Real Madrid hand over the league to an insignificant Barça
The old controversy returns to Real Madrid: where is the striker who scores goals? It's a recurring theme and it always comes up when the team is going through a drought like this one, one goal in three games. But the team is coming off the back of scoring five against Liverpool.
In any case, Benzema's age and the injuries he has accumulated already warn that it would be good to go to the market. Mbappé and Haaland do not seem close. Vlahovic would be an option or who knows if Osimhen, the Napoli striker.
The 9 will eventually arrive at Real Madrid. It is a complicated position. Just ask Jovic, Mariano or Mayoral. It's not easy to accept being the Frenchman's substitute and even more so when the team is still reigning in Europe.
Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde and Asensio were the strikers who have also had their powder dry in recent games. Against Betis it was expected to be a very physical game and it was until the last minute.
Ancelotti is not a coach who alters games with changes. His plan is established during the week and it is almost an obligation to bring on the substitutes. Against Betis, Carvajal, Nacho and Ceballos came on in the 60th minute. It was strange to see Ávaro Rodríguez come on in the 87th to make it 0-1.
Benzema scored a wonderful goal from a direct free kick that was disallowed by the VAR for handball by Rüdiger as the ball was heading towards Bravo's goal. It was the 12th minute and that chance gave Los Blancos the wings to keep attacking.
Vinicius' wing is Real Madrid's only attacking outlet. The Brazilian is the great hope in attack when Benzema has to go down to receive and move the ball. Rodrygo as a starter does not have the same freshness as when he comes off the bench.
If there is a tough and well-worked team in front of him, Los Blancos have a hard time. Iglesias made Courtois earn his wages and Rodri was the MVP with a game that makes things very difficult for Ceballos if he decides to return to the Villamarín one day.
Real Madrid's draw came after Barcelona won their 12th game by scoring a goal and conceding none. Add to that, the scrappy and even defensive play to embarrass Xavi Hernandez when he says they don't betray the style.
Against Valencia, Raphinha's goal was enough. Ferran Torres missed a penalty after a controversy with Ansu Fati to see who would take it. Two players in need of goals and the limelight.
If the handball that gave rise to the penalty was, at least, disputed. Even more so was the possible penalty on Fran Pérez by Kessie that the VAR did not assess for some strange reason.
Xavi no longer hides the fact that winning the league at all costs is the big bet of a club badly wounded financially and with an image weighed down by the Negreira case. Defending a goal is viable because the team does it well, although Araújo was sent off against Valencia for a clear foul on Hugo Duro when he was facing Ter Stegen's goal.
If Mourinho touched glory with Porto and Inter Milan with a similar plan to Xavi's, at least the Portuguese was not hiding it. Xavi is still obfuscated in justifying that vulgar game that leaves boring second halves, but that makes him take three points in three and leave Real Madrid nine points behind.
The month of March has already set the objectives of the two Spanish giants. Real Madrid are aiming for Europe again with the cushion of a Copa comeback. Barça can't let either of the two domestic competitions slip away to at least justify the levers.
