The hangover from the defeat in the classic cupbearer was especially bitter for a Real Madrid that expected little less than to sentence the tie at the Bernabeu and found itself with an unexpected romp. The day after there was very little self-criticism in Madrid (he rarely does it) and ironies in the white dressing room about Barcelona in the line of showing off so much style to end up putting a bolt hanging from the crossbar like Mallorca and winning with a goal of churro that was marked Militão.
In Madrid, it stands out that never since there are records has Barcelona had less possession at the Bernabeu (35%), as well as that in a season in which everyone gives Madrid many chances, the Catalans won without kicking once to door.
However, Madrid ignores issues that are otherwise very obvious, such as the very important casualties that Barcelona brought (Lewandowski, Pedri and Dembelé) or the indisputable fact that Madrid played very badly, stuck once again against a defense closed and incapable of generating a chance to score. Madrid did not commit Ter Stegen either, except in the disallowed goal for Benzema for clear offside.
The defeat in the classic reopens old debates in Concha Espina. Without counting the Champions League, there are more and more matches in which footballers who are well past their thirties are seen at the seams, such as Benzema (35), Kroos (33) or Modric (37). Putting the Croatian and the German together didn't work and it wouldn't be surprising to take over in the summer if a big title doesn't fall.
Vinícius's game deserves an important chapter, a disastrous 90 minutes, always handcuffed by Araujo. Madrid makes it obvious that the Brazilian could once again have been perfectly sent off for losing his temper in the action that resulted only in a yellow card for throwing De Jong. The media of the white club prefer to point out that Gavi (a player whose behavior is on the way to being as hated at the Bernabeu as Luis Suárez) should have been sent off for attacking Militão, elbowing Camavinga and falling to the ground feigning a non-existent blow and for calling Vinícius a son of a bitch to his face.
Proof of the state of mind in which Madrid ended and the lack of self-criticism were the statements made by a coach as measured as Ancelotti at the end of the game: "It was surprising to see Barcelona play like this. We played the game we wanted to play and that It gives confidence. We have to repeat it there and if we repeat it I think we will pass".
Courtois, who is usually the most critical of the squad with the team's play along with Nacho, was just as blunt: "It was hard for us to create chances, but they won without deserving it."
