Eight things from Real Madrid’s humiliating 4-0 loss to Barcelona at Bernabeu
Barcelona ended a five-game losing streak against Real Madrid in great style as they sealed an easy 4-0 Clasico victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
The Catalan giants were dominant from the outset and went in at the break two goals up following headers from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ronald Araujo both goals assisted by Ousmane Dembele.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang assisted Ferran Torres for Barcelona third before completing his brace later in the game.
In this piece, SportsRation looks at eight key things we learned from the game.
8. Pedri is a baller
Golden Boy winner Pedri is a generational talent and could be a world-beater if he continues this way.
He was effective in helping Barcelona exploit the spaces left behind by Real Madrid players during their high press.
Calm on the ball, helped the team when they had to defend.
Did you see how he shove off Eder Militao and chipped a lovely ball to Ferran Torres who fluffed the glorious chance?
Pedri’s play today could be described as a technical box-box midfielder.
7. Eden Hazard Real Madrid’s career is over
Eden Hazard should start looking for another club if he hasn’t already agreed to a deal to join another club this summer.
The Belgian attacker watched from the bench as his side were destroyed by Barcelona. He was an unused substitute and Carlo Ancelotti saw no reason to bring him in.
Eden Hazard is yet to play in a single El Classico game.
6. Karim Benzema is the soul of this Real Madrid
Looks like nothing can work without Karim Benzema in this Real Madrid team. The Frenchman was greatly missed today by his team.
The saying that he makes them better is not a lie but real talk. His style of play makes it easier for everyone around him to play better.
Karim in this game would have dropped into the midfield to help the team during the heavy press they were subjected to.
He was greatly missed and Real Madrid owe their current position atop the La Liga table to the French man.
5. Xavi-Ball is real and taking shape
Xavi Hernandez as a manager wants to play from the back, have a lot of possession, press high, and encourage his players to work on and off the ball.
Looks like his players are buying into this philosophy and it showed greatly in their game against Real Madrid.
Did you know that two of the four goals scored by Barcelona started from long balls from Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia?
4. Thibaut Courtois the body of this Real Madrid
If Karim Benzema is the soul, Thibaut Courtois is the body of this Real Madrid team. Imagine getting bashed 4-0 and your best player was the goalie.
Barcelona could have scored easy eight goals today but Thibaut Courtois said no, just as he had done in many games for Real Madrid this season.
He is definitely the second most important Real Madrid player right now.
3. David Alaba was poor today
David Alaba was uncharacteristically poor today. He could be faulted for three of the four goals scored by Barcelona.
When the system changed to three at the back he was much better pushing the ball forward.
2. Barcelona must keep Ousmane Dembele and Ronald Araujo at all cost
Ousmane Dembele and Ronald Araujo contributed three of the four goals scored by Barcelona today. Dembele assisted Aubameyang and Araujo’s goals.
He was deadly on the right flank, in fact, he made Dani Carvajal linked invincible on the night.
Ronald Araujo scored a goal and kept Vinicius Junior very quiet in the game. He is a center-back but did a great job as a right back.
Both players would make any team in the world better, Barcelona must find a way to sort their contract situations
1. Barcelona is back?
Considering how they played at Bernabeu as if it was Camp Nou with Ansu Fati still out injured, and Gavi, Adama to call on from the bench – their La Liga and European rivals should be scared of what is coming.
