Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz has made a significant switch in his sportswear allegiance, as he transitions from Nike, his longtime sponsor, to Adidas. The 24-year-old has secured a lucrative, enduring partnership with the renowned German sports brand, triumphing over rival contenders to secure his commitment. Having previously been associated with Nike throughout his career, this move marks a significant change for Diaz, who will now lace up in Adidas boots for his training sessions.
In contrast, Nike recently extended its association with Vinicius Junior until 2030, resolving prior issues between the brand and the player. However, they encountered a setback with Real defender Antonio Rudiger, who opted for Under Armour instead.
Diaz showcased his prowess on the field as Real’s lone goalscorer in the recent derby against Atletico Madrid, securing a crucial 1-1 draw for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite not being initially slated to start, an unexpected opportunity arose due to Vinicius Jr’s pre-match injury discomfort, which Diaz seized effectively.
With seven goals and three assists in 26 appearances across various competitions this season, Diaz maintains an impressive goal involvement rate of approximately one goal every 106.7 minutes. His consistent performance is bringing him closer to consideration for the Spanish national team, despite ongoing efforts from Morocco to sway his international allegiance. Nonetheless, Diaz remains steadfast in his preference to represent Spain.
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Real Madrid Held to Draw by Atletico in Ongoing ‘Season of Survival’
Real Madrid’s fatigued players, their expressions twisted in frustration and disbelief, mirrored the sentiments of the fans filling the stands at the Santiago Bernabeu as they witnessed Marcos Llorente’s 93rd-minute equalizer for Atletico Madrid.
The events of the evening seemed to follow a pattern of misfortune, with the team’s rocky start setting the tone for its eventual conclusion. Prior to the La Liga kick-off on Sunday evening, the anticipation of the home supporters was dampened by a mishap with the tifo display, which failed to unfurl as planned, diminishing its impact.
Additionally, confusion arose with the starting lineup, exacerbated by Vinicius Junior’s last-minute withdrawal from the warm-up, despite being announced as a starter on the public address system. This unexpected turn of events led to Brahim Diaz being named as Vinicius Junior’s replacement, contrary to earlier reports that Joselu would fill the role.
It seemed as though fate had already cast a shadow over Real Madrid’s fortunes. With three points within their grasp, they had the opportunity to capitalize on Girona’s draw the previous day and secure a four-point lead at the summit of the table. Instead, they found themselves on the receiving end of their own trademark late-game drama, leaving them battered by a bitter dose of irony. In the words of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, “Normally, it’s Real Madrid who score in the last minutes.”
The equalizer from Atletico came moments before the referee signaled the end of the match, adding insult to injury. The goal was netted by Marcos Llorente, a product of Real Madrid’s La Fabrica youth academy, where he honed his skills from 2008 to 2016, amassing 39 appearances for the first team before departing for Diego Simeone’s side in 2019.
However, Atletico’s breakthrough could have arrived sooner, given the vulnerabilities evident in Madrid’s defensive setup. It was only a matter of time before an aerial threat materialized, ultimately leading to the decisive moment in the match.
Real Madrid’s Defensive Woes Deepened Ahead of Fourth Atletico Showdown
Heading into the fourth Atletico ‘derbi’ of the season, Real Madrid faced a defensive crisis with a makeshift backline. Alongside the long-term absences of Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger was sidelined due to a knock sustained against Getafe, and Aurelien Tchouameni was suspended following his fifth yellow card in the league season’s previous match, a 2-0 victory on Thursday.
Despite efforts from sources close to former Chelsea defender Rudiger, who remained anonymous to safeguard their position, to push him to play through the pain, the 30-year-old was clearly unfit on Sunday, unable even to run due to his injury. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, acknowledging Rudiger’s warrior mentality, opted not to risk exacerbating the situation.
With only one fit center-back, Nacho, available in the first-team squad and both potential reserve options, Alvaro Carrillo and Marvel, also injured, Madrid’s defensive resources were severely depleted. Even midfielder Tchouameni, drafted in as an emergency option, was unavailable.
Although Ancelotti had mentioned Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga as potential alternatives in his pre-match press conference on Saturday, the decision had already been made to pair Carvajal with Nacho by Friday. The coaching staff recognized the unlikelihood of Rudiger’s participation and had begun preparations accordingly.
The goalkeeping choice was also influenced by the situation in the medical room, leading to Andriy Lunin receiving another start. This marked the first occasion since the initiation of rotations between Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga that one of them had started three consecutive games.
The coaching staff believed that Arrizabalaga, on loan from Chelsea without an option to buy, suffered an injury just as he was hitting top form for the season, providing an opportunity for Lunin to step up. Despite occasional setbacks, they observed growth in Lunin’s performance, attributing it to his relief from the sporadic pressure of standing in for Thibaut Courtois and highlighting his perceived superiority over Arrizabalaga in dealing with aerial threats.
Atletico’s Aerial Assault Exposes Real Madrid’s Defensive Vulnerabilities in Stalemate
In their previous La Liga encounter in September and the Supercopa de Espana semi-final in January, Atletico had capitalized on early headed goals. Their strategy on Sunday was clear: exploit Real Madrid’s defensive vulnerabilities, particularly with Ancelotti’s backline comprising players of shorter stature, namely Lucas Vazquez, Carvajal, Nacho, and Ferland Mendy.
Atletico executed a barrage of 19 open-play crosses (compared to Madrid’s 10) and delivered eight corners (while Madrid managed only two). They attempted 27 aerial balls to Real Madrid’s 12, emphasizing their intent to exploit aerial superiority, culminating in Llorente’s decisive intervention in the dying moments of the match.
Despite the outcome, Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, asserting, “We deserved to win, we can’t fault ourselves for anything.” He acknowledged the team’s deficiency in aerial duels, attributing Atletico’s success to their proficiency in exploiting crosses.
To a significant extent, Ancelotti’s squad was hindered by the lack of reinforcements in the center-back position during the January transfer window. While acknowledging the need for defensive reinforcement in discussions with the board, he downplayed its significance in media interactions.
Instead of dwelling on the transfer market, the Italian tactician opted to focus on the imminent return of Rudiger from injury, the reinstatement of Tchouameni for the crucial La Liga clash against Girona, and expressed optimism regarding Camavinga’s injury, hoping it was minor despite his discomfort on leaving the pitch.
Real Madrid’s campaign has been characterized by a battle for survival. As the season progresses, the most pivotal phase lies ahead.
