Barcelona have been outclassed and humbled by Actual Madrid within the first Clasico of the season, and the 2-1 scoreline is form on them given the quantity and type of probabilities they allowed the hosts on the night time.
Getting into the sport of Joan Garcia, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski, the Catalans have been at an inherent drawback and Actual Madrid ensured to capitalise on each probability offered to them.
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They not solely carried out with extra intent in midfield however have been defensively extra strong and sharper in assault, whereas Barcelona defended in shambles, have been sluggish by way of the center, and attacked with zero intent.
Ultimately, targets from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham helped Los Blancos take all three factors over Hansi Flick’s facet, who had simply to indicate as comfort.
A disgraceful defence
If there may be one division to start the firing on Barcelona’s efficiency from, the defence presents itself because the clear favorite.
Actual Madrid entered the sport figuring out effectively that Barcelona’s excessive defensive position is their ticket to paradise, and so they started the sport deliberately not urgent excessive, thus inviting Barcelona’s defence excessive.
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Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia, whereas an honest pair when it comes to distribution, failed totally in what they have been presupposed to do primarily – defend. Kylian Mbappe and Actual Madrid punished them time and time once more on the night time, and the scoreline is form on the duo.
It’s certainly unfair to pin the whole blame of the defeat on two centre-backs, however the reality stays that they’ve been lacklustre this season and that the identical continued final night time.
It was not a fantastic day on the workplace for Pau Cubarsi. (Picture by Angel Martinez/Getty Photos)
Each time Actual Madrid acquired the ball, Cubarsi and Garcia have been out of concepts on the right way to cease the break. They have been sliced in half with ease and easily didn’t have the legs or instinct to make the fitting challenges.
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Jules Kounde, for one more, was precisely as poor as was predicted of him earlier than kickoff. Coming off a mean run throughout all competitors, the participant was regularly caught napping on the fitting and allowed Vinicius an excessive amount of area.
Barcelona’s defence, at this level, is in absolute shambles and an pressing repair is required. Hansi Flick has to swallow his pleasure, for this defence is not going to win the staff any titles this season provided that they’ve been discovered.
Two unfit forwards
Whereas the defence struggled to maintain up with Actual Madrid at one finish of the sphere, Barcelona’s assault merely didn’t present any concepts on the right way to penetrate Los Blancos’ defence on the night time.
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Marcus Rashford was the one Barcelona participant who seemed impressed and keen to run into the field to make a distinction. Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal, nevertheless, have been astoundingly poor.
The duo’s shockingly poor present didn’t appear to be merely an evening off. Each gamers seemed removed from their bodily greatest, rusty on the ball, and much from match sufficient to make a distinction.
Ferran, having simply come off an damage hiatus, was understandably rusty in entrance of the objective and together with his actions. Yamal, nevertheless, was anticipated to be match however didn’t try any take-ons on the night time and seemed reluctant to take part – probably hinting at discomfort.
Maybe there is a component of blame on the administration for not figuring out the state of affairs and making substitutions earlier, however given the dearth of choices on the bench, a half-fit Torres and Yamal have been in all probability Barcelona’s greatest guess.
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They have been, nevertheless, nowhere near the extent required to take Actual Madrid down.
League race heats up
Ten video games into the league season and Actual Madrid have taken a five-point lead over Barcelona, satirically simply weeks after Barcelona took the lead again from them.
The defeat to Sevilla was sufficient for the Catalans to lose steam and permit Actual Madrid to catch up, and final night time’s end result solely widens that hole.
Marcus Sorg was in control of Barcelona in Flick’s absence. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photos)
However with over two-thirds of the season but to go, nevertheless, it’s something however completed. The primary Clasico might set the tone, however it means nothing when it comes to the title race.
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The title race is heating up and will probably be nearer and extra tightly fought than it was final season, however Barcelona has each purpose to be optimistic regardless of their poor run of type.
By the point the subsequent Clasico comes round, they are going to hope to have their first-choice gamers in Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Joan Garcia again from damage and the likes of Lamine Yamal more healthy and higher geared up to ship a standout efficiency.
The state of affairs Barcelona entered the Clasico noticed them begin with an obstacle, and whereas it might sound like an excuse, it’s the absolute reality.
This staff is nowhere near its greatest, and nonetheless has what it takes to beat Actual Madrid and any high elite staff when at 100%. Discovering that gear, nevertheless, is on Hansi Flick and the supervisor should discover that change quickly.