It would have seemed like a massive blow, but if you ask Real Madrid fans about their loss in the Copa Del Rey recently, that ended their unbeaten run in all competitions, they would probably tell you that it was just a bump in the road. Nevertheless, Real couldn’t manage to beat Juventus’ unbeaten run, but football isn’t just about records, right?
Photo Credits: PG1. LEAD
Across Goa, Madristas were on a high as Real Madrid were on an unbeaten run that started around Easter and even crossed Christmas. These kinds of gifts are rare and when Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid equalise and save the game against Sevilla in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey round of 16 in the final minute of injury time. This took their tally of unbeaten matches to 40 and with that they broke record of their arch rivals Barcelona for Spanish clubs. This was even sweeter as they achieved this without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and it led Zinedine Zidane receiving praise from some of the Real Madrid greats for his managerial success after just one season.
However, Sevilla who are also in the race for the La Liga title were treated to sweet revenge as they stormed back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Real Madrid 2-1 and thus ending their run that began in April 2016 at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. This was without its fair share of drama as it was Sergio Ramos a native of Seville and a former Sevilla youth product , who had scored the penalty in the Copa Del Rey match, was unlucky to have scored an own goal in the crucial La Liga Game. It maybe recalled that stepped up to take a penalty in the Copa Del Rey match, chants of “Sergio Ramos, hijo de puta” rang around the stadium and then he cheekily scored with a 'paneka penalty ' and went on to celebrate by sarcastically cupping his ears and pointing to his name on the back of his shirt.
Little did Ramos know that three days after that game, in the 85th minute when Sevilla was expected to lose the game, Ramos headed the back ball back into his own net and Stevan Jovetić smashed a dramatic late match winner in stoppage time. Real Madrid fans who were expecting their club to go on and beat other records such as Juventus's unbeaten record of 42 games were left disappointed and shared their reactions.
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It was shocking after a win and a draw to lose to them. All good things come to an end but this maybe the beginning of something great like winning the treble. We were unlucky with the own goal but and it happens to even the best. Ramos is a great leader and he has shown that time and again."
Schaefer Fernandes, businessman
It's not Sergio Ramos's fault. He is a defender and he was trying to clear it. I feel it's a shame that are raising questions like if Ramos forgot which side of the pitch he was on, especially about a player who has won us two champions leagues, three La ligas and two Copa Del Reys. Secondly, one loss is not a big deal, it's a long season and first loss of this year. My only worry is it reminds me of the 2015 season when we led most of the season and it took one bad month in March to kick us out of all three competitions. Hands down, this is the best real Madrid team in the last decade, the kind of football the players we have and two champions league medals, which is actually all that RMFC care about. But we have had the Fernando Hierro team, Hugo Sanchez team, Emilio Butragueño's team in the 80s and obviously 5 Alfredo Di Stéfano team in the 50s which are probably greatest RM teams ever.
Niraj Shirsat, sales manager
It's obviously disappointing to have the record broken but like Zinedine Zidane has said, it had to happen at some time. To lose away to a Sevilla side that's currently above Barcelona in the table and that too in extra time isn't a bad thing at all. It was five minutes that the team lost control of the match and they punished us. This current Real Madrid squad has created history already and one loss won't change anything.
Nathaniel Da Costa, digital strategist
As far as I am concerned the loss which put an end to the streak is a good omen. As there was some pressure on the players, as in they may have been only for a draw to keep the record intact and it probably would've cost us more points in the league. One main point I would like to focus is the ability of our team to bounce back at the very dying moments of the match. And Mr Comeback (Sergio Ramos) was there to rescue us time and again. There is no need to panic and single out a single player for this loss...I am sure we will bounce back stronger!
Nigel Nunes, MBA student
The unbeaten run had to come to an end at some time and personally think what this team has achieved is great. We are still in with a chance of the treble and I am sure we can do it. This loss is a small little pothole that slowed the journey down towards the destination which is the treble this season
Felipe Alvares, businessman
We win as a team and we lose a team. No one can question Sergio's commitment, he's our Captain Fantastic, he'll pick himself back up. At Real, the end game is to win the title, sure these records add some shine but these are not goals we set at the start of the season.
Keith D'Souza, Marketing and business development manager.
We have dropped three points because of Sergio Ramos with comfortable lead on our closest rivals and we have won three important trophies because of Ramos. As a Madrid fan I'll take the trophies over points any day.
Nihal N Tivrekar, businessman
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Uefa's unbeaten runs in competitive top-level matches
62: Celtic (SCO) 1915–17
60: Union SG (BEL) 1933–35
48: Benfica (POR) 1963–65
45: Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 2014–15
43: Juventus (ITA) 2011–12
42= Ajax (NED) 1995–96
42= Milan (ITA) 1991–92
40= Nottingham Forest (ENG) 1978
40= Real Madrid (ESP) 2016–17
