateful ovation from the Bernabeu.
On April 9, against Manchester City in the Champions League, the stadium will be dressed in white from its Fondo Sur, where the Grada Fans supporters group is located.
“The 9 all in white! »@TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/3j0U4b1XIG
–Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) March 31, 2024
“That would be good,” Rodrygo said after the match.
Earlier, he had entered the field, waving toward the box where his family and friends watch the games. He then turned to his friend and teammate Eder Militao, who made a symbolic reappearance in stoppage time after overcoming a serious knee injury sustained in August. After kissing his compatriot, he spent a few seconds chatting with Luis Llopis, the goalkeeping coach.
El Rayo then went in, dealt with the media, took a quick shower and went home to watch former club Santos beat Palmeiras 1-0 on television.
It’s about Rodrygo, a football lover who wants and hopes that we will talk a lot about him in the months to come. And Manchester City knows very well what he is capable of.
(Top photo: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)