The Spanish football classic is always an event that arouses passion, and this latest edition was no exception. Real Madrid took the 2-1 victory against an FC Barcelona team that was singled out for not being able to maintain the lead they had achieved in the first half thanks to Ilkay Gündogan’s goal. In a high-intensity confrontation, there were three figures who stood out for not-so-positive reasons in the Blaugrana ranks.
The 3 designated from FC Barcelona after falling against Real Madrid
-Iñigo Martínez, the central defender who arrived at Barcelona in the last transfer market, had a game to forget. His biggest sin was the second goal conceded, where he was badly stopped by Jude Bellingham. Throughout the match, he failed to make a difference in the open field and showed weaknesses in the defense of the area, which will surely generate criticism and doubts about his performance.
-Oriol Romeu, who entered during the match, did not go unnoticed either, but for negative reasons. The Spanish midfielder could not contribute to the team, getting worse with each possession, showing slowness in transitions and not making a difference on a defensive level. His performance made it clear that, in a match of this caliber, Xavi Hernández needs to have a higher-ranking player like Frenkie de Jong.
-Xavi Hernández, the FC Barcelona strategist, is also in the spotlight after this defeat. Despite having been superior in the first half, he failed to change the team’s dynamic in the second half. His management of the changes was questionable, and the experienced Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid, surpassed him with the entry of Luka Modric, who took over the midfield and contributed to the Whites’ comeback.
The defeat in the Clásico was painful for Barcelona and left several questions about the team’s performance and its ability to compete in the elite of Spanish football. The post-match analysis will focus on these three names: Martínez, Romeu, and Xavi, who will have to work together to overcome this setback and regain the trust of the culé fans.
