Nobody feels good about a defeat, let alone a classic, but Real Madrid left Dallas convinced that their defeat against the blaugrana was not due to the best game played by the blaugrana, much less, but rather to circumstances of the game that will hardly be repeated. In the Madrid dressing room what was heard was not exactly self-criticism, but excuses of all kinds: five shots at the post, something unusual; the second Barça goal after a foul like a piano from Ansu Fati to Kroos that was not whistled or that De Jong continued on the field of play after a flagrant red card against Militão that was also not signaled.
After the match, both Dani Carvajal and Carlo Ancelotti chose to minimize the team’s mistakes and preferred to point out that Madrid was on the right track “because we have been much better for an hour. We have done many good things”, was the common comment.
The team’s lack of goals was in the background, as was the poor performance of Jude Bellingham, the star of the first two games of the preseason, but for whom the classic was very big and went practically unnoticed.
The supposed physical superiority of the whites was not seen in either of the beginnings of the two parts and Madrid had to resort to the veterans Kroos and Modric at the end to gain control of the midfield. Camavinga, Tchouaméni and Valverde had a very discreet performance. Joselu didn’t have a good night either, missing a goal sung in a header practically from point-blank range. Alaba and Militão fulfilled by the center of the rear. Fran García was not out of place either. Rodrygo and Vinícius were less than what is expected of them. The debate of a new player to replace Benzema is still open. The system change did not bring a significant improvement.
Apart from his poor aim, with Vinícius on a fateful night in the auction, the whites were a leak through Ferland Mendy’s band, the worst on the team as usual, a player who also ended up injured and for whom Madrid wants to find a way out for what Ancelotti opposes.
Madrid will play one last friendly in the United States at dawn from Wednesday to Thursday against Juventus in Orlando. Then, he will return to Madrid and will have a week to prepare his debut in the League against Athletic in San Mamés, on Saturday, August 12.