The title race in Spain is back on. I’ve been saying in my last few pieces that Barcelona could have put one hand on the title today with a win that would have put the gap between the teams to nine points but it was Real Madrid who came to the Camp Nou and brought Barcelona’s 23 game win streak at home to an end in the league, the first half was unlike the last few Clasico’s with Madrid looking like the better team creating some great opportunities on the break through Diomande and Bellingham that they didn’t take. Barcelona looked similar to midweek against PSG struggling to create chances that weren’t pop shots from outside the box, as the half was coming to an end Madrid took a deserved lead as Diomande’s cross was cleared by Gerard Martin but the clearance hit right off Mbappe into the back of Barcelona’s net giving the Frenchman probably the strangest goal of his career so far. A superb first half from Real Madrid who could have easily been two or three goals up had they been more clinical, Barcelona had to improve in the second half to save their home record and you’d imagine they would. Hansi Flick’s side did improve in the second half and equalised in the 61st minute as Yamal played a corner short to Pedri who slipped Raphinha in who smashed the ball past Lunin to make it 1-1 at the Camp Nou, as the half progressed you got the feeling that another goal was coming but you didn’t quite know who for with both sides creating some great opportunities. With five minutes to go it was Mourinho’s side who stunned the hosts as some magical play by Bellingham in midfield opened up space for Camavinga to run into with Guler playing the ball down the line to the Frenchman who ran into the box before pulling the ball back to Mbappe who tapped the ball in to give Madrid a memorable win away to Barcelona, the titile race is well and truly back on in La Liga.
Now this is a Real Madrid team that can compete. I had a feeling today that Real Madrid would get a result but I’ve got to say I was suprised at just how well they played today, Barcelona have had the better of them over the last few years under Hansi Flick but of course Jose Mourinho comes in and wins his first Clasico back as Madrid manager. He got the lineup absolutely spot on with Valverde at right-back, Diomande on the left, Guler on the right and Silva along with Tchouameni in the middle. Barcelona have been free scoring all season but that Madrid back-line limited them to very little so massive credit has to go to Valverde, Konate, Huijsen and Cucurella, the former Chelsea full-back got the better of Yamal at Stamford Bridge last season and yet again did the same today which very few full-backs in Spain and Europe can do. In midfield I thought Bellingham and Tchouameni were spectacular today with the French midfielder walking all over Rodri which I was surprised at, Bellingham was absoutely brilliant with his skill to set up the last goal the highlight of the game for me. Diomande on the left was arguably player-of-the-match but did miss a sitter in the first half so I have to dock points for that, the Ivorian has been immense since the Vini Junior suspension and I see no reason why he should be dropped when the Brazilian comes back. Even Camavinga when he came on played a crucial part for the goal so Mourinho clearly has got through to some of the squad players like Camavinga, Endrick, Espi etc and showed them that they have a part to play this season. I’ll talk about Mbappe later but he’s clearly in the groove at the moment, I don’t see him winning the Ballon D’OR tomorrow but if he continues this form he might be the favourite next year. Overall this was an absolute must-win game for Real Madrid and that’s exactly what they did, I really do hope we have a title race in Spain this year.
A nasty couple of results for Barcelona. I think this last week has brought Barcelona right back down to reality following a magnificent start to the season, that’s not to say that they haven’t been spectacular but if anyone thought they would walk the league and the Champions League they are mistaken. Me included who probably got carried away but these two performances and results against PSG and Real Madrid have shown some clear weaknesses in this Barcelona side, we all knew defensively they were lacking but the injuries to Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia and now Xavi Espart has left this team in disarray at the back and their attack didn’t bail them out today. In midfield I mentioned at the start of the season that I had some worries about Rodri and Pedri playing together after De La Fuente dropped Pedri for the knockouts of the World Cup and I think we saw why today, whilst I actually thought Pedri played well it was Rodri who was miles off the pace today getting ran all over by Tchouameni in the middle of the park. The Spaniard was taking far too many touches and just getting ran past by the likes of Bellingham, Guler, Silva etc, that has to be worrying for Hansi Flick. In the attack unfortunately despite scoring Raphinha still looks a bit off being fully match fit since returning from injury, I do think people have jumped the gun on Anthony Gordon so far this season as his performances have been up and down. Marc Cucurella seems to be Yamal’s kryptonite and the teenager got locked up today by the full-back, maybe his head was at the Ballon D’OR ceremony tomorrow. Overall whilst this result will hurt Barcelona they still remain firm favourites for the league this year, as long they avoid any more injuries to that back-line. A Cubarsi injury kills this team.
Is Kylian Mbappe going to pick up the Ballon D’OR tomorrow? I’ve been pretty firm ever since the World Cup ended that Harry Kane should be picking up that award in London tomorrow but there’s been talk online that Mbappe might just win the award, I find that funny considering millions of Madrid fans signed a petition last season asking for him to leave the club yet here we are where they want him to win the Ballon D’OR? I understand that he was the La Liga top scorer, World Cup top scorer and Champions League top scorer but Real Madrid literally didn’t win a trophy last season, I understand that it’s an individual award but his case certainly would have been helped if he won a trophy of some sort. He’s started this season on absolute fire which might be part of the reason why people think he deserves the award but he’s fourth place for me, Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane are ahead for me but obviously that’s just my opinion. I could even make the argument for Kvicha Kvarastkhelia but I’ll hold back for now, look I understand where he’s coming from but for me who loves the storylines in football I’d rather he won it after winning the Champions League for Madrid. That would feel right I think, what do you think?
Where does this leave both sides? Real Madrid remain in 3rd place behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona but only three points seperates the sides so it could all be to play for in Spain this year, obviously Barcelona remain 1st but they missed a real opportunity today to build a real gap between them and Madrid. Both sides are back in action next weekend with Madrid taking a trip to Racing Santander whilst Barcelona take on Deportivo Alaves at the Camp Nou, I’ll be back with a Serie A review midweek either on Wednesday or Thursday, not sure what game I’ll be covering yet. Stay tuned for the Ballon D’OR ceremony tomorrow, surely Harry Kane will be picking it up?
5 Things we learned from Real Madrid’s spectacular win over Barcelona
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