Munich – Real Madrid lose a lead against Manchester City in the final phase. Sergio Ramos becomes a tragic figure, the season is on the brink of collapse before the Clásico.
The departure of Sergio Ramos late Wednesday evening was anything but royal.
Shortly before the final whistle against Manchester City, the Real Madrid superstar trotted off the grass of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with his head hanging down.
In the 86th minute of the game, he had seen the red card after an emergency stop. It was the Spaniard’s fourth red card in the Champions League and the 26th in his turbulent career.
According to Cadena SER, the Madrilenians want to protest against the red card. However, the chances of this measure being successful are low.
Eight minutes could cost Real Madrid the season
Eight minutes earlier, the world had still looked splendid for the Spaniard and his team. Real had led 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City, but not all fans and experts believed the weakened royals could do it.
But then Gabriel Jesus scored for the visitors (78th) and Ramos, of all people, had lost the aerial duel – actually his great strength – against the 1.75-metre tall Brazilian. Shortly thereafter Kevin De Bruyne (83rd) completed the comeback of coach Pep Guardiola’s Skyblues with a penalty. Real is on the brink of retirement, the season is on the brink of collapse.
“Madrid are threatened with collapse: no trophy, no top of the table and the fall in the Champions League,” was the headline in the house paper Marca.
Ramos sees red after emergency brake
The remaining hope that the home supporters could still raise at the thought of the return match was extinguished when Ramos brought down the passing Jesus just before the edge of the penalty area. A crystal-clear emergency brake, not even the 33-year-old, who is normally in need of information, had any objections.
“Now comes the week of truth”, Sergio Ramos had sounded in the back of his mind before the game against City and with the Clásico against FC Barcelona on Sunday. (La Liga: Real Madrid – FC Barcelona from 9pm)
He did so in his usual role as king of the royals. As captain and leader of the team, which has won the Champions League three times in the last four years, he is responsible for the fighting, on and off the pitch. But in the first act of the Week of Truth, Ramos went down in history as a tragic figure.