Barca topple Bernabeu and awaken Real Madrid's ghosts
The Bernabéu came to a new date with history. After the comeback against PSG in the Champions League, everything indicated that Barça would be a worthy rival to leave 15 points behind and plunge them into the crisis they have been in for years. But the black shirt augured a fateful night. Real Madrid's 120th anniversary was celebrated with an irrelevant design, thanks to the marketing that has captivated the club.
Real Madrid played the Clásico of their anniversary month in black. The model will remain for posterity as the 0-4 on a cold night in March and for which no one will want to pay 180 euros. Opposite, Barça did not improve either with a yellow model vindicating the political cause in which Laporta wants to involve the club whenever he can.
Due to the unreal image that LaLiga wants to offer of Spanish football, there were no images of Laporta in the stands next to Florentino Pérez. The Catalan president could never have imagined that the desire to return to Madrid would be through a painful defeat.
Ancelotti had already put out a strange team on the Bernabéu pitch. Nacho at full-back; Vinicius and Valverde in front of Casemiro, Kroos and Modric; and Rodrygo alone up front. Then the formation changed to the point of seeing Modric put pressure on Ter Stegen in what was a painful attrition for those present.
Xavi's Barça lined up their latest purchases that have taken them from sporting ruin to success in just a few months thanks to the blind eye of some bodies. Aubameyang and Ferran in the eleven, although there was time for Adama later on. Pedro is their new Messi, even if the 10 was inherited by Ansu Fati.
Real Madrid extended those good minutes against PSG and cornered Barça at the start. Valverde had the best chance, forcing a good save from Ter Stegen. Who knows if that shot would have gone in had a striker instead of one of the five midfielders Ancelotti fielded.
On the half hour Barça had got Real Madrid off their backs and had taken control of the ball. Little by little, they were making Los Blancos desperate as Aubameyang dug his heels into Kroos' shin without even getting a yellow card.
Carvajal was once again outclassed by a faster opponent. Ferran beat him several times and that led Ancelotti to argue angrily with the Madrid full-back in front of the crowd. The argument ended in an incomprehensible substitution for Mariano at half-time.
Araújo headed in the second goal. It could have been the fifth or the sixth had it not been for Courtois' saving saves. Militao and Alaba didn't mesh well and left the white defence sold out.
In the second half, everything fell apart for Ancelotti in 10 minutes. The Italian decided to change the formation to surprise Barça, but it was clear that nothing had been rehearsed. Between Ferran and Aubameyang they set up the 0-4 and ended the game. The crowd paraded because the game and the lack of heat didn't make it easy either.
Camavinga, Lucas and Asensio did not change anything. Much less Mariano, a striker who continues to burn his potential in white oblivion. Hazard and Jovic were not given a chance in a clear message from Ancelotti to the players that he does not intend to count on them.
Barça were growing thanks to the lack of concentration. Even Piqué looked a solvent centre-back alongside Eric García, who only had an attempt to humiliate Vinicius to take him out of the game. Dembele is also looking forward to seeing Laporta again to talk about his renewal in view of the extraordinary pairing he makes with Aubameyang.
In the win, Xavi was far less of a gentleman than Guardiola. The coach he aspires to resemble would never have thought of saying that "Real Madrid live off their opponents' mistakes". That comment in a situation as complicated as the one his club is going through gives an idea of the profile of the azulgrana coach in victory, because in defeat we already know his lack of self-criticism.
Ancelotti has to make 16 points and hope that a draw between Barça and Sevilla will take a date off the calendar. In the near future there is Chelsea and Benzema. The French striker has become indispensable to the Blancos' play to the point of excess. Carlo doesn't want to count on anyone else without the Frenchman. He doesn't rely on Hazard, Bale, Mariano or Jovic for goals.
The defeat is harder for the gap it has opened in Real Madrid's game than for the points lost. The invincible side that ate up PSG have seen water pouring in at the worst time of the season.
