Carlo Ancelotti was right - so was Xavi Hernández
Plenty of eyebrows were raised in the build-up to the final Clásico of the season, perhaps even Carlo Ancelotti’s, when Xavi Hernández insisted to the press that Real Madrid were favourites for the second leg of the return tie. How exactly can he sell us that story, regardless of the fact they are reigning European champions, when they have won their last three on the bounce against Real Madrid and are 12 points clear in La Liga? Looking at the result, it certainly looks an astute observation.
For when Barcelona went behind to Real Madrid, they could not live with Los Blancos. Sergi Roberto admitted that going into half-time a goal down after 44 minutes of good work sent them skidding mentally. Questions are to be asked about how, with an entire half-time, they could not settle themselves, but maybe Xavi could see that for all of the spirit, organisation and battle they have shown of late, Real Madrid are still a better team on paper. Factor in their mercurial ability to interpret those momentum swings, his side are just not built to come from behind.
Four starters were missing for the Blaugrana, and the truth is that sentence is a disservice to them. Frenkie de Jong is the one that makes sense of four in midfield system next to Sergio Busquets. Pedri is their best player, and Ousmane Dembélé their most creative. Before his injury, Andreas Christensen was asked if he was one of the best central defenders in the world.
At half-time, Xavi can justly claim to have got everything right, if only his players could have taken their chances. Absurd as it looks now, the Madrid press were already sharpening their knives for the break before Vinícius Júnior opened the scoring.
Ancelotti was right too though. Scoring four at Camp Nou for the first time since the swinging sixties is an exclamation point on his vindication. It didn’t seem to sit too well either when he declared pre-match that there was ‘no need for Real Madrid to go crazy looking for the goal. I will ask my players to play a complete match with and without the ball.’
As it proved, the ability to survive through periods of pressure, and even at times welcome teams onto them, can prove deadly. If anything, Real Madrid merely returned to their winning formula. With Karim Benzema looking close to himself again, suddenly their attack makes sense again, just in time.
Where he does deserve credit, even if it perhaps came a Clásico too late, was the selection of Rodrygo Goes. The Brazilian is somehow under the radar, but it somewhat suits Real Madrid that defences struggle to detect him too. His presence between the lines is one that Ancelotti had sought in previous Clásicos with Modric further forward, but few defences can account for all of Vinícius, Benzema and Rodrygo. It was the calculated risk that paid off big time.
Moments before the opener it is the untracked Alejandro Balde, left to feast on Dani Carvajal, who but for Thibaut Courtois’ heroics, would have assisted the opener. Moments later, it is Rodrygo that is quicker both in foot and mind than Marcos Alonso, setting the first goal in motion.
Barcelona fans may question how it is that Benzema came to have space for a particularly bougie picnic on the edge of their box for their second. Watch more closely, there he is again. Rodrygo appears from nowhere, coming from the same depth as Benzema on the wrong side, and drags Jules Koundé out the way with his run.
Parallel to the praise Ancelotti should receive for that move, like an all too amiable debt-collector, is the credit he should get for putting Eduardo Camavinga at left-back. The Frenchman was a vortex for Barcelona, where the ball went to the right flank but never came back. Winning 10 of his 14 duels, making 8 tackles and 100% of his passes, the 20-year-old playing out of position was exceptional. He is exceptional.
The Clásico result served to balance the narratives somewhat. Ancelotti is no better nor worse than he was last season. Real Madrid at full tilt are a nightmare in a cup tie. Barcelona would have taken a 3-2 record in El Clásico before the season started without questioning it, but this was a clear reminder that there are still crevasses in their side, particularly beyond their best XI. There’s a reason they rely on their defence and play four midfielders, it isn’t stylistic preference.
Suerte Frank Lampard, and suerte Osasuna. Real Madrid are back on the block again, and sheriff Benzema wants everyone to know he’s taking no prisoners.