5 Reasons why Real Madrid dominated Barcelona in El Clasico
2. Real Madrid’s midfield clearly outperformed that of Barcelona
Where do I begin? Real Madrid’s midfield was on a whole different level this time. The way Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Aurelien Tchouameni balanced for each other’s shortcomings while showcasing their own individual strengths was astounding to say the least, and it was also one of the main reasons Real Madrid controlled the game, even when Barcelona might have had the ball.
Los Blancos benefited greatly from the roles of Kroos and Modric on the day. The two veterans had more flexibility to move about and generate greater opportunities with Tchouameni screening at the back because they felt confident knowing that the new recruit was there to cover for them.
The triangle was clearly ahead of Barcelona’s midfield, which was rendered almost useless in no time as Real Madrid took control of the game. As Los Blancos’ midfield pushed them back repeatedly, players like Sergio Busquets and Pedri found their room to create limited. They were restricted to passing just ahead of their own defence line, with limited opportunity to connect in the attacking third.
Kroos delivered yet another typical world-class display, and if it hadn’t been for Valverde’s brilliance, the Man Of The Match award would have been in his hands. It will be difficult to forget the German maestro’s deft dribble and the last though pass to Vini, which beat many Barcelona players simultaneously and ultimately resulted in a goal, from Benzema. Furthermore, his game involved a lot more than simply that. He was, to put it simply, at his very best and may have given one of his greatest performances in the Royal White jersey.
Gavi, the teenage prodigy from Barcelona, was brought in late in the game, and while he was able to release the centre three to some extent from Real Madrid’s confines, it was not enough to break the shackles fully. He stated his case, but it was insufficient. Or, to put it another way, the European champions’ midfield was simply too superb to manage. The story might be written in either direction, but the fact of Los Blancos’ supremacy remains.