Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona. Not a good result at all. Here is my reaction to the defeat. Up next: Player ratings, post game highlights and the a podcast.
Many fans were not confident ahead of the first El Clásico of the season, but a trademark comeback in the Champions League midweek against Borussia Dortmund may have sparked some feeling of hope within a few. Thibaut Courtois would have to sit this one out after suffering an injury – meaning Andriy Lunin would have to dust off the gloves and put in a shift on the big stage. Lucas Vázquez started at right-back, with the rest of the team looking as familiar as usual. Barcelona most notable inclusion amongst the big names was academy talent Marc Casado, noticeable only as the latest product in a long line of factory made talents that the Catalan giants will always be willing to afford opportunity. Lucas Vázquez captained the team.
It is easier to state that the first half ended 0-0, as explaining how will be a long-winded process. Kylian Mbappé should have put Real Madrid ahead within two minutes after finding himself clean in, but dragged his shot wide. He would then find the side netting from an even better chance, only for the offside flag to spare his blushes. That flag would be up again, this time to save Jude Bellingham who somehow missed a tap-in – finding only the keepers hand. Kylian then had a great opportunity to put things right, with the keeper well out of goal – but he lofted his shot too high to score. Lamine Yamal came close at the other end but couldn’t get enough power behind his effort. Vinícius Júnior then split two defenders after a good run, only to drag his shot the same way as Mbappé had earlier. The Frenchman then appeared to put things right after chipping the keeper to score, only for the linesman again to correctly call him offside. Eduardo Camavinga then came close after finding some space in the box, but the keeper made a great save to deny him. Half-time, somehow 0-0 – and Madrid comfortably the superior side.
What went wrong, then? After a strong first half full of missed chances, the possibility always existed that Los Blancos would come to rue those squandered opportunities. Barcelona would not be so careless, finishing off not only their first, but also their second chance of the half, both coming through Robert Lewandowski in the space of two minutes. From 0-0, to 0-2 – just like that. Mbappé then had two good chances to salvage something, but missed the first one, and scored the other one. I don’t even need to tell you why this one also didn’t count. It became game over when Lamine Yamal smashed a shot past Andriy Lunin, just as Madrid started to realise just how badly things had gone wrong. It would be four come the end of the game, as Raphinha finished things off with a goal. Full time, 0-4!
