Warrior spirit: Asencio played through broken nose for Madrid amid crisis
Real Madrid's Raúl Asencio showed remarkable commitment by playing with a broken nose and deviated septum against Levante, even scoring a crucial header.
Despite sporting a protective mask to shield his broken nose and deviated septum, Raúl Asencio insisted on playing for Real Madrid against Levante – embodying the fighting spirit desperately needed during one of the club’s most turbulent periods.
Standing tall when others faltered
Talk about proper commitment to the cause! While Madrid were licking their wounds after losing two trophies in just three days, Asencio refused to hide away. The Spanish centre-back didn’t need to shout from the rooftops to make himself heard – his actions spoke volumes as he demanded to play despite his facial injury.
The Bernabéu faithful, absolutely fuming with most of the squad, immediately recognized this warrior mentality. When the stadium announcer read out the starting eleven, only a select few players received applause:
- Thibaut Courtois
- Kylian Mbappé
- Gonzalo
- And of course, Asencio himself
The rest? Well, let’s just say they got the cold shoulder from supporters who’ve been pushed to their limit over the past eight months.
Battle scars that tell a story
Asencio’s injuries weren’t trivial either. He was carrying a significant hematoma from the Barcelona match – the result of a brutal collision with the post in Yeda during the Supercopa final as Madrid desperately chased an equalizer.
More seriously, he had a deviated nasal septum that required him to train and play with a protective mask. The medical team fitted him with the mask to evaluate how he’d cope, but Asencio was crystal clear from the beginning – he wanted to play, come what may.
A moment of pure passion
While the Bernabéu had made its feelings known from the moment the team bus arrived, both Mbappé and Asencio managed to temporarily calm the storm. The defender, in particular, made his mark when he rose authoritatively to meet Arda Güler’s precise cross, powering home a clean header to make it 2-0.
What followed was pure emotion. Racing toward the corner flag, Asencio ripped off his protective mask in celebration, grabbed the club badge on his shirt, and sent the Bernabéu faithful into raptures.
When he was substituted in the 90th minute, the stadium rose as one to give him a standing ovation – recognizing a player who, in Madrid’s darkest hour, showed the aerial prowess, determination and personality that defines what it means to wear the famous white shirt.