On Saturday, Barcelona delivered a resounding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Bernabeu, a venue that rarely witnesses such lopsided defeats for its home team.
Also Read: La Liga live! Confirmed line-ups for Real Madrid vs. Barcelona (26th October 2024)
After a scoreless first half, the game dramatically shifted, leaving the Madrid fans in shock.
[RECAP: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona recap]
The turning point came thanks to Hansi Flick’s strategic halftime adjustments, which enabled Barcelona to exploit Real Madrid’s missed opportunities.
In the first half, Madrid squandered chances and found themselves repeatedly caught offside, inadvertently easing the pressure on Barcelona’s high defensive line.
As we delve into the performances of individual players during this unforgettable match in Madrid, let’s take a closer look at the ratings awarded to both Real Madrid and Barcelona players.
Real Madrid Player Ratings (out of 10):
Andriy Lunin: 6 — Despite allowing four goals and facing an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.82, Lunin made three crucial saves, a respectable showing given the circumstances.
Ferland Mendy: 4 — Lunin was caught out of position during Lewandowski’s second goal, and his performance against Yamal’s goal left much to be desired.
Antonio Rudiger: 6 — A solid but unremarkable performance from Rudiger.
Eder Militao: 5 — Struggled defensively throughout the match.
Lucas Vasquez: 4 — Had difficulty containing Barcelona’s attacking threats.
Eduardo Camavinga: 8 — The standout in midfield, winning 11 of 13 duels while desperately seeking support.
Fede Valverde: 5 — A disappointing passing accuracy of 67% mirrored his team’s struggles as the game slipped away.
Aurelien Tchouameni (subbed off 63′): 6 — Led in interceptions but was substituted for Luka Modric in hopes of generating more offensive momentum.
Jude Bellingham: 4 — Played out of position on the right flank and failed to impact the game, with a notable miss in the second half.
Vinicius Junior: 6 — The most promising aspect of Madrid’s attack, he could have scored early on but couldn’t convert.
Kylian Mbappe: 4 — Showed danger but was frequently offside, struggling to find his rhythm against Barcelona’s high line.
Substitutes:
Luka Modric (on 63′): 6.5 — Attempted to drive the play forward, though the outcome felt predetermined.
Brahim Diaz (on 77′): N/A — Did not have sufficient time to impact the game.
Francisco Garcia (on 86′): N/A — Too little time to assess performance.
Barcelona Player Ratings (out of 10):
Inaki Pena: 7 — Secured a clean sheet with four saves and eight recoveries, showcasing his skills effectively.
Jules Kounde: 7 — Delivered a spirited performance, successfully countering Vinicius Jr.’s threats.
Pau Cubarsi: 7 — Maintained over 90% passing accuracy and executed a crucial sliding stop against Vinicius Jr.
Inigo Martinez: 8 — With six defensive actions and a long pass that set up Raphinha’s goal, Martinez excelled.
Alex Balde: 7 — Contributed effectively to Barcelona’s dominant performance.
Pedri (subbed off 89′): 7 — Played a solid match contributing to the team’s midfield control.
Marc Casado (subbed off 65′): 7.5 — A game-high 70 touches, assisted Lewandowski’s first goal, and contributed defensively.
Lamine Yamal: 7 — Made a notable impact with his energy and performance.
Fermin Lopez (subbed off HT): 5 — Struggled with only 19 touches, prompting a necessary halftime change.
Raphinha: 7.5 — Scored a goal and provided an assist, also creating three chances.
Robert Lewandowski: 8.5 — An exceptional performance, scoring two goals with under 40 touches, including winning a crucial 50/50 that led to Yamal’s goal.
Substitutes:
Frenkie de Jong (on HT): 8 — Demonstrated exceptional passing, completing 30 of 31 attempts in limited touches.
Dani Olmo (on 65′): 7 — Contributed effectively after coming on.
Gavi (on 89′): N/A — Did not have enough time to influence the game.
In conclusion, Barcelona’s comprehensive victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico highlights their tactical superiority and individual brilliance, raising questions about Real Madrid’s performance and strategy moving forward.
