Bellingham come from behind in Clasico
Real Madrid arrived at the exile of Montjuic to face Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season. 16:15 is not the time to experience a match of that level. The sun is a nuisance, although Xavi did not complain, and the atmosphere is not the same as on historic football nights in Spain.
A Clásico for the benefit of Asia because not even in England could they see the match because it was at a protected time to encourage attendance at the stadiums of the lower categories. What the British Isles missed was Bellingham in his purest form. The Englishman who was not going to acclimatise to Spain has already scored 10 league goals and is "a surprise for everyone", as Ancelotti said after the game.
The Italian has not yet made the transition to the team he could leave in June for Brazil. Mendy started on the left wing and in the second half he got injured again and was replaced by Camavinga. Fran Garcia is not yet ready for these high level games. In midfield Kroos was accompanied by Tchouaméni and Valverde so that up front Rodrygo, Vinicius and Bellingham made the difference.
Barça's absentees meant that Fermín was in Xavi's starting eleven. Gündogan and Gavi covered Joao Félix and Ferran Torres. In defence, Christensen, Íñigo Martínez alongside Balde and Cancelo. A melting pot of regular players and others who were called upon to cover for the absentees such as Pedri and De Jong, who watched the game from the stands.
Xavi said after the game that they had dominated 60 minutes. And so it was. Real Madrid were uncomfortable during the first half to the point of giving away the first goal to Gündogan in a bad clearance by Alaba, who has made too many mistakes this season in a position where there is not much to choose from. In those arrivals, Fermín sent a ball against the post and the rebound went to the arm of Kepa, who recalled Courtois with that miraculous save that prevented the second goal.
Vinicius did not face what was expected of the Brazilian. Rodrygo wasn't at his best either as the Catalan side packed their half of the pitch with players to avoid the white speed. And so ended a dull first half in which this "Clasico of the new generations", as Dazn dubbed it, made the fans think that any time in the past seems better.
Ancelotti told the players at half-time that, if they had to lose, at least they should do it with intensity and rhythm. A curious way of motivating the Italian that only world-class coaches like him can achieve. The only two planned changes were Kroos for Modric and Rodrygo for Joselu in the 63rd minute, five minutes before Bellingham scored the first.
Xavi watched from the sidelines as his team faded in those minutes. A shot from the edge of the area that Ter Stegen didn't even see coming boosted Real Madrid's morale to that limit where no team is capable of reaching. At that moment, the Whites dominated the match and began the kind of tug-of-war they have come to enjoy. Joselu changes the game with his presence alone. A pure striker who does not move from the space of the 9 and who brings down balls and fixes defenders. There is something in his presence on the pitch that changes Madrid's model of play. The 14 had a good chance to make it 1-2, but it took a cross from the tireless Carvajal that touched Modric to reach the boots of Bellingham on the edge of the six-yard box. A subtle touch to slip the ball through Ter Stegen's legs in the 92nd minute and give Real Madrid a commanding victory.
Xavi pulled his usual stunts to call fouls and offside, but it was all legal, much more so than his way of dealing with defeats. At the end of the game he let slip a "this time we didn't lose because of the referee", he had no reason to say it, nor does he when he complains. This pitiful profile is not going to help him in bad times.
Vinicius' attitude cannot go unnoticed. The Brazilian was replaced in the 96th minute by Lucas and his exit from the field was too provocative with unnecessary applause to the stands. The assistant called his attention to him and the two confronted each other until Ancelotti had to take the striker by the arm and calm him down on the bench. He again suffered unjustified racist shouting. Now Barça must act quickly, although the precedents are not good and the Mossos are still looking for hooligans three years later with no results. Strange. But Vinicius must control that provocative side and no one better than Ancelotti to help him.
Real Madrid are top of the table with four points more than Barça. Girona are hanging on and Atlético de Madrid, the great candidates to win the league, have already experienced their first Clásico.
