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El Clasico ended with 5-1 to Barcelona, with the Catalan club enhancing their position at the top of the table.
For Barcelona, this is a stunning win and performance against their old enemy, and they now lead La Liga on top of Atletico Madrid by two points.
Real Madrid, however, is in a depressed state, and currently are in ninth place. The Ninth place for a club of Real Madrid's standing is very poor, in any season. Maybe they didn't strengthen in terms of replacing Christiano Ronaldo, who is lighting things up in Italy and Serie A with Juventus.
But it's clear that something is wrong, and this game (and to whom they lost to) shows something deeper is afoot.
For Barca, their La Liga dominance of late may well continue, and with Lionel Messi to come back from injury, it may be set to regain the Champions League also.
So "the Classic" lived up to its billing, between not just Spain's two biggest clubs, but arguably the two biggest clubs on Earth. And between many of the world's top footballers.
So what five points can we note from Barca's demolition of Real Madrid today?
For Barcelona, the critical points would be:
- they can win without Messi
- Suarez is still a great scoring threat
- They haven't lost their clinical edge in front of goal
For Real Madrid, the key points are:
- Julen Lopetegui has to go as manager
- There were some positives, in terms of chances created by their forwards
- The club needs renewal, both on and off the pitch
- Ronaldo's influence possibly led to complacency
As per most El Clasico's of late, it was a match of high technicality, physicality, and with many chances a piece for both sides.
There was talk that Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid President, had already decided to ditch Lopetegui as manager. Surely now, the decision is a formality, nay a necessity. But who can replace him? Antonio Conte? Rafael Benitez? Arsene Wenger?
#5 Real Madrid still created chances
The scoreline, possibly, flattered Barcelona. But it was not as if Real Madrid had no chances to score, nor had any chances to make a further dent in this game. Barca was clinical when it mattered, and Real Madrid folded at the critical moments.
After Marcelo got their solitary goal, they had numerous chances via Isco, Benzema, and Bale, which they could have converted readily. Had they done so, the entire narrative of the game would have differed.
Football isn't about ifs and buts - or shoulds and coulds. But there are evident positives to take from the game here, despite the crushing and humiliating defeat to one's deadly rival.
However, Lopetegui may not be around much longer to correct these issues, despite the world-class talent on show here. World class talent though should always convert the chances they had, despite whatever qualities the coach has - or not.
#4 Julen Lopetegui
Lopetegui was a "dead man walking" before the game, and with the result now, surely he left the Nou Camp in a metaphorical coffin. Noted Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has said that former Chelsea and Juventus manager Antonio Conte is now in the running to succeed him.
There is no way now that he can remain - surely. A 5-1 defeat to any side is bad, but to the old enemy in El Clasico is another thing. Perez would be negligent not to make a decision here.
However, the club inclusive of Perez has to take responsibility in this case. Lopetegui had not managed at this level before. The issue with the Spanish national team, in which he didn't inform the Spanish FA of his intended move to the Bernabeu. This in itself could have been a red flag, and the entire summer was a massive problem for the club.
As for who replaces Lopetegui, there are a few contenders, but nothing concrete as yet.
#3 Barca looks stellar - sans Messi
Messi is an all-time great, and not to have him in "the Classic" is pretty telling for Barca. His presence alone brings confidence, and fear in any opposition.
However, Suarez - who himself is naturally no goal-scoring slouch - scored a hat-trick, and proved somewhat that they can cope without Messi.
And whilst Messi is one of the best ever footballers - without question - it's disrespectful to world-class talents like Suarez, Coutinho, and Dembele, to state that they cannot handle the absence of Messi. Suarez alone has scored many goals in both England and Spain, which stand as the two best leagues in the world, so he alone can cover the slack.
If anything, this is a boon, considering they would need him for the "business end" of the season. But a serious catastrophe, they will finish at the top of their Champions League group. And the league may be between them and Atletico Madrid this season, which due to their superior quality may be better off in.
#2 No plans for the time post-Ronaldo
Perhaps not getting Hazard from Chelsea, despite him being warm to a move, has cost Los Blancos. Ronaldo scored the winner for Juve vs. Empoli, and they needed his touch vs. the old enemy at the Nou Camp.
Losing Ronaldo, a club legend and one of the best players who has ever lived, and who average 40-50 goals a season for them, surely should have led to a more proactive solution.
Bale and Benzema are top quality footballers, but more is needed to compensate for Ronaldo's absence. They both had chances to score today but ultimately were not clinical to anywhere near the degree required.
All empires rise and fall, and maybe this is the natural end of the current cycle. And not replacing Ronaldo's output and influence has precipitated the decline.
This season may have to be written off in some part, and Ronaldo may even taste Champions League glory with Juventus.
#1 All isn't lost for Real Madrid
Whilst they are currently ninth, they only are a few points behind the Champions League places.
So a winning run could get them back into contention.
La Liga this season is very tight, but then sometimes in life, the greatest darkness is before the dawn. If Lopetegui does go, and a new manager comes in, a subsequent lift could make Los Blancos into CL place contenders, and even title contenders. Barca is only two points ahead of Atletico, and the league this season is very tight and competitive. If Alaves or Sevilla win, they either may go to second place consequently.
Today's result was a massive downer. No side wants to lose badly to their deadly enemies.
But a negative could be positive, and the beginning of a new dawn and new hope.
