The League player dismantled a passionate Barça with a couple of flashes. The Englishman Jude Bellingham, canceled by Gavi for almost the entire match, resolved the first Montjuïc classic with a double that completed Madrid’s comeback. In added time the midfielder scored the second white goal after a lucky deflection by Modric. Before, he had neutralized Gündogan’s goal with a huge shot. Too much reward for Ancelotti’s men. Excessive punishment for Xavi’s team, enthusiastic, hardworking and who can only blame themselves for not having scored 2-0 when they could have done so. A fatal ending for the Barcelona fans, who are four points behind Madrid, the leader, and Girona.
A shame for the Blaugrana who deserved, at least, the draw but Ancelotti’s team, an old dog, came out on top in the second half and entrusted themselves to their Holy Grail, Bellingham to end up winning the classic.
The meeting was uncorked like a chess board, like a tactical manual that delighted the analysts. Xavi opted for Cancelo positioned as a right winger, protected behind by the robust Araújo, ready to fight for the copper in a battle that is already standard with Vinícius. It was not the only background movement practiced by the Barcelona coach. The other most striking, that of dispensing with the defensive pivot, that is, Oriol Romeu, to hand over the midfield spoon to the duo formed by the intelligent Gündogan and the essential Gavi. The Andalusian, rested after his suspension in the Champions League, appeared everywhere with his usual intensity, which in his case is always extraordinary. In the classic, his main mission was to try to annul the jewel in the white crown, that is, Bellingham, and he barely let him enter the game for more than an hour. Of course, later he could not avoid the tremendous irruption of English. Before he had achieved it by anticipating, jumping over him even though he is much shorter, putting his heart and soul into it. And then, with the ball, Gavi also appeared neat and clean. A titan.
Barça was an organized Barça, with the fronton formed by Araújo, Christensen and Iñigo Martínez, and that barely left any space behind them. In the entire first half he did not give a single chance to a Madrid that could not find a way to tickle Barcelona, ??to the despair of a Vinícius who fought with everyone, for a change. The Brazilian dedicated himself more to provoking the respectable than to playing. You have to make him look at it.
On the other hand, the Barcelona team took an early lead on the scoreboard. It was in an action that illustrates the desire of Xavi’s men. Gündogan combined on a wall with Ferran Torres, but the ball seemed to be lost, long, between the white defense. The only one who believed was Gündogan who followed the action and collected a treasure. Alaba did not clear forcefully, the ball was loose and the German beat Kepa low.
An Olímpic that was a pleasure, packed, broke out while the Barcelona fans formed a pineapple.
The match broke out between various dancing couples and in all of them the one who best followed the rhythm of the music (for a reason there were two of the Rolling Stones in the box) was the Barcelona player. João Félix was pursued in an individual marking by Carvajal and threw a hat at him, Gavi could in that phase with Bellingham and Araújo controlled Vinícius. From that seamless system, Barça had a second chance. He stole a ball, of course, Gavi and Fermín impaled the post which could have been 2-0. The young man from Campillo continued in the eleven due to his excellent performance and did not lose face in the match.
The game was not generous in terms of opportunities but that scenario suited Barcelona well, also taking into account that on this occasion Xavi had a bench, with the recovered Lewandowski, Raphinha and Koundé ready to help along with a Lamine Yamal with revulsive label. Although, paradoxically, it would be with three of the four on the field when the white victory came.
But before the Blaugrana replacements came, Xavi’s team was once again within a hair’s breadth of the second goal. Iñigo Martínez headed against the post and in the continuation of the action Araújo caused a great save from Kepa. Later he would regret it very much.
Camavinga appeared with a Mendy headdress and Cancelo saw how the highway opened. The Portuguese starred in a couple of rides that ended in a shot. Perhaps with a little more composure they would have also ended in a goal.
But at the same time, Madrid, slowly, began to amass the ball. Almost at the hour mark, Kroos gave a name to Madrid’s first shot between the sticks, a prelude to another more dangerous one from Tchouaméni. Then the corners arrived, the second plays and Bellingham suddenly showed up with a sidereal missile that surpassed Ter Stegen from about 25 meters away.
Out of nowhere, Madrid had achieved the tie with a great goal. Barça, now with Lewandowski reappeared on the field, was losing its nerves and Xavi had no choice but to move the bench. Romeu, Raphinha, who also returned, and Lamine Yamal entered.
Fresh legs so that the Blaugrana team, suffering then, would try to recover oxygen and, incidentally, the ball. Xavi’s men tried it with renewed desire, at the risk of discovering their back for the first time, which forced Barça’s three centre-backs to work hard.
It seemed that the scoreboard would no longer move but Modric’s lucky action came that put an opportunistic Bellingham in front of Ter Stegen. The British did not forgive to decide with his double. Ice cube in Montjuïc.
