BARCELONA WON THREE CONSECUTIVE MATCH INCLUDING MADRID CRUSH, FIVE CONCLUSIONS TO DRAW AFTER EL CLASICO
Barcelona further tightened their vice-like grip on the La Liga title
by sweeping aside eternal rivals Real Madrid 3-0 on Saturday to leave the
European champions 14 points adrift down in fourth place.
Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal were on target for the
visitors in the second half as Madrid paid for not taking their chances when on
top before the break.
Here, AFP Sports looks at five conclusions to draw from El Clasico:
Title decided
The day before Santa Claus comes to Spain, Barca already have what they
most wanted for Christmas.
Not only did they leave Madrid trailing, but defeats for Atletico
Madrid and Valencia this weekend mean they now lead La Liga by nine points.
Ernesto Valverde’s men are unbeaten in 25 games, stretching back to
their previous visit to the Santiago Bernabeu when they were outclassed as Real
wrapped up a 5-1 aggregate win in the Spanish Super Cup.
Related - Lionel Messi Magic Barca crush Madrid ; Real Madrid vs Barcelona 0-3 - Highlights
Related - Lionel Messi Magic Barca crush Madrid ; Real Madrid vs Barcelona 0-3 - Highlights
Back then, Real seemed all-conquering after a first La Liga and
Champions League double for 59 years, whilst Barca were reeeling from the loss
of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.
However, thanks to Valverde’s shrewd management, the Catalans have
bounced back in incredible style, dropping only six points in their opening 17
league games while their rivals have floundered.
Madrid need fresh legs Real have paid a heavy price for not building
from a position of strength as they cashed in rather than splashing out in the
transfer market in the summer.
Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez and Pepe all left, whilst Real failed to
get their premier target as Kylian Mbappe chose to join Neymar at PSG.
Missing out on Mbappe could prove even more costly when Madrid face PSG
in the last 16 of the Champions League.
However, Real don’t just need a refreshment up front to offer back up
to the ageing duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, now both in their
ninth season in Madrid.
The hosts faded physically in the second half as the toil of playing in
six competitions this season has become increasingly apparent in recent months.
Barca defence for real
The key to Valverde’s rejuvenation of Barca has been an unusual one for
the Catalans.
Unlike the sparkling football shown by Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique’s
treble winning sides in the past decade, Barca have built from the back.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been in outstanding form, but
Neymar’s departure has also allowed Valverde to play an extra midfielder to
offer more protection to the back four.
Barca have conceded just eight goals in their 25-game unbeaten run,
registering 18 clean sheets.
Spotlight finally falls on Zidane
‘Tomorrow they are going to hammer me,’ recognised Zidane after his
decision to surprisingly start Mateo Kovacic instead of a host of other
attacking options such as Gareth Bale, Isco or Marco Asensio backfired.
Zidane has enjoyed an almost flawless record during his first two years
in charge, winning eight trophies including back-to-back Champions Leagues.
However, his heaviest defeat as a senior coach means his judgement is
finally beginning to be questioned.
And that pressure will only intensify unless he can mastermind a way
past free-spending PSG come the new year.
A very Messi Christmas
Ronaldo has hogged the headlines in the past month after picking up his
fifth Ballon d’Or to move level with Messi in their personal battle to be
declared the best player of their generation.
The Portuguese was rewarded for his remarkable goalscoring streak
towards the end of last season’s Champions League with 10 goals from the quarter-finals
on as Madrid were crowned champions of Spain and Europe.
However, in terms of consistent performances in 2017, Messi has been in
a world of his own and rounded off the year with another goal and assist.
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