Impeccable and convinced of its style of play, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-2 and took home the first trophy of the year, an emotional boost in view of three challenges on the horizon: the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the Champions League.
The German coach of the azulgranas, Hansi Flick, beat his Italian colleague from the “white house”, Carlo Ancelotti, in the arm wrestling match. A very different Clasico to the previous one in the local competition, in which, in any case, the Catalans triumphed by a landslide 4-0.
“This victory is very important, it restores our confidence and consolidates the project for the future. We are really very happy,” Flick commented to the press.
This time, defensive errors cost Real Madrid dearly and perhaps the determination of its board and of Ancelotti himself, in not signing replacements due to the absences of centre-back Eder Militao and full-back Dani Carvajal, took its toll.
The Frenchman Aureliene Tchouameni, at centre-back, and the Spanish full-back Lucas Vázquez, were disastrous in their performances. The complete opposite of their rivals, precise and effective in defence, containment and attack.
The match started with a mirage. In a quick counterattack, after seeing his goal seriously threatened on two occasions, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, probably in his best performance with Real Madrid, put his team ahead 1-0 after five minutes. However, Barça did not stop insisting on passing the ball to their most dangerous players, and one of them, the young Lamine Yamal, equalised in the 22nd minute, after receiving a precise pass from the Pole Robert Lewandowski and managing to finish with exquisite accuracy to the left of the Belgian Thibaut Courtois.
It was like the death knell. At 36, Lewandowski scored from the penalty spot, at 39 the Brazilian Raphinha scored with a header and Alejandro Balde at 55, in both cases due to serious defensive mistakes.
The 4-1 scoreline already seemed definitive and it was increased in the second half with the second goal from Raphinha at 48. The 5-1 scoreline was “game over” and not even the goal from the Canarinho Rodrygo Goes or the expulsion of the goalkeeper Szcezsny at 56 changed the situation in the duel that took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Pedri was doing wonders in the midfield and there was a great partnership between the attackers Raphinha, Yamal and Lewandowski. If that were not enough, the substitute in goal, Iñaki Peña, prevented Mbappé from scoring the second goal.
Two defeats in two Clásicos is not normal. Although Ancelotti will clearly continue to lead the Merengues, this type of humiliation will not come for free.
He will have to make a statement on the table, with substantial transformations in his defensive scheme and, most likely, in making signings.
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