Madrid Falls into Flick's Trap

The Real Madrid crashed in the classic against an invisible enemy. Apart from the goals, the offsides were the main protagonists of a match in which Hansi Flick signed an impeccable introduction card against the eternal rival with a trap from which Mbappé, Vinicius, and company could never escape. The whites were frustrated eleven times and saw how what seemed like a direct path against Iñaki Peña's goal ended up being torture and a nightmare, the night in which the linesmen sweated profusely and ended up with sore arms.

And that was despite Ancelotti's plan seeming flawless. Barcelona's defense was fifty meters from their goal, and that was an invitation for Camavinga, Valverde, or Tchouaméni to look for long balls behind the center-backs. That was Plan A, B, and even C. Every ball into space was met with a step forward in unison by Balde, Iñigo Martínez, Cubarsí, and Koundé, and with a sly smile from Flick, who understood very early that his idea would take hold on the most important night since he decided to sign for Barcelona.

Time proved him right in a first half where the whites fell offside eight times and ignored a battle for the midfield where Pedri and Marc Casadó roamed freely. If the Canary is spared injuries, he could be the Blaugrana metronome for the next decade, while the 17 seems to have been the culé pivot all his life. Between the two, they devoured a more physical midfield like Real Madrid's, but which continuously rushed to find Mbappé by the quick route.

Flick's tactic also served to discomfort a Real Madrid in the opposing field, unaccustomed to such aggressive rivals without the ball. Barça bit when the whites had no free receivers and left freedom for Rudiger and Mendy to drive, two players who do not find it so easy to locate players between the lines. Thus, they ended up frustrating Ancelotti's team, which, without alternatives, ended up disorganized in the second half, when the Blaugranas stepped forward and overran the eternal rival.

A Vertical Barça

The culés struck a blow showing the world the evolution Flick has carried out in just three months. Barça is a team that mixes pause with the ball with direct play against the opposing goal like few others. It was seen in the first goal when Lewandowski got behind the center-backs and, above all, when Real Madrid opened up to seek a comeback. The Blaugrana team did not hold back and wanted more and more, like that time when his Bayern scored eight goals against Barça. It is Flick's hallmark, ninety relentless minutes that were finished off by Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.