Barça strike first against a Real Madrid side that failed to hit the target

The Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona was not what was expected. Those who wanted a vibrant game, with chances, goals and tension, experienced an anodyne match that did not offer much. 

Real Madrid had no shots on goal. But Barça only shot twice between Courtois' sticks and that was after a series of bounces from a Kessie shot that the Belgian keeper saved well, but was met by Militao's leg and Nacho's mistake in trying to clear the ball. A rare goal, which the referee disallowed for offside and the VAR had to rectify. 

That goal was in the 26th minute and little else. The defences once again shone above the rest of the lines. Xavi claimed after the game that they had not betrayed the system. In reality, his team had barely 36% possession and ended up stuck in their own box defending the goal. 

What Xavi didn't want to say was that without Lewandowski, Dembelé or Pedri it was impossible to play anything else and they had enough to take 0-1 from the Bernabéu. 

On the other hand, Ancelotti was happy. The Italian said he had controlled the game and Barça's great defence had forced them to play like that. The changes didn't revolutionise the team either and, incomprehensibly, Asensio and Ceballos were left out. It was Rodrygo, Tchouaméni and Álvaro Rodríguez who were called upon to find the equaliser. 

In the Barça side with absentees and physical problems, it was Kessie who made the difference. The Ivorian was the one who put in the desire and the rides while Busquets and De Jong shared the play in a midfield through which the ball hardly passed. 

Gavi was yellow carded and Camavinga was not. That says a lot about what both players are like. Both have to play hard and stop the opponent's play, but the Frenchman covers himself better and knows how to avoid the card so as not to condition himself. 

The goals didn't come because Araújo has taken over from Piqué in the Barça defence and Ter Stegen stopped, although Real Madrid didn't find out who the opposition goalkeeper was in 90 minutes. Benzema was as he was in other years. A player who braids attacks well, plays a touch with Vinicius and activates his team-mates on the edge of the area, but who can't finish at the same time. And yet he had a clear chance that he sent into the back of the net, but it was disallowed for offside.

The first round of the Copa del Rey was won by Barcelona at the Bernabéu. The first opponent to beat Los Blancos at home this season. Busquets knows a lot about that, the Catalan has 23 Clasicos wins to his name and is already the player who has played the most times in this type of match. 

Xavi has discovered the sweet taste of victory and is starting to like the idea of winning rather than playing well. Nothing like the pressure of a bench and inexperience to change principles.