The duel between the giants is electrifying

There is this one sentence that is primarily used in sports, but can also be found in all areas of life. “If it works, it works.” The result of this simple wisdom can be found in winning streaks, in lasting successes and, on the other hand, in the fact that the competition is almost desperate. It is the myth of invincibility, an inviolability that is sometimes difficult to understand and that can still lead to flights of fancy even in difficult situations.

Real Madrid, for example, are dizzyingly played by Liverpool FC in the Champions League final in Paris. The Madrilenians were simply demonstrated by the British of the charismatic German coaching star Jürgen Klopp. They only shot at Liverpool's goal twice. Twice in 90 minutes. But they scored a goal. In contrast, Messrs. Salah and Mané were regularly defeated by Real's outstanding Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. With every shot at his square, his arms grew a little longer. Desperation spread among the opponent. Real Madrid won its eighth consecutive final.

“Heroics for eternity.” Or: “The invincibles of Real Madrid.” They may not be the best, but they are more successful than everyone else, which is why many stars still name Real Madrid as their dream club. Because with real, so the simple calculation goes, with real you win. And big titles. Ask David Alaba, for example. The Austrian was a fixture at FC Bayern Munich and still had an urgent desire to give his life as a footballer another highlight. Just Real Madrid.

Alaba's career at a glance. © APA

The club is characterized by hyper-confidence, which often belittles opponents when they just see the crest. On a smaller scale, to stay briefly with football, this is also the case in the Bundesliga. FC Bayern Munich was also able to become German champion for the tenth time in a row because the competition often gets a kick out of it when their team bus heads south. Or when Bayern come to visit. Then people like to talk about “the hardest game of the season”. The normality of an ordinary game has no chance. “Mia san mia.” This is the motto of the people of Munich, which is also intended to express their special position. And it's working quite well so far. The opponents duck early.

At the French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, people like to say about the Spaniard Rafael Nadal that Roland Garros, the huge area in the chic 16th arrondissement of Paris, is his living room. He has won this tournament 13 times and is therefore often referred to as “the King of Roland Garros”. And such a ruler radiates a special aura. Otherwise the winning streak won't work.

The young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime got a good dose of his unshakable belief in himself in the round of 35 against Nadal. He lost in the fifth set. He played well, brilliantly at times. But Nadal fought like a lion for his throne in Paris, which he now sees in danger at the age of XNUMX. That perhaps makes him even more dangerous and vicious.

Now he meets a like-minded person. Also a king of the tennis courts who beat him in the semi-finals last year: Novak Djokovic. It was an unfortunate draw that the two exceptional players now meet in the round of 16. However, two alpha animals give the fans goosebumps long before the finale. The much-quoted “giant duel” is upon us. Who will win? Maybe not even the better one that day. Probably the one who plays this match with the broadest chest, whose punches are supported by sheer unshakable self-confidence.

Psychology, yes, it is omnipresent, especially in sport, when decisions are often very close. As the tenor goes, you can sometimes go through a bad phase. But you can't let it show. Stay calm when problems arise.

So everything is just as open in this game as in the match between Alexander Zverev from Germany and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who would like to be his compatriot's successor in the living room. As always, the decision is made on the pitch, of course, but also very intensively between the ears.

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The duel between the giants is electrifying

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