Barcelona had the honour of internet hosting the primary El Clasico of the 2023/24 season as Actual Madrid visited the Olympic Saint Montjuic within the hopes of extending their lead over their rivals on prime of the desk.
The Catalans lined up in a slightly unconventional XI which seemed like a 3-5-2, with Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde offering width because the wingbacks. Fermin Lopez, Ilkay Gundogan, and Gavi took maintain of the midfield.
It was the treble-winner Gundogan from final season Ilkay Gundogan who proved to be the distinction early on as a mistake from Aurelien Tchoumaeni and David Alaba ended up being pricey.
Barça had been evidently the higher staff by the sport, hitting the submit twice and controlling the tempo earlier than Jude Bellingham’s sensational hit introduced the scores stage across the Seventieth-minute mark.
From thereon, it was largely all Actual Madrid, they usually obtained their reward as Bellingham struck once more within the 92nd minute to attain the winner.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen: 8
Ter Stegen was flawless by the sport, selecting out the best passes and coping with most of what was thrown his manner. Couldn’t do a lot about both purpose.
Ronald Araujo: 8.5
An absolute demon defensively as soon as once more in opposition to Vinicius, Araujo was sensational by the sport. Picked out an honest few passes for Cancelo and Ferran, too.
Andreas Christensen: 7.5
Christensen had a ton of accountability enjoying in the course of the backline, and did his job slightly nicely. Didn’t complicate his position a lot, saved it neat and tidy though he couldn’t do a lot in regards to the purpose.
Inigo Martinez: 7.5
An unimaginable El Clasico debut for Inigo Martinez, who was faultless by the sport. Saved Rodrygo and Carvajal quiet on the assault, and was an absolute homing missile with the ball at his toes. Got here near scoring, as nicely, hitting the submit from a nook.
Was unfortunate to have the ball bounce over him as Bellingham scored the winner.
Joao Cancelo: 8.5
Enjoying a lot larger in the present day, Cancelo put in an amazing shift earlier than being substituted out. Acted as the right outlet for the defence, and likewise tucked in to assist out the midfield, which was already with out a pure no. 6.
Gavi: 9
Gavi wore his coronary heart on his sleeve but once more, enjoying his eighth El Clasico on the age of 19. Was top-of-the-line gamers, too, as all actions for Barcelona appeared to undergo him.
Did just about every little thing you may count on from a box-to-box midfielder, together with creating probabilities, last-man tackles, and controlling the tempo of the sport like a seasoned veteran.
Ilkay Gundogan: 9
One other man of the match displaying from Ilkay Gundogan, who was a beat or two forward of each single participant on the pitch. Regardless of not being a pure 6, he executed the position like a chief Sergio Busquets would, and even scored the opening purpose of the sport by sheer dedication.
Fermin Lopez: 7
Fermin Lopez was the shock inclusion for the beginning lineup, however did nicely to justify his inclusion within the staff. He got here very near scoring a purpose within the first half, hitting the submit, and likewise created a beautiful likelihood for Inigo, which additionally struck the woodwork.
Alejandro Balde: 6
Not Balde’s outing, particularly offensively, as he didn’t do something significant with the ball regardless of getting into the opposition field a good few instances.
Ferran Torres: 6
Ferran’s finest contribution in the present day was the NFL-esque deal with he made on Vinicius to cease a counterattack. In any other case comparatively remoted for a lot of the sport.
Joao Felix: 8
Felix continues to impress for Barcelona, in the present day enjoying off the striker in his favoured SS position. Orchestrated a bunch of assaults, and was an enormous assist in midfield, serving to pacing up the sport when wanted.
