an anthology Clasico, Mbappé found, Tchouaméni unworthy… the tops and the flops

TOPS

An anthology Clasico

A gift falling from the sky. We knew that this kind of poster could guarantee quality football, but to offer us such a spectacle… From the outset, the two teams laid the foundations for a match which will go down in history. Merengue and Barcelona went blow for blow, forcing the goalkeepers to warm their gloves from the first minutes. Mbappé quickly lit the fuse of an individual exploit (5th) before seeing the genius Yamal respond to him (22nd). The rest is history. For the first time since January 10, 1943, Barça scored four goals against Real Madrid in the first half in an official competition. Just that. The second half also brought its share of madness with a fifth goal from Hans-Dieter Flick’s men followed by a sumptuous free kick from Rodrygo (60th).

Raphinha’s masterclass

Among the host of talents present on the pitch in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, it was Raphinha who stood out. The former Rennais confirmed that he was in the form of his life. His speed put Real’s defense at bay on Barça’s lightning counterattacks. Double scorer (39th, 48th) and decisive passer (45+10th), the Brazilian has already scored his 19th goal in all competitions. Undeniably the man of this meeting.

His Majesty Koundé

So valuable on his right side, it is not for nothing that Jules Koundé was in 2024 the most used player on the Blaugrana side. In his register, the former Bordeaux player showed serenity in his reminders and his interventions. Decisive behind and in front, he gave himself a superb assist on his team’s third goal (39th). Beyond literally muzzled Vinicius Junior in his lane, he made a saving intervention at the end of the match. Cleared for one of the only times in the match by Mbappé, the Blues defender made the perfect tackle to cut Bellingham’s shot alone against the goalkeeper at the end of the match (90+1).

Mbappé found

After a more than mixed start with his new club, Kylian Mbappé finally seems to have come out of his box. Newfound speed and vivacity, as in his best hours on each ball catch, the captain of the Blues makes the defense tremble. He made the difference in the 5th minute with an action he created alone. An individual feat to score his first goal in a Clasico. The new star of the Merengues is in his third in as many finals contested with his team (scorer against Atalanta, Pachuca and FC Barcelona). In addition to his goal, he provoked the red card from Szczesny (56th) after a perfect hook which offered a decisive free kick to Rodrygo (60th). This time, the native of Bondy is truly free from any reproach.

FLOPS

Cataclysmic Tchouaméni

Ancelotti’s handyman, with successive injuries to Alaba and Militao for long periods, the intermittent captain of the Blues is often associated with Rüdiger in the axis of defense. Against FC Barcelona he experienced a real nightmare. Washed out and often late, the former Monegasque was pushed around by the Blaugrana wingers. At the wrong time, he made several gross recovery errors and almost got sent off for a dangerous missed tackle on Dani Olmo (62nd). Two minutes later, Carlo Ancelotti whistled the end of his game. Unworthy match to forget for the Frenchman, capable of much better.

Bellingham-Vinicius linked destinies

Expected as often to unlock meetings, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham were powerless. Not successful and respectively muzzled, the two attackers produced nothing and made several technical errors in the last gesture. The Brazilian continues a fourth match without scoring, almost an anomaly for him. Scorer in the previous round against Mallorca, Bellingham does not confirm and falls back into its failings from the start of the season. This meeting risks leaving traces on the two Real executives.

Camavinga guilty

He often repaired Tchouaméni’s errors by ensuring that his duties were exceeded. Valuable in recovery and in offensive construction, the former Rennais has nevertheless committed the irreparable. When Real was still in the race, he did not control his intervention and committed a gross foul on Gavi in ​​the area. causing a penalty transformed by Lewandoski (36th) and collecting a logical yellow. Camavinga never recovered from this double punishment. He should have been sent off just before the break (45th) after an idiotic and avoidable foul on Yamal. Faced with the risk, his coach replaced him at the break.