Football's unpredictability is central to its appeal, and fluke goals — known in Spanish as goles de churro — are part of that drama, according to a recent El País article. Even the most expensive stars cannot fully control the ball, which remains a wild object moving among 22 pairs of legs. Fluke goals count the same as spectacular ones, and when they come as own goals they become a player's nightmare. For fans, they can provoke curses and gratitude in equal measure; for rivals, they add suspense every time the ball comes near.
In the recent Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Oct. 25, the article notes, Real Madrid took the lead with a fluke goal when the ball rebounded off Mbappé after a poor clearance by Gerard Martín. Lamine Yamal, known for his ability to dribble past defenders in the area, then missed a clear chance when alone against Lunin. Such moments can shift a team's mood: a penalty save can lift a side, a fluke goal can ease tension, and a missed opportunity can increase pressure.
The article also recalls the 2018 Champions League final, which Real Madrid won. Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius made a major error when his hand-throw rebounded off Benzema and went into his own net. Shortly before, Karius had made a fine save from a Cristiano header, but later he let a weak Bale shot slip through his hands. Football allows redemption, the article notes: Karius was key in Schalke's promotion in 2025 and made memorable saves against Bayern Munich last September. Players can move from hero to villain, or vice versa, even within the same match.
The article also criticizes VAR and winter hydration breaks as bureaucratic interruptions that steal minutes from the spectacle. It argues that the justice technology may provide does not compensate for the loss of flow, and that football's beauty lies in the unpredictable impact of a 75-kilogram force on a 450-gram ball. Physics, including the Magnus effect behind curled shots, can explain some of the movement, but chance, talent and mood ultimately decide the outcome.
Sources: El País Deportes.