Which planet is Real Madrid from?

We are about to find out the next finalists of the UEFA Champions League. And yes, they are right, once again Real Madrid is the clear favorite to lift the trophy. How is it possible?

The words Real Madrid and greatness seem to be synonymous. Any other adjective for the “merengues” seems to fall short. Feats and epic moments usually occur sporadically, and that is why they are considered uncommon episodes.

However, for Real Madrid, these kinds of feats have become everyday, to the point of being predictable.

Which planet did Real Madrid come from? Years go by, and while other teams invest, reinforce, receive millions and millions of Euros from the United Arab Emirates, assemble teams that seem invincible, Real Madrid always shows up there.

They say it’s in the DNA, and only those who enter the “merengue” locker room are capable of having it in their blood. Contemporary observers might think it’s something recent, but these magical stories have been consistently unfolding for decades.

The mother of these dreamy nights has a date; 1975, when Derby County had defeated Real Madrid 4-1 in the round of 16. That day, the “merengues” would turn the tables with a 5-1 score at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The epic nights had been inaugurated, and over the years, these feats began to be a hallmark of this club.

If what happened against Derby County had shades of an impossible feat, for the 1985 Champions League, the defeat in the first leg against Borussia Monchengladbach was even worse. The 5-1 loss in Germany made even the most positive fans lose all faith.

But there were 11 players who knew it was possible. And so it was, barely 20 minutes in, Valdano had already contributed with a brace, and very soon at the Santiago Bernabéu, that sensation of an epic night was in the air. It wasn’t until the 88th minute that Santillana scored the 4-0 which, with the away goal rule, secured the passage for the home team. Once again, the impossible had been achieved.

And so we can continue with so many stories that lead us to the same ending. What’s most incredible is that, like a movie script, these kinds of feats often follow the same plot.

For a Madridista, winning 4-0 doesn’t taste the same. And they do it quite often. The superiority of Real Madrid is understood from a different concept. It’s not for nothing that the stands usually chant the famous “That’s how Madrid wins.”

Being a Madridista is living daily with failure to later achieve glory. Being a Madridista is living and playing with the risk of falling into the abyss for a long time, only to later breathe and rejoice at having crossed that edge successfully.

Why endure suffering? A question that probably nobody has the answer to. But one thing that nobody can deny is that victories like these taste better.

Like a predator stalking its prey, Real Madrid is that feline that smells fear and blood. That needs to be struck to activate in its body that adrenaline and momentum that makes them unbeatable. When you have a predator like this in front of you, fear is inevitable.

How do you explain that in the 2022 season, the “merengues” were eliminated for 80% of the minutes played in the final stages and still ended up qualifying?

Against PSG, until the 60th minute of the second leg, they needed 3 goals to advance. Against Chelsea, by the 75th minute, they needed two goals. And the most incredible of all; against Manchester City, they reached the 90th minute needing 3 goals to advance, and they did it.

How do you explain that in 2014, in a European final, at the 93rd minute, the white team was losing the match and ended up winning it 4-1?

There really are no logical answers to so many questions. Only the combination of a tireless, brave team capable of overcoming anything. More than a sports institution, Real Madrid is an insatiable predator, and when it smells blood, there’s definitely no one who can escape.

Bet on your favorite in the Champions League semifinals. They’ll be thrilling duels you can’t miss.

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