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Just two days after Real Madrid was licking their wounds of being knocked out of the Copa Del Rey, they faced the team responsible for their exit, this time in the LaLiga. Barcelona equalized the all-time competitive Clasico wins with a lopsided score in the Cup game and came in with a notion to take the lead. The Blaugrana had ended the hopes of a Copa Del Rey title for Madrid and a win in the league would put Madrid out of contention for the title, as well.
Solari started Gareth Bale in what seemed a strange decision after all the hate the Bernabeu had on him. Bale didn't justify his selection either and missed a free-kick from a scoring distance within two minutes of the game. Arthur returned for Barcelona while Sergi slotted back at the right-back spot ahead of Nelson Semedo.
It wasn't an enthralling affair like the 3-2 win in the past, neither was it a total demolition derby like the 4-0, 3-0, and 6-2. Instead, it was simple, get the job done and get the heck out of here, approach by Barcelona. The visitors scored with 26 minutes on the clock. Ivan Rakitic was sent through by Sergi Roberto and eased a chip past Thibaut Courtois. The one goal was all that separated the two sides but the aftermath has them separated on a lot of things.
Barcelona now lead the all-time competitive Clasico wins at 96-95 while Real Madrid had an 87-66 lead before a certain Lionel Messi made his debut. The two are separated by 12 points in the league table which makes it certain that the Los Blancos are out of title contention now. The only resort left for them is the UEFA Champions League which is just three days away against an attacking team, without Sergio Ramos.
Here are the hits and flops from the El Clasico that sent Barcelona ahead on all-time wins for the first time in 87 years.
#5 Flop: Gareth Bale
It was close, mighty close, between two of Real Madrid's lead forwards, not to score but to get on the flop list. And in the end, we have decided that Gareth Bale has successfully beaten Benzema to the flop list. Karim Benzema did everything he could to end up here. He missed an open header just for the offside flag to spare some of his blushes. Pique and Lenglet chewed up the spaces available for the Frenchman. 1 shot on target, 1 key pass, not Karim Benzema.
But then comes Gareth Bale, trying to shut up the Bernabeu's whistles, trying to shut up the critics. He had the perfect chance to write the script early in the game with a free-kick. Here's the thing. Bale is one of the players who hits the target constantly from free-kicks, scoring is secondary. He doesn't curl it or put any sort of dip into it, his priority has been hitting the target and let the keeper work. What does he do? He steps up and skies one into the crowd.
Let the free-kick go, he had no other shots on target, no pacy runs down the flank, nothing. He only had 20 touches of the ball, the lowest among all the starters. He was taken off in the 60th minute to roaring boos from the crowd. Not the Welshman's day at all and it has been like that for some time now.
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#4 Hit: Clement Lenglet
When Samuel Umtiti's injury crisis struck Barcelona, the fanbase was already calling the season over, given Barcelona's defensive crisis without the Frenchman. But when Umtiti was sidelined, it was another Frenchman who took his place in the starting lineup, Clement Lenglet. During his initial phase, he faced problems that every Barca defender has to go through, pushing the defensive line high and controlling the ball.
Fast forward five months, this man is irreplaceable in the starting lineup. Samuel Umtiti was benched in favor of Clement Lenglet in the Clasico. The Frenchman along with Gerard Pique formed an unbreakable partnership at the back.
Let us pull up the stats for Clement Lenglet in the Clasico.
We can see four blocks in there. He put his ribs on the line twice, once against Vinicius, once against Varane. He took the hit of the shots, powerful no doubt, just to keep the scoreline shut. As a cherry on top of the cake, not for neutrals but for Barcelona fans, he floored Sergio Ramos in a jostle, which they would see as an act of revenge for Ramos' challenge on Messi.
If Samuel Umtiti wants to be the undisputed starter, he better step up, because someone else has stolen it from him and he ain't giving it back easily.
#3 Flop: Sergio Ramos
Three things are constant in life. Death, Taxes, Ramos playing mixed-martial arts in El Clasico. The defender who could easily be one of the best in the world just plays too dirty in Clasicos. One exception would be the first leg of the Copa del Rey game. Ramos managed to make out of the game without a receiving a red card, although he could have seen red twice.
First, he elbowed Messi in the face with half time looming and then went forehead to forehead with the Argentine. He could easily have received a red card for the offense without complaints. He received a yellow card in the 60th minute and he might have doubled the count on other occasions too.
Playing dirty cannot be a characteristic to out someone as a flop but it certainly fuels the proposal. Early in the game, Lionel Messi threaded a through ball from under Ramos' nose which could easily have been converted by Suarez. He was heavily involved in the first goal of Rakitic and couldn't make a shot block and neither did he pick Raki up at the first place.
Lionel Messi danced past him before chipping the ball only just wide of Courtois' far post. Raktic made a through ball bypassing Madrid's defensive line to Lionel Messi, while Ramos and the others couldn't even move a muscle. A defender doesn't normally get away with so many mistakes and Ramos could have been at the heart of three goals. He won 2/3 aerial duels, no tackles, no interceptions. An underwhelming performance from the Madrid captain.
#2 Hit: Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic's profile fits more of a box to box player rather than a creative midfielder that Barcelona demands. He has been deemed as not being a risk taker by his own fanbase. In recent games, however, Rakitic has been far better than his usual defensive play. He was heavily involved in the attacking buildup of pretty much every Blaugrana attack. He made forward runs, forward passes, things we have not seen much from him.
The first goal that he scored was a pre-assist for him too. He received the ball from Messi, passed out wide to Sergi Roberto, got the through ball back, and he was in behind the defense in three passes. To finish things off, he executed a wonderful chip, over Courtois, with Ramos on his tail. Lionel Messi would be proud of that chip.
Did anyone see the neat through ball to Lionel Messi? The whole defense was just standing there when Messi slid in behind them. If he had been a tad quicker, it was surely 2-0 Barcelona. Talking about box-to-box, he attempted four tackles, made four tackles. He made 46/55 passes to go with it.
A brilliant game from the Croatian, who scored the winning goal, and made his presence at both ends of the field.
#1 Hit: Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique performance yesterday should be obligatory viewing for every center back in the La Masia and those who want to play the ball. This man has everything it takes and if I may call him, 'The best ball-playing defender in the world".
Vinicius' pace caused him problems in the Copa Del Rey game and he made adjustments yesterday. Vinicius only got one shot past Pique yesterday and that was blocked away by his partner Lenglet. Only once was Pique dribbled past and it didn't cause any problem too. Luka Modric's shot was poised and traveling in front of the goal. Pique didn't give ter Stegen a chance to save it, slid in with a brilliant block to deny the Croatian a shot on target.
Benzema didn't have breathing room with Pique looming around. The Spaniard made 14 clearances, more than the whole Real Madrid team combined. Words cannot be strung together to describe his performance. 3 interceptions, 1 tackle, 14 clearances, 3 blocked shots, 30 passes, this is Pique in numbers.
Just take some time and watch the match recap with a special focus on this man.
And just look at his outrageous skill against Benzema in front of his goal.
