Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 2-0 Clásico defeat to FC Barcelona as the Catalans secured the La Liga title in front of Los Blancos at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday evening. A disinterested looking Real Madrid were never at the races, conceding to a Marcus Rashford free-kick on nine minutes and conceding again when Ferran Torres doubled the home team’s lead nine minutes later.
Three answers
1. Would Real Madrid be able to delay Barcelona’s title celebrations?
Real Madrid had to win to prevent Barcelona from
sealing the title, which would be the first time that a league title was won in a Clásico since 1932 and only the second time ever. In reality, Real Madrid never put up much of a fight. At 2-0 down in such quick time, Real Madrid had to record their first ever comeback from a two goal deficit against Barcelona in a Clásico, but there was no sign of any kind of pride or fight to achieve it. Barcelona were able to revert to first gear from the 18th minute onwards, and see out the victory with ease. Chants of “campeones” were being heard around the Spotify Camp Nou from early on in the game, and it was mathematically secured with the final whistle, with the gap at the top opening up to 14 points with nine left to play for.
2. Where was Kylian Mbappé?
In between trips to Italy and late night dinners, Kylian Mbappé’s returned to training this week. The Frenchman was expected to be available, with the likes of MARCA expecting him to be fit enough to make the starting line-up, until it emerged that he had been left out of the squad after withdrawing from training in the last five minutes of Saturday’s session due to discomfort. It’s clear that Mbappé‘s eyes are set solely on the World Cup this summer, with little at stake here other than potential humiliation. It will put more focus on his late-night adventures, being pictured at restaurants gone midnight this week and filmed driving around the city late into the night. And it also raises the question of whether he will return at all this season or if he will rest for what is left of the 2025/26 campaign and begin his build-up to the World Cup. That rest period could help Real Madrid under new management come the start of the next season, with only a few weeks between the end of the World Cup, where France could go all the way, and the start of the season in Spain.
3. Would Aurélien Tchouameni be involved?
With a fine of €500,000 each for Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni, the club institutionally made clear that there would be no sporting punishment for either player after their training ground bust-up this week. However, that left it down to coach Álvaro Arbeloa. Valverde was out with the head injury he suffered in the incident, but Tchouameni’s involvement posed a dilemma. Arbeloa spoke passionately on Saturday, insisting that both players “deserve us to turn the page” and his actions followed that up, starting Tchouameni in midfield. The game passed him by somewhat, his passing accuracy coming in at 88%, some way below his season average of 91.4%, and his most notable involvement being a header from a corner on 74 minutes which was blocked without too much trouble for Barcelona. A week to forget for the Frenchman.
Three questions
1. When was the last time Real Madrid hit such a low point?
Losing a Clásico is nothing new, but this one was one of Real Madrid’s worst nights in recent history. The symbolism of the defeat, gifting the trophy to arch rivals Barcelona, and the manner of it, with a team devoid of any interest or direction, made it historically painful. Perhaps not since the 3-1 defeat to Ajax which led to Champions League elimination in the dreadful 2018/19 season have Real Madrid recorded such a worrying result. This wasn’t about the scoreline, but in the culmination of disastrous events over the course of a season and the course of the last week, each seemingly more embarrassing than the last. Repeatedly this season, we have asked whether a moment has been rock bottom. It is hard to envisage anything worse than your biggest rivals sealing the title by beating you within 15 minutes and you not even fighting back.
2. Will Raúl Asencio get another chance?
The biggest surprise of the night was the choice of Raúl Asencio alongside Antonio Rüdiger in defence, making his first start in a month and only his second of the last two months. Asencio hasn’t seemed to be an option Arbeloa has counted on ever since reports of a falling out between the two, but he came in here, and wasted his chance. The second goal, with Asencio trotting back at walking pace as Barcelona broke into the box, leaves a clip which his critics won’t hesitate to record and share. Booked for needlessly kicking the ball away in frustration, he recorded no tackles, lost both of his two duels and committed one foul. This was not a night for Asencio to claim that he had a future at Real Madrid, whatever may happen this summer.
3. How can Real Madrid make the most of the three remaining games?
Even the most devout of Madridistas will need some persuading to watch the three remaining games of the season against Real Oviedo, Sevilla and Athletic Club. The title is now out of reach and second place will surely be secured in midweek, unless Real Madrid lose to Real Oviedo and Villarreal beat Sevilla. It seems inevitable that Arbeloa will continue, but not beyond this season, and that many players may turn their attention to the World Cup and seeking to avoid injury. It gives Real Madrid a chance to make judgement calls, with some like Eduardo Camavinga having a point to prove, and others like the youngsters who have been strongly backed by Arbeloa. There’s little else that anyone can hope to take from this game, as is likely to be reflected in Bernabéu ticket sales.
