It wasn’t the Camp Nou. Mick Jagger was within the presidential field and never Florentino Perez. The Rolling Stones’ tongue emblem was on the Barcelona shirt. The strangest Clasico in recent times was additionally the weakest.
Barcelona and Actual Madrid supplied a match that disenchanted from all factors of view and that Los Blancos gained was as a result of they now have the perfect footballer on the earth of their ranks.
Jude Bellingham saved Ancelotti after a forgettable first 60 minutes and an strategy that may have been roundly criticized had the sport resulted in defeat.
Camavinga staying on the bench is mindless. You’ll be able to see this by how Actual Madrid modified along with his introduction….
Bellingham performs a cracking sport
He is having a nasty sport? Nicely, he despatched a missile into the highest nook of the online from 25 yards to rescue Actual Madrid from the brink of complete collapse.
Bellingham had a Cristiano Ronaldo esque efficiency, showing when his workforce wanted him most. The Englishman was lacking, as was the entire of Actual Madrid, having performed his worst sport in El Clasico, however because the chief that he’s, he took a shot that no one anticipated, not even Ter Stegen.
That the ball ended up within the web was apparent as quickly because it took flight. Then he determined the match with a killer purpose, as a result of he has intuition and he’s blessed. His numbers are spectacular: 13 targets in 13 video games, ten of them in La Liga.
Gundogan, big-match participant
The midfielder selected the Clasico to attain his first purpose as a Barcelona participant. The German got here from the midfield and had extra willpower than Alaba to take the ball and beat Kepa with the calmness of Lewandowski.
Gundogan, who at all times dreamed of scoring in a Clasico… in a Madrid shirt. He was at all times interested in the white shirt and was on the verge of signing for Actual Madrid on a number of events. However like so many gamers, soccer had one other future in retailer for him.
Now he enjoys Barcelona and Xavi enjoys having him, a lot to the chagrin of Pep Guardiola. For a cause he was… the perfect Barcelona participant within the Clasico.
Madrid’s first half, one of many worst in a very long time
The primary half was one of many worst in a very long time, with Madrid’s first half being notably terrible. The Actual Madrid coach didn’t come off effectively after his gamers’ first 45 minutes, which had been the identical or worse than within the Madrid derby towards Atletico Madrid.
Actual Madrid‘s outcomes this season have been good, however if you happen to lose the derby and the Clasico with out providing any resistance, you’re in hassle.
Carletto was victorious because of Bellingham, however the preliminary plan was a catastrophe. Madrid did not get a shot on track till the 59th minute.
Gil Manzano, impeccable
The stress on referees in Spain is insufferable. Golf equipment, followers and the media do the whole lot attainable to make the work of referees much more difficult than it’s, regularly placing them within the highlight, questioning their choices primarily based on which membership they themselves assist.
It was with this in thoughts that Gil Manzano took to the sphere within the Clasico wherein the referees have been probably the most talked about in historical past, but he performed an amazing sport.
Barcelona might have taken away the attainable penalty on Araujo and Madrid the autumn of Camavinga, however his management of the match was impeccable.
Barcelona’s youngsters are alright
Xavi took a bet with Fermin and obtained it proper. The house-grown participant, whose been with the membership since he was three, had as a lot influence within the Clasico as any of the veterans.
He got here near scoring twice, particularly within the first half, when he hit the submit. Credit score to Xavi, who shouldn’t be taking a look at youth disparagingly and is placing 17-18-year-olds on the pitch, regardless of the sport.
The brand new batch of kids at Barcelona break with the stereotype of the La Masia boy: they aren’t solely gifted, in addition they pack a punch.
