A deep block, then the counter
Real Madrid won 2-1 at Camp Nou, ending Barcelona’s run of nine straight wins, according to [1]. Marca describes the approach as [2]. Barcelona had more of the ball and more shots, but lacked clear chances and ways to progress vertically.
Reports differ on the scorers. Marca credits Mbappé with both goals, while The Guardian lists Mbappé and Camavinga. Marca also reports that Camavinga was struck by a fan with a large flag during the celebration of Mbappé’s second goal. LaLiga will file a complaint with its Disciplinary Committee, and players were also hit by bottles thrown from the stands.
Mourinho’s selection carried the plan. [3] says he started Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Konaté, Cucurella and Yan Diomandé, and moved Federico Valverde to right-back. Another Marca analysis says Silva was picked to [4]. It was his first league game in six weeks. The same analysis says Madrid’s final pass was weak and that Bellingham and Mbappé should have converted more of their chances.
The individual battles
The clearest win was on Madrid’s left. Marca’s match data shows [5]. Lamine Yamal completed four of nine dribbles and had no shots on target. Commentators called the marking outstanding.
In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni [2], which kept the block stable while Silva and Güler supported play. Further forward, Yan Diomandé on the left wing caused the Barcelona defence problems, per Marca.
In goal, Andriy Lunin started because Thibaut Courtois had flu. Marca columnist Raúl Varela called Lunin [6]. It was his fourth win in five Clásicos, according to [7].
Availability: Valverde, Courtois and Vinicius
The biggest concern is Valverde. Marca reports he left the game with muscle discomfort after [8]. His fitness is unknown until tests at Valdebebas the following day. The same piece credits his move to right-back as a key part of Madrid’s improvement in recent matches, so losing him would affect the structure as well as the squad numbers.
Courtois is expected to recover from flu. Marca expects him to return to the starting line-up for the next match, with Lunin back on the bench. That is a rumour, not a confirmed selection.
Vinicius Junior missed the Clásico because of a four-match suspension. Marca says it followed [9], and a later Marca report says he is [3]. Diomandé’s showing gives Mourinho a proven option on the left while the ban runs.
What it means
The win leaves Madrid third in La Liga with 24 points from 10 games (W8 D0 L2, goals 25 for, 10 against). Marca reports they are three points behind Barcelona. Their last five results are all wins: Villarreal 1-0, Roma 4-3 away, Sevilla 4-1, Leipzig 4-1 in the Champions League, and the 2-1 at Camp Nou. That matches the five-match winning run Marca dates to Mourinho’s comeback in Rome.
The next test is Santander away on 1 November in La Liga. It asks something different from the Clásico. Madrid will probably have more of the ball against a side that sits deeper, and Raúl Varela’s point that Madrid [6] applies directly. Counter-attacking space will be scarcer, so the weak final pass Benito flagged matters more.
The site’s forecast for the fixture locks 24 hours before kick-off, so there is no prediction yet. The inputs to watch are Valverde’s test results, whether Courtois returns, and whether Mourinho keeps the Clásico midfield of Silva and Güler.
Sources
- The Guardian: Mourinho’s plan comes together as Real Madrid relaunch with clásico statement | Sid Lowe theguardian.com ↩
- Marca: El Real Madrid desarmó al Barcelona sin necesitar el balón marca.com ↩
- Marca: El Clásico corona al mercado blanco marca.com ↩
- Marca: Álvaro Benito subraya la realidad de "perogrullo" y la "lección" que han sacado Mou y el Madrid del Clásico marca.com ↩
- Marca: Cucurella se come a Lamine... tras la advertencia en el Mundial marca.com ↩
- Marca: Raúl Varela retrata al Barcelona tras el Clásico: "Ha perdido todo el crédito que había ganado" marca.com ↩
- Marca: Lunin, el 'clasicómano' del Madrid marca.com ↩
- Marca: Pendientes de Fede; mañana, pruebas marca.com ↩
- Marca: Gerard López retrata la realidad del Madrid tras el Clásico: "Sin Vinicius este equipo corre más y mejor" marca.com ↩
