The afternoon of the last times at Real Madrid

There are two goals that Karim Benzema remembers in a special way: the first at the Bernabéu, a left-footed shot after hitting Xerez on a bicycle in September 2019, and the Panenka-style penalty in the first leg of last year’s Champions League semifinal at the Etihad. This Sunday, when he placed himself in front of the ball to take what seemed to be his last penalty with the Real Madrid shirt, he also chose the center, although without the floating flight with which he fooled Ederson in Manchester. Unai Simón beat himself to the right and the ball flew low down the middle.

It was a release. For him and for the stands. The Frenchman had gone through his last game between musty and tense, rather lonely. Upon returning from the break, he waited for the restart standing in the central circle, with his hands tied behind his back, while the rest of the team played with a ball or chatted while holding on so that all the fields could be played again at the same time. With the ball in play, Benzema was little more than walls in the front, miniatures not too dazzling either.

He got impatient and the stands occasionally shouted his name, but without much conviction. Between the sadness of the farewell, the discontent for the surprise and the disappointment of not attending one last delivery of genius. The emotion was ignited by Vinicius and Rodrygo. The future is already here while the last legend is still slipping away.

Until the penalty. Then Benzema opened his arms, blew kisses to the stadium, found himself in the center of a circle made up of his teammates and returned to his field clapping above his head. It was a release. It was also his last goal with Madrid. The last time he touched the ball at the Bernabéu.

Carlo Ancelotti withdrew it immediately, and Karim left applauding and hitting his shield, or his heart. With the Bernabéu finally on its feet after an afternoon that announced excitement and did not finish uncorking.

Life in Madrid advances at an overwhelming speed. The emotional binge is difficult to process, and very recent events that led to deep breaks already seem very distant. Only two and a half weeks have passed since the 4-0 in Manchester, barely two since Vinicius exploded against racism in Mestalla, one and a half since Florentino Pérez sat the Brazilian on his right in the box on an afternoon full of affectionate gestures after the Valencia attacks. All of that already seems from another life.

Because on Friday a hatch opened and dismissals began to fall: Asensio and Mariano did not renew, and Hazard’s contract was terminated a year before what was signed in 2019, when the illusion was full. And this Sunday, just over six hours before the last game of the season, the departure of one of the greatest legends in the history of Madrid was announced. Benzema arrived in 2009 and left 14 years later with 25 titles, including five Champions. He also leaves an album with some of the most beautiful creations performed on grass in recent decades. And above all, the impeccable record of a guy who did what was best for the team at all times, whether it was driving Cristiano, who arrived the same summer, or grabbing the flag when the Portuguese emigrated to Juventus.

While Madrid tried to assimilate its last times, the game progressed at a low speed, with Athletic determined to squeeze their last chances of sneaking into Europe, which eluded them. But they insisted on the wings with the Williams brothers and with Sancet, who opened the scoring with a double shot at Courtois, who prevented them from expanding the account several times. As usual.

Seeing what Atlético was doing, Madrid was worth the tie to finish second. Although it was mostly sentimental. Asensio entered in the 58th minute to receive a first ovation, and left shortly after 90 for the penultimate one, while he hugged his teammates one by one, something that Benzema did not do when he left.

With everything already finished, they all returned to the field and Nacho returned the bracelet to Karim. Last applause, last chants. And blanket the French, Asensio, Hazard and Mariano, with diminishing enthusiasm. The last two said goodbye to the Bernabéu in bench clothes. Benzema, almost stealthy, like when he arrived, like when he was hanging around the goal.

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