The Catalans interrupt a series of 5 consecutive knockouts with a superlative performance. The Gabonese (brace), Araujo and Ferran Torres sign the poker against a Madrid never played. Blaugrana three points behind Sevilla and (with a game to recover) potentially -9 from the Blancos
Xavi’s new Barça passes the Bernabeu baccalaureate exam with flying colors. He does it by treating himself to an evening to frame thanks to a poker that literally sends the Blancos into tilt, so much so that the result seems even tight. Aubameyang breaks the balance at the half hour, then Barça spreads with Araujo, Ferran Torres and the brace of the Gabonese center forward, who rises to seven goals in as many appearances in Liga. The Catalans, very fast, return to win a Clasico after five consecutive knockouts and collect the twelfth useful result in a row. Ancelotti’s team instead pays for Benzema’s absence, out due to injury, and a series of defensive horrors that cause the shipwreck and give back some timid hope of comeback to the pursuers, including Barça now at -12 (but with a game to recover ).
surprise move
–
The Blaugrana show up at the Bernabeu without Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Dest, but Xavi still has plenty of options. Cup efforts count for little in such a challenge, so much so that rotations are minimal: luxury median with De Jong, Busquets and Pedri, trident instead with fixed points Ferran Torres and Aubameyang plus a polished Dembélé after the great test against Osasuna. A few more problems for Ancelotti, who without his star of the first magnitude decides to change form by opting for a 4-1-4-1 with an absolute novelty: Modric advanced in the role of “false nueve”, with the couple Rodrygo- Vinicius on the outside. Ancelotti’s move actually produces little effect, because Modric inevitably tends to lower himself, leaving Vinicius as the only offensive option. Without the Frenchman, the Blancos are harmless in the last 20-30 meters and also suffer in the containment phase. The constant Catalan dribble, which will lead to a 68% possession at the end of the first half, ends up hypnotizing the Madrid players after a first quarter of an hour of beatings and responses at very high rates.
one-two lethal
–
The rhythms, however, are those imposed by Barça, who with Busquets and Pedri directs the orchestra keeping the departments glued and the center of gravity very high. The Blancos manage to look out from Ter Stegen’s parts only a couple of times, forcing the German to make a demanding intervention after 7 ‘(on Valverde’s right). Then a lot of Barça with the attempts of Ferran Torres (two), the safe shots of Aubameyang and Dembélé thwarted by the reflexes of Courtois and, between 29 ‘and 38’, the one-two lethal that breaks the balance: first a header by Auba in advance at the near post, the son of a perfect tense center by Dembélé, then Araujo’s imperious detachment from a corner kick by the French again, thanks to Alaba’s sleep in the center of the area. Very hard blow for the Blancos, who also claim a penalty with Vinicius in one of the rare offensive sorties before going to rest.
blanco shipwreck
–
At the interval Ancelotti shuffles the cards by inserting Camavinga, Asensio and above all Mariano, thus restoring the trident with a tip of the role. But the nightmare gets worse by becoming a horror movie. Ready, go, and Ferran Torres finds himself twice alone in front of Courtois thanks to the skids of the Madrid defense and the second unforgiving: right-footed shot to the far post and third slap for the Blancos. Who five minutes later lend the flank again on a long ball from Ter Stegen: stop and bank of Ferran Torres for Aubameyang and soft winning lob on Courtois who silences the Bernabeu.
Barça could also rage further by exploiting the confusion and elementary errors of the Blancos, who give another three or four clear chances to Ferran Torres, De Jong, Dembélé and the new entry Depay. For Real Madrid it becomes a long agony until the final whistle, with the only comfort of the nine points advantage that still boasts in the standings. But a knockout like tonight’s is likely to leave aftermath.
March 20 – 11:34 pm
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
#Aubameyang #enchants #Clasico #Real #overwhelmed #Blaugrana #wave #Barça