Real Madrid show they want it more to beat Barcelona to end forgettable week on a high

This was not a classic Clasico, as shown by both goals, but the Bernabeu celebrated loudly and joyously all the same at the final whistle after a trying seven days

Gerard Pique of FC Barcelona acknowledges his supporters (Getty Images)

Given the tactical and technical excellence of modern top level football, old-school factors like intensity or hunger are not supposed to decide the top level matches between the very best teams.

But at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night there was a strong feeling that Real Madrid’s greater need and desire pulled them through to a 2-0 victory over Barcelona that returned Zinedine Zidane’s side to the top of the LaLiga standings.

This was not a classic Clasico, as shown by both goals, with neither strike from Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz finding the net exactly as planned by the scorer.

However, the Bernabeu celebrated both as loudly and joyously as any past Cristiano Ronaldo rocket or Luka Modric golazo - as a Madrid 2019/20 season which seemed about to go completely off the tracks got a huge shot in the arm.

The last three games at this stadium had seen three consecutive home defeats in three different competitions, culminating in Tuesday’s 1-2 Champions League last 16 first leg reverse against Manchester City.

Blancos fans were also hurting from losing their last four La Liga Clasicos at home, and knew that another away victory would allow Barca to move five points clear in the La Liga table, while restarting speculation over the future of many of their long-serving players and also Zidane himself. Instead the final whistle brought roaring celebrations which seemed fuelled by the fear of further embarrassment.

“We're happy as it has been a difficult week,” said Madrid coach Zidane afterwards, with his characteristic understatement. “We said we had a chance this Sunday, knowing that if we worked hard, we could get out of it and move forward. And we took that chance.”

Such redemption seemed very far away as Barca had the better chances in the first half - with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois doing very well to deny Lionel Messi and Arthur Melo, and Antoine Griezmann firing over the top when unmarked near the penalty spot.

“The most frustrating thing is having chances, and not taking them,” Barca coach Quique Setien said at his post-game news conference. “The first half we played very well, found space but did not finish. Second half we started to make mistakes, could not overcome their pressing and move the ball forward. We lost confidence and suffered quite a lot.”

Lionel Messi couldn't impact the game as he wanted (Getty Images)

Barca keeper Marc-Andre Ter-Stegen did not have a save to make until almost the hour mark - with the Bernabeu regularly groaning as promising moves or positions came to nothing, often when an isolated Vinicius lost the ball having sprinted away from his teammates 30 yards back down the pitch.

The German became busier though as Madrid upped the pressure - going full length to tip Isco’s 25 yard curler around the post, and then being grateful when Gerard Pique hacked off the line after Isco’s header had got past his hands.

Both coaches went for tactical reasons on why the game swung around so much in Madrid’s favour, agreeing that the main difference between the two halves was how they managed to stop Barca playing out from the back.

“Madrid have improved a lot in their pressing, and they did it very well,” Setien admitted. “They win the ball back a lot more in the opposition half. In the first half we got around it with patience and getting players into space. In the second half, I’m not sure why, but we lost a lot of confidence with the ball, got nervous, and that gave them a lot of life.”

Zidane also agreed that Madrid’s pressing, winning the ball in Barca’s half and forcing their opponents backwards, had been vital.

“We deserved our victory for all that we did,” he said. “Defensively, offensively. The first half was balanced, our pressing up top was not perfect. The second half our pressing was much better, playing in their half. They are a team which does not like not having the ball.”

The game’s key moment came with 20 minutes remaining, when the highly influential Toni Kroos slid a ball behind Barca’s defence for Vinicius to run on to, and the teenage Brazilian’s cross-shot was diverted past Ter Stegen by Pique’s outstretched toe.

Afterwards Zidane was given a chance n the press room to praise Vinicius, who at 19 years, seven months and 18 days had surpassed Messi as the youngest La Liga Clasico goalscorer of the 21st century.

“Vinicius played well, he scored an important goal in an important game,” the Frenchman said, before pivoting to the subject he really wanted to talk about. “I’m happy for him, for the effort he made, not just with the ball, but he worked hard defensively too. That is what stands out for me today, our solidity. First to defend well, together, and then we know that at any moment we can have a chance to score.”

Vinicius scored the opening goal (AFP via Getty Images)

That defensive solidity means that, following December’s 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou, 2019/20 is the first season Barca have failed to score in either Clasico since 1975. It was also a reminder that Madrid’s title challenge has been sustained so far on defensive soundness - just 17 goals conceded in 26 Primera Division games now – including two further clean sheets against city rivals Atletico Madrid. Courtois is on course to win the ‘Zamora’ award for fewest goals conceded in La Liga, just the second time a Madrid keeper would take that prize in the 21st century.

It is as if Zidane knows that with his team so blunt up front, they need to be as tight as possible at the back. This has especially been so since Karim Benzema’s steady supply of goals pre-Christmas has now dried up almost completely, while Gareth Bale remains out of the first team picture, and Eden Hazard is set for an operation on his ankle in the US this week. Now Juventus forward Ronaldo watching from a Bernabeu private box on Sunday evening only further drummed home the message.

However, it was also true that Madrid were not exactly rock solid, even in the first half. And that Messi was allowed to run clear at 1-0 up, only to take a surprising amount of time to set himself to shoot, allowing Marcelo, of all people, to get back and clear.

The Barca talisman has not scored in La Liga away from the Camp Nou since December 1, and clearly needs more help, with his frustration clear from a late whack at Casemiro which brought a deserved yellow card.

The quite exciting end to end nature of the play at times during the game was most likely against the plans of either Zidane and Setien, but neither team were able to exert the control over the play that their coaches desired. The caustic pre-game comment from former Madrid player, coach and sporting director Jorge Valdano of both teams “hobbling” through the season remains quite apt.

Zidane’s team have moved one point clear of Barca, also with the important head to head advantage should they finish the season level. That could be important as this season will likely see the lowest La Liga winning points total since 2006/07, when Fabio Capello’s Madrid pipped Frank Rijkaard’s Barca after both got 76 points.

“We'll be criticised again this season, have more difficult moments, but that's not news,” said Zidane on Sunday night. This season's team do not style or quality of some recent Madrid sides, but a redeeming Clasico win has the Bernabeu much happier again.