Real Madrid's fortunate Success vs Atlético’s Misfortune?

I’m a football enthusiast, perhaps unbeknownst to many of my friends. In Ghana, Kumasi Asante Kotoko is my favourite team, while in Europe, I root for Real Madrid—albeit with some sympathy for Atlético de Madrid, given that most of my good friends are staunch supporters and, perhaps, because their stadium is just a 20-minute brisk walk from my residence.

The last two major football events in Madrid, involving Real Madrid, Atlético, and Barcelona, will go down in the annals of football history, given the sport’s unpredictability and its uncanny ability to drag spectators into the realms of superstition or even the supernatural.

Last Wednesday (March 8), at the Wanda Metropolitano—now Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid city’s arch-rivals and titans,—Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid (RM), clashed in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16. This followed a hard-fought 2-1 first-leg home victory for Real Madrid, the reigning Champions League title holders.

In what seemed unfair to Atlético, RM scraped through with a new lease on life—par for the course! As usual, they gave a lacklustre performance in both legs.

Based on their gameplay, Atlético should have come out on top. Yet, it was not to be for the 'Colchoneros,' as Atlético are humorously known. (Real Madrid's corresponding moniker is 'Vikingos'). Atlético de Madrid are also referred to as ‘Los Pupas’—a term derived from ‘pupa’, meaning a cold sore or wound, but figuratively used to describe a team plagued by misfortune. And indeed, Atlético lived up to that nickname in their recent encounters with Real Madrid and Barcelona, losing both in dramatic fashion.

In the Champions League, a controversial penalty shootout saw Diego Simeone’s squad reel out of the competition they had pursued with gritty determination. And in last Sunday’s league encounter with Barcelona, Atlético were left stunned, as Barcelona made a dramatic comeback from a 2-0 deficit to clinch a resounding 4-2 victory in under 30 minutes!

As far as the Champions League Round of 16 is concerned, Atlético may well have cause to complain about the chain of events leading to their elimination. When football is professional, it is not a misnomer—it is, first and foremost, a profit-driven, money-making venture.

Moreover, match outcomes are not always determined by performance alone. No wonder the intricate workings of professional football often defy logic!

In a contest where money, entertainment, fraternity, globalization, and logic are competing forces, entertainment may well come in a distant second to MONEY. Money reigns supreme— great! And logic? Nowhere to be seen!

I say this not merely because, from my perspective, Atlético deserved to progress (not RM!) but also because Liverpool—who practically steamrolled past teams in the group stage—have been eliminated, whereas PSG and particularly Real Madrid, who barely survived the group stage, have advanced to the quarter-finals.

Where’s the logic? The real driving force is the business aspect. Real Madrid’s presence in the competition means more revenue for UEFA, as well as for all institutions and enterprises with vested interests.

For this reason, I’ve never been one for play-ins and play-offs. I prefer an all-play-all league format in team sports. Otherwise, a team ranked 24th in the regular season could, in a play-off, end up eliminating the 1st-placed team.

And with Real Madrid still afloat in their lifeboat, it should come as no surprise if they should clinch their 16th Champions League trophy at the end of the tournament—it’s in their DNA! Put it down to their goddess of fortune, Cibeles, if you like.

And Arsenal (the Gunners) may well be an unsuspecting victim as Real Madrid wades through its journey to an idyllic 16th title.

A good friend of mine once said, and I quote:

"It’s what Real Madrid understand and do so well. They know when to peak, when to bring things to a boil, when to lower the heat, add water, let it simmer, let it cook…"

Well, much as I love my friend’s culinary metaphor, I must say: if Real Madrid once mastered the art of cooking up sumptuous meals—dishes that left their diners in sheer delight—then either that art has vanished into thin air, or someone has mistakenly altered the ingredients.

Either way, while the final product may still qualify as ‘food’, it has lost all its mouth-watering appeal as far many diners are concerned. This has led to disillusionment among their diners, who now feel short-changed.

If Real Madrid hope to restore that sense of relish, they need a new master chef, fresh hands, and perhaps fresh ingredients!