Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 5 talking points

#4 Barcelona’s midfield outclasses their Madrid counterparts

Barcelona's Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitić

As mentioned before Barcelona held on to much of the possession in the first half. The team saw almost 70% of possession that saw the midfielders cause all sorts of problems to the defence. Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Arthur controlled the ball in the middle of the park. All three of the Barcelona midfielders were pinpoint in picking out the spaces in the defence.

They aimed for Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba and picked them out successfully on most occasions. While Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro tried hard to win the ball, the Barcelona midfielders kept the ball safely with them.

Rakitic and Arthur created a lot of opportunities for Barcelona to score. Arthur bypassing the high press from Madrid and Rakitic playing up the pitch where his influence is a lot more. Busquets always had the better of Isco and Casemiro.

Luka Modric had one chance that came of the upright which was almost everything that he accomplished in the game. Toni Kroos and Luka couldn’t find their lethal build-up play and neither their picture-perfect through balls. Busquets’ first lob pass came courtesy of Madrid midfielders’ weak press on him.

At the end of the day, the midfield battle was won by Barcelona hands down which explains their dominance.