Real Madrid faced Atlético Madrid at the Bernabéu for the Champions League Round of 16, one of the major fixtures of this round of C1.
The Moroccan, repositioned in a midfield of four and excentrated on the left, managed to deliver an almost perfect performance, scoring a goal in the second half to help his team avoid a draw that seemed inevitable after Rodrygo’s opening goal and Alvarez’s equalizer.
In this first leg, the Moroccan showcased the full extent of his talent and proved to Carlo Ancelotti that the Italian coach should trust him more in upcoming matches. His goal, created through a one-touch build-up, highlighted his technique as he managed to navigate through a forest of legs, dribbling past several players before cutting onto his right foot and placing the ball past the goalkeeper to find the far post. This goal allowed his team to regain the lead and approach the return leg at Wanda Metropolitano with a slight advantage.
The Moroccan seems to be in great form ahead of the upcoming international period with the Atlas Lions, and perhaps even change his coach’s perception of him, as he is currently seen as a super-sub or, at best, a starter when several regular players are missing. It will be interesting to see in the upcoming matches.
