Barca 2-3 Real Madrid | Spanish Super Cup
A Thrilling Clasico, at last, ending in Extra Time.
Despite not leading a single time in the whole match, Barca left with their "heads held high".
What Stood out & What needs to be looked upon?
[THREAD]
A Thrilling Clasico, at last, ending in Extra Time.
Despite not leading a single time in the whole match, Barca left with their "heads held high".
What Stood out & What needs to be looked upon?
[THREAD]
The Common Idea coming into this match was simple.
Madrid, favorite & Barca, the underdogs.
What happened for the first time is that Xavi had the whole team at his disposal.
Ferran came in for his debut & Fati, Pedri all made their returns coming on from the bench.
Madrid, favorite & Barca, the underdogs.
What happened for the first time is that Xavi had the whole team at his disposal.
Ferran came in for his debut & Fati, Pedri all made their returns coming on from the bench.
-|High Press|-
Barca's idea was simple. Press from the front.
As simple as that. Now, it could mean many things.
One may result in pressurizing the Madrid backline & force them to play long & play high-risk passes. Which happened at times.
Barca's idea was simple. Press from the front.
As simple as that. Now, it could mean many things.
One may result in pressurizing the Madrid backline & force them to play long & play high-risk passes. Which happened at times.
& other being Madrid finding an outlet with space to run into.
Both consequences happened, but unfortunately for Barca, the latter was the common theme.
But, that clearly was Madrid's plan. Sit back, wait for the runner & try to find him. Perfect & Effective Counter Attack.
Both consequences happened, but unfortunately for Barca, the latter was the common theme.
But, that clearly was Madrid's plan. Sit back, wait for the runner & try to find him. Perfect & Effective Counter Attack.
Carlo Ancelotti summed it up in his post-match thoughts:
“I don’t think that Barcelona dominated, as I think it was even. They used possession and we used counter-attacking.
The fact that we sat deeper was so that we could use the counter, which was very effective. Like I’ve-
“I don’t think that Barcelona dominated, as I think it was even. They used possession and we used counter-attacking.
The fact that we sat deeper was so that we could use the counter, which was very effective. Like I’ve-
-said before, pressing high up is tougher for us because of the midfielders we have.
It’s maybe not aesthetically pleasing, but we can have success with this. We created quality chances and scored three quality goals in what was truly an even game.”
It’s maybe not aesthetically pleasing, but we can have success with this. We created quality chances and scored three quality goals in what was truly an even game.”
Now, with the high line, Barca was playing, it was important that they track runners behind the line efficiently well, which at times, they didn't.
With just 2' in, you can see the high line we're playing & how Madrid bypasses us easily.
With just 2' in, you can see the high line we're playing & how Madrid bypasses us easily.
As soon as Madrid was passed that 1st line of press & 1st on the second balls in the midfield, their 1st thought was to go long & find Vinicius behind a backtracking defense.
Which they did well across the 90'.
Which they did well across the 90'.
The Problem with the high line was the ever risky Man-2-Man Press.
It was not as if players were instructed to mark every opposition player, but our inability to pin the opposition deep in their box was one of the main reasons behind it.
It was not as if players were instructed to mark every opposition player, but our inability to pin the opposition deep in their box was one of the main reasons behind it.
Pressure is everything. When you have a defense consisting of 3 players over their 30s, the on-the-ball possession phase becomes ever important.
If you can't defend without the ball, then don't give them the ball.
Or at least don't concede possession in dangerous areas.
If you can't defend without the ball, then don't give them the ball.
Or at least don't concede possession in dangerous areas.
The first goal came from this very mistake.
> Busi concedes possession as neither does he has the outlets to play out nor does he keep tabs of Benz who just ends on his shoulder.
> Araujo recovers, but Vini finishes off at the near post to make it 1-0.
> Busi concedes possession as neither does he has the outlets to play out nor does he keep tabs of Benz who just ends on his shoulder.
> Araujo recovers, but Vini finishes off at the near post to make it 1-0.
When I talked about Pressure & High Press, I was talking about this.
With so many committed players, you can't give spaces for the likes of Modric, Casemiro, etc to work into.
RM easily bypass & nullifies the pressure.
With so many committed players, you can't give spaces for the likes of Modric, Casemiro, etc to work into.
RM easily bypass & nullifies the pressure.
I want to get a very similar situation from which we conceded, in front of you.
Same outlet as the last time.
Araujo -> Busquets, but this time Busi has time & more breathing space from Benz to pick out passes.
Result: A High Scoring Opportunity.
Same outlet as the last time.
Araujo -> Busquets, but this time Busi has time & more breathing space from Benz to pick out passes.
Result: A High Scoring Opportunity.
Another Instance of how RM bypassed our midfield.
Busquets is too advanced & caught in no man's land.
Asensio has time & space to run or pick out his passes.
A More efficient team than RM, & we would have conceded way many from these situations.
Busquets is too advanced & caught in no man's land.
Asensio has time & space to run or pick out his passes.
A More efficient team than RM, & we would have conceded way many from these situations.
Barca defenders stepping out in the midfield opened up outlets for RM to play into.
As Modric receives the ball, Pique charges forward.
He realizes that, & plays a ball on the right.
Pique is out of the game, with spaces behind to exploit.
As Modric receives the ball, Pique charges forward.
He realizes that, & plays a ball on the right.
Pique is out of the game, with spaces behind to exploit.
Araujo charges forward to cover Benz.
Benz realizes that, & again ping it to the right.
Spaces open up in the middle again!
Benz realizes that, & again ping it to the right.
Spaces open up in the middle again!
Some another instance where you can see how high Pique & Araujo have come to win the ball.
Risky if bypassed easily.
Risky if bypassed easily.
Now, as risky it can get, it can be a double-edged sword.
As I mentioned instances where Barca was split open, there were instances where they won the ball back high up the pitch & helped to sustain the pressure.
As I mentioned instances where Barca was split open, there were instances where they won the ball back high up the pitch & helped to sustain the pressure.
Look how distorted our backline is here.
With Pique stepping out, he leaves space behind which Benzema capitalizes & has Araujo 1v1.
With Pique stepping out, he leaves space behind which Benzema capitalizes & has Araujo 1v1.
What was positive for Barca in the match?
Many Things. The Fight that they showed is something we all have talked about. But, Dembele's deployment on the left played a crucial role in our attacks.
Many Things. The Fight that they showed is something we all have talked about. But, Dembele's deployment on the left played a crucial role in our attacks.
There was some great combination play that we saw.
Dembele was looking efficient for the whole 90' & his understanding in combining with other players was improved.
Dembele was looking efficient for the whole 90' & his understanding in combining with other players was improved.
Ferran debuted in an El Clasico, but he came back after a lengthy injury and was balanced in his 1st match.
He made some good runs on the right but was not able to do something tangible with it.
He made some good runs on the right but was not able to do something tangible with it.
Bringing on Abde & Pedri added another dimension to the game.
With Abde having the license to take on players & Pedri looking as if he was never out, the game changed for the good of Barca.
With Abde having the license to take on players & Pedri looking as if he was never out, the game changed for the good of Barca.
Pedri came back with no change in his style of play.
With 100+ days out with an injury, it's natural a player will feel a bit lacking, but Pedri is the opposite.
With 100+ days out with an injury, it's natural a player will feel a bit lacking, but Pedri is the opposite.
His best attribute? How he receives the ball.
That's what makes his other abilities like passing better than others. He receives at angles that help him to find passing angles to every direction on the pitch.
No Skills. No Fancy Stuff.
Just Basic, that stands out.
That's what makes his other abilities like passing better than others. He receives at angles that help him to find passing angles to every direction on the pitch.
No Skills. No Fancy Stuff.
Just Basic, that stands out.
How he takes the ball & turns 180 to charge on goal, & just misses by small margins, shows the quality he has on every level.
Combining, Passing, etc, everything is easy for him.
Combining, Passing, etc, everything is easy for him.
Araujo's importance can't be stated enough for this team.
Despite being opened up at times by RM, his recovery was top-notch.
Immense Body Strength, combined with pace, is a lethal combo.
Despite being opened up at times by RM, his recovery was top-notch.
Immense Body Strength, combined with pace, is a lethal combo.
Busquets despite being a culprit in a goal, had a good game.
The Pressing Structure was so risky, that he was not able to cover spaces efficiently, & RM bypassed us many times.
The Pressing Structure was so risky, that he was not able to cover spaces efficiently, & RM bypassed us many times.
Busquets' high positioning was an asset for RM while going forward. Whenever he went forward, the midfield funnel created was exploited by RM at times.
At Last, I want to mention one thing.
Barca missed a progressive passer/runner in the defense to open up spaces in the midfield.
In these situations, Eric Garcia could have been an asset & I think we missed many opportunities to open up RM.
Barca missed a progressive passer/runner in the defense to open up spaces in the midfield.
In these situations, Eric Garcia could have been an asset & I think we missed many opportunities to open up RM.
All in all, what stands out is the spirit, & the fight that the team showed.
Trailing 2 times, and coming back both times to make 2-2 takes a lot of character.
The Comeback of Pedri, Fati & the addition of Ferran is an added asset. Positive signs ahead.
Trailing 2 times, and coming back both times to make 2-2 takes a lot of character.
The Comeback of Pedri, Fati & the addition of Ferran is an added asset. Positive signs ahead.
Concluding this thread now.
Thanks for reading this.
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With that said, have a great time ahead.
Adios!
Thanks for reading this.
Like & Retweet, if you loved reading it.
Provide Feedback, always appreciated.
Follow, if you think my tweets & threads are worthy of your timeline.
With that said, have a great time ahead.
Adios!
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