This tie was the first Clásico in 17 years in which both sides went into the clash having lost their last league game. Defeat to Cádiz had been compounded for Real Madrid as they were beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk, meaning that crisis talk was all over the place as they travelled to face a Barcelona side who have spent months in turmoil, capped by defeat to Getafe a week before meeting their arch-rivals.
It was Real Madrid who got off to the perfect start as Fede Valverde opened the scoring, with Ansu Fati hitting back immediately in a far more open and explosive beginning to the game than expected. A penalty scored by Sergio Ramos and a third added by Luka Modrić sealed the victory.
This tactical analysis of El Clásico will look at the tactics of Ronald Koemans Barcelona and Zinedine Zidanes Real Madrid. The analysis will highlight the key factors that led to the victory for the visitors, giving them a clear advantage over their La Liga counterparts in the race for the title.
Line-ups
Koeman made gambles with his team selection as consistent, if not spectacular, performers like Sergi Roberto and Antoine Griezmann were dropped, with Jordi Alba coming back into the side after an injury lay off and Sergiño Dest getting his first start in his preferred right-back role since joining from Ajax. Neto kept his place in goal, with Gerard Piqué and Clement Lenglet selected in defence. In midfield, the shape altered between a 4-2-3-1 as seen so far this season, and a 4-4-2, which allowed greater freedom to Ansu Fati to run in behind while Lionel Messi dropped deeper. This system didnt suit Messi greatly, as will be covered later, with Philippe Coutinho and Pedri drifting into central areas ahead of Sergio Busquets and Frenkie De Jong. The headline, however, remained the selection of two 17-year-olds for a Clásico for the first time since 1947.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, stuck to what Zidane knows. Thibaut Courtois in goal had demanded defensive solidity before the game and so it came as excellent news that captain Sergio Ramos was fit, having been forced off against Cádiz and missed the defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk. He played alongside Raphaël Varane in the middle, with Ferland Mendys defensive consistency prefered to Marcelo on the left and with Nacho filling in for the injured Dani Carvajal on the right. In midfield, Valverdes energy gave him the nod alongside Toni Kroos and Casemiro ahead of Modrić, with the recent first-choice front three of Vinícius Júnior, Marcos Asensio and Karim Benzema keeping their places in a shape which resembled 4-3-3 in possession and 4-1-4-1 out of it.
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