Attack and prize

SAGRESSIVITY AND AWARDS. As we already felt, Xavi lined up two strikers, four midfielders and Araujo’s ‘face to face’ marking against Vinicius. It remains to be seen where Barça will release the pressure, after losing or stealing the ball, and if Gavi, De Jong or Kessie can enter the merengue area and become the third striker. Ancelotti, with Nacho on the left side and Camavinga between Kroos and Modric.

The clasico started with Madrid putting the lines on the Blaugrana field. Very high pressure to try to steal the ball and, coincidentally, create a scary atmosphere. Barça are not submissive. He responded with winning pairs and defending with great unity. Madrid couldn’t find Benzema and Vinicius couldn’t find Araujo. The offensive flow came from the right wing with Valverde and Carvajal assisted by Modric. By the way, in the first minute the talented Croatian midfielder escaped towards him one-on-one, but he was slow.

The play on the ball did not reach approval -mutual pressure was the reason- but the first time Camavinga lost the ball, Kessie took the anger out on Militao, Courtois and, finally, on the desperate Nacho. 0-1 was an own goal but the penalty was supreme against innocuous white dominance.

2 THE BEST DEFENSIVE MATCHES. Barça played yesterday with Araujo’s face on the handrail before the start of the match. Losing two games in a row required what Xavi said behind closed doors and defending every ball as if it were the last of a final.

Another amazing scene (action) was that of Frenkie De Jong FIGHTING to advance the ball against 3 Madrid players! Without a doubt and with the permission of Sergio Busquets, the player who has the ability to be a defender, midfielder, third/fourth player and striker if he steps on the spot. In the end, the improvement was obvious, although yesterday he couldn’t have continuity because Ferran Torres couldn’t handle the balls sent by his teammates.

It was unnecessary because even without ‘burning’ Raphinha and Ferran himself, Barça played the game that Ter Stegen wanted before the start. Brilliant Araujo, Koundé, Marcos Alonso, Balde, Busquets, Gavi, Kessie and the massive De Jong.

We didn’t see Vinicius or Benzema and Ancelotti’s team were always left without a shot in the Blaugrana area.

3 THE OFFENSIVE INTERPRETATION AND THE FINAL MINUTE. It wasn’t all luck, the Azulgranas won the first match without a ‘forward’. Ferran’s interpretation is to give the ball, even if he has his back, to Rüdiger/Militao and not just think about running out of markers. There is a lot of space in attack but if the team cannot get out, it is an advantage for Courtois’ defenders.

The fight is a character and physical/mental power. Madrid collided again and again and Ancelotti changed his eleven (Camavinga at left-back, Tchouameni and Rodrigo who dismissed Valverde and for a possible aerial shot, the young Álvaro) to inject energy into final stage. There Barça, including Fati and Sergi Roberto, wasted no time. Young Balde and Fati need to learn that the last minute is not played, they are lost in prolonging free kicks, corners or throw-ins.

First attack for the blaugranas who need to make up for the huge physical cost incurred yesterday. Now League.