Real madrid vs barcelona five things learned
The eternal rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona! Here are five things we learned from their latest encounter:
1. Barça's midfield dominance: Barcelona's midfield trio of Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, and Pedri controlled the game, dictating the pace and creating scoring opportunities. They won the battle in the middle of the park, allowing their forwards to thrive.
2. Real Madrid's defensive woes: Real Madrid's defense, which has been a concern all season, was breached twice by Barça. The visitors' high press and quick transitions caught Los Blancos off guard, leading to two well-taken goals. Zinedine Zidane's side needs to work on shoring up their backline.
3. Karim Benzema's resurgence: The French striker has been in excellent form lately, and his goal in the 1-1 draw was his fifth in his last six games. Benzema's movement and finishing have been a welcome boost for Real Madrid, who have struggled for goals at times this season.
4. Ansu Fati's emergence: The 18-year-old winger has been making waves in La Liga, and his goal in the 2-1 win was his fifth in his last seven games. Fati's pace, skill, and finishing ability make him a nightmare for opposing defenders, and he's quickly becoming a key player for Barça.
5. The importance of set pieces: Both teams scored from set pieces, with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos equalizing from a free kick and Barça's Clement Lenglet heading in the winner from a corner. The importance of set pieces in big games like this cannot be overstated, and both teams will need to work on defending them better.
Overall, this was a thrilling encounter that showcased the best of both teams. While Real Madrid will be disappointed to have dropped points, they can take heart from Benzema's form and the fact that they pushed Barça all the way. For Barça, this win was a welcome boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.