FC Barcelona has always found the Santiago Bernabéu to be the best setting for its great performances, its changes of course, and even for the definitive verification of its resurrections; as was the case in this last match. Directed by Xavi Hernández, who so many times directed similar representations from the pitch as a Blaugrana player and captain, Barça destroyed a Real Madrid that circulated in the League with authority, leaning on what seemed like a comfortable cushion of advantage, and arrived with the formidable emotional high of the comeback against PSG in the Champions League.
The night was complicated for Real Madrid due to the absence of Karim Benzema, top scorer and highest assistant in the League; but they arrived with a tremendous boost after the excellent comeback in their last Champions League game against PSG; as well as, for the very good victory last day against Mallorca.
Before the first quarter of an hour, there were as many occasions as in half a dozen tactical classics. Rodrygo shot to the side of the net, Ter Stegen took one from Valverde, Courtois two from Aubameyang and Dembelé. The rhythm of this classic was that of overtime in the Cup final, without exaggeration.
FC Barcelona’s first goal came after a spectacular overflow by Dembelé, who did what he wanted throughout the night for his band; leaving Nacho behind to then launch a cross that Aubameyang headed into Courtois’s goal.
The goal definitively took Madrid out of the point, submitted to Barça’s touch game.
Minutes later, Barça was playing much better than it was even imaging on a very Madrid terrain: set-pieces. That’s where the second goal came, when Araújo finished off a corner between the two Madrid center-backs, also an active part of the disbandment.
Second Half
FC Barcelona continued to dominate the game in the second half, leaving the leader of the tournament and their eternal rivals, Real Madrid, without options to score even one goal that would help them emotionally in this game.
The remedy was worse than the disease. Ancelotti retired Carvajal and Kroos, brought in Camavinga and Mariano, leaving the defense of three and the way completely open for a Barca to win.
With Barcelona on top of Real Madrid, after missing a clear scoring opportunity; Ferran Torres made it 3-0 just 2 minutes into the second half.
The defense of three that Real Madrid raised only lasted three minutes. Casemiro became central after the 0-3. The effect was immediate: Barça’s fourth goal, Aubameyang’s second, granted to him by the VAR.
In the last twenty minutes, Madrid was abandoned and Barça lacked strength. It was then a ghost game, with half a stadium already empty. Xavi’s team had more than paid off their debt and can even fantasize about the League.
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