El Clasico is a spectacle that amazes viewers around the globe for the story of what happens on the ball. But this weekend, it was all about what happened off the ball.
For 77 Minutes on Sunday Real Madrid’s defensive solidity meant BarcelonaTheir defensive block was not broken down. The Catalans’ only significant chance fell to Robert Lewandowski. Who missed — and was in an offside position anyway.
Then, for 10 minutes, it felt like Xavi’s substitutions for the visitors would redeem him after defensive failings put his side behind in the game.
In a Clasico shaped by good and bad defending, The Athletic breaks down how Madrid neutralised Barcelona’s ability to create, before a couple of defensive lapses could have earned Xavi’s side a precious point…
From the outset, Real Madrid’s approach in midfield was clear. They were going to man-mark Sergio Busquets, in an attempt to destroy Barcelona’s possession game.
Luka Modric was the man who had to do that job. Toni Kroos was also marking Frenkiede Jong.
This often forced Barcelona into unfavourable decisions, such as goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen going direct to striker Lewandowski here…
…only for Eder Militao to win the duel, so Madrid retrieve the ball comfortably.
Modric and Kroos kept on man-marking throughout the second half.
