A classic will always be a classic. It is the main dish that never fails. In Europe or in America, official or not, the king of matches does not understand friendlies nor is he capable of leaving aside an intensity that is inappropriate for preseason. In the apparent test bench that fell to the blaugrana side, there was no happier footballer than Fermín López. The surprise of the preseason. The new Bucket. A midfielder with a goal who after a year on loan to Linares and without stepping on the subsidiary, did not fail in his first classic. He was joined by a demanding Dembélé who opened the can and also Ferran Torres, who continues to demand more confidence. 0-3 in an A
Behind the rivalry that activates both teams and that always prevails, there is a football motive. The one in Dallas was to be able to observe the needs that remain to be covered by two teams that have parted with important players. Barça played their first clásico without Busquets or Jordi Alba. And Real Madrid, without Benzema’s goals. The whites missed him with Vinícius and Rodrygo and without Mbappé, against a Barça that began to fit the pieces of their puzzle.
Xavi opted for an eleven that could well be the gala one. Some cards are new. He enjoyed Koundé at last located in the axis of the rear. Also Balde, the secret weapon of this Barça with great offensive actions on the left wing. Others are cards that never fail. Once again it was the turn of the incombustible Araújo to cover Vinícius. Not even a tough tackle from Camavinga that kept him limping for several minutes could prevent the fourth Barcelona captain from leaving for the bench.
The same did not happen with Christensen, who left with muscular discomfort. He was followed by Gündogan, who enjoyed his first inside-left classic while he could. His ability to organize the game began to show. But in a punt he noticed a discomfort in the adductor and asked for the change. He enjoyed Oriol Romeu much more. He more liberated, sometimes ahead of De Jong. Always occupying spaces and offering solutions. A shot of his almost slipped through the squad. He was repelled by the crossbar.
On the other side of the board Ancelotti placed Bellingham. The recently signed midfielder was ahead of Camavinga and Valverde in a Madrid that is now betting on 4-4-2. For the first time this preseason he also placed Courtois under the sticks, who could not avoid Dembélé’s great goal. The singularity of the goal was put by Xavi’s board, determined to continue being the mentor of his favorite winger. And it worked. It was Gündogan who brought out his ability to stand out and looked for Pedri, very well located on the edge of the area. The canary activated the mirror and saw Dembélé galloping. He waited for him and assisted him so that the Frenchman finished off the play before the siren songs coming from Paris.
Despite dominating the game for much of the game, Real Madrid suffered from the absence of experienced footballers like Modric or Kross. Vinícius, a good agitator of the game and leader in attack after the departure of Benzema, did not see the door. In fact, he missed a penalty that the referee signaled for some clear hands from Araújo. Ter Stegen did not even change. Yes, the German had to act with a shot by Rodrygo from the small area that the second captain of Barça deflected to a corner.
At halftime Xavi demanded that his players be capable of maintaining possession and balance. And Ancelotti took the classics out of him. Modric and Kroos entered. Also Fran Garcia, left-back recovered from Rayo Vallecano who took Mendy’s place, injured. There was another attempt by Vinícius with a long shot. But the job was finished off by youth squad player Fermín López, enabled by Sergi Roberto after good pressure from Ansu Fati. The youth squad player also served Ferran Torres with Barcelona’s third goal.