FC Barcelona – Real Madrid 1:2 (0:1), 16/04/14, Mestalla, Valencia
Barca were without Pique and Puyol, Bartra recovered early
enough to start the game alongside Mascerano. Martino continued with his
expected XI for the ´big´ games with both Iniesta and Fabregas on the pitch.
Pinto would probably start the game even if Valdes was fit as he has been Barca
no. 1 in Copa del Rey for years.
Real couldn´t count on Arbeola, Marcelo and Ronaldo. Ramos
was fit enough to play so Varane was only on the bench. Ancelotti played Isco rather than Illara in
the middle, with Di Maria on the right and Bale on the left. Casillas was preferred
to Lopez in goal.
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| Starting XIs |
Real à la Atletico ?
The game had expected pattern, with Barca dominating the
possession significantly and Real trying to play on the counter, even though
Real enjoyed good spell on the ball during some periods. Real were really solid defensively, denying
Barca space in front of their box and looking for quick attacks once the ball has been won. On the paper it
looked like Real will continue with their usual 4-3-3, with Xabi-Modric-Isco in
the middle and front three. In fact that was the way they positioned themselves
when having possession for longer periods, but that happened rarely as
Barcelona dominated the ball. It was really interesting how Ancelotti change
the system for this game in the absence of Ronaldo. When in the side, he
doesn´t contribute too much defensively and usually stays higher up, providing
and outlet on the break. In this game, Real defended as a 4-4-2,
replicating the system Atletico Madrid uses when playing Barcelona. Modric and
Alonso were in the middle, Isco on left and Di Maria dropping deeper on the
right with all four of them staying close to each other and moving towards the
play. Bale dropped in occasionally, but Benzema stayed up top without contributing
too much defensively once the ball was played behind him. He, Bale and Di Maria
pressed half-heartedly sometimes, but Barca had little problem to work the ball
forward around them.
When Real won the ball, Isco and especially Di Maria
sprinted up the pitch to support the front duo and exploit the space left by
Barca. First goal was perfect example. Real won the ball, Isco played
a neat pass to Bale, he found Benzema on top who played a beautiful first
time through ball into Di Maria and Alba couldn´t get back on time to stop him
from opening the score.
Barca down the right
Martino played his usual side for this kind of game and yet
again, Barcelona looked rather impotent. Neymar is the most dangerous when
playing on the left, with a chance to cut inside and get into penalty area
or find a player in the box with a cross, but he started on the right
again. Iniesta played on the left, but he drifts inside most of the time
allowing Alba to get forward. Fabregas started in the middle, but with Iniesta
coming in from the left, he was often pushed out, playing as a central
forward. Messi dropped deeper to create overload in the midfield, but Real
defended really well in the middle. Most of Barca´s attacks were coming down
the right, with Alves typically getting in advanced positions, looking for
a cross or to combine with Messi and Xavi. He sent in couple of good
crosses, but it wasn´t easy for his teammates to win a header against Pepe
and Ramos with Alba having the best attempt.
There were couple of good combinations down the left too,
but Barca didn´t manage to create too much, with Messi´s shot on the volley on
the rebound probably the most dangerous chance.
Second half and subs
Adriano replaced Alba at half time, most likely in attempt to offer Barca´s centerbacks more support.
Alba likes to get forward as much as possible, and with Alves spending more
time on the right wing than defending, Barca is conceding too much space at the
back and Real´s counter attacks always looked dangerous. With Adriano on the
left, Barca had more balance when attacked through Alves. However, Real still
managed to create promising situations on the break with Bale having
a good chance early into the second half, he probably should have passed
rather than go for a goal himself.
Both teams played the same way as in the first half and
Martino made an expected substitution after 60 minutes - Fabregas off, Pedro
on. Neymar went left, Iniesta middle and Pedro played on the right, drifting
inside to provide space for Alves and Messi. Neymar did the same from the beginning,
but as mentioned before, he is much more dangerous from the left.
Barca´s improvement and increased pressure resulted into an
equalizer, but it wasn´t from open play. Bartra scored from a corner after
Pepe misjudged the path of the ball and he headed the ball into top corner.
After the goal the game´s tempo dropped as Barca didn´t have
to push so much for the goal. They still dominated the possession though and
Real played on the counter, creating couple of decent chances, before Bale
scored the decisive goal after another quick break. Real won the ball in the
left back position and played a ball down the touchline. Bale simply
outpaced Bartra and beat Pinto from a close range after coming in from the
left and Mascerano couldn’t get across to intercept. Bale showed his great
physicality here, but more important was how much space Barca left behind
again.
Ancelotti made his second change right after goal, bringing
on Illaremendi in the place of Di Maria. He played alongside Alonso in the middle,
with Modric on the left and Isco moving right.
Couple of minutes later, Isco made a way for Casemiro.
Alexis came on for Bartra immediately after conceding. He
went up front, with Messi playing right behind the front trio and Busquets
dropping to defence.
Neymar had a golden chance to send the game into extra
time, but he only hit a post when 1 on 1 against Casillas after Xavi
played him in through the middle.
Ancelotti took of Benzema and brought on Varane to prevent
the same situation happening in the stoppage time.
Conclusion
This was a very different game compared to the last meeting
between these two sides. Without Ronaldo, Ancelotti played a system that
made Real really solid defensively and dangerous on the break as Di Maria and
Isco supported front two. Martino played his usual side for the big game, but
yet again, Barca looked rather helpless, creating only one clear cut chance,
which Neymar didn´t convert into another equalizer. It remains mystery, why he
insists on starting with both Fabregas and Iniesta and playing Neymar on the
right, when Barca clearly look much more dangerous with Brazilian on the left
and either Pedro or Alexis on the right. It provides more men in the central
positions, but with teams defending with four midfielders close to each other
in that area, Barca find it really difficult to get behind them and defenders
look untroubled most of the time.
Real won the first major trophy of the season with a chance
for a treble while Barcelona can only hope for Madrid teams to give away
some points in the remaining games in La Liga as even winning all their games
wouldn´t be enough to win the title.
Highlighs: Barca 1:2 Real
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