Legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has weighed in on yesterday’s El Clasico, praising Real Madrid’s defensive organisation and composure as the key factors behind their 2-1 victory over Barcelona.
According to Wenger, Madrid’s ability to stay compact and disciplined at the back ultimately decided the match in their favour.
The win marked Real Madrid’s first triumph over Barcelona in the last five El Clasicos, and it came in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu.
For Wenger, it was a contest that clearly exposed the gap in physical and tactical maturity between the two sides.
“El Clasico was a bit like a duel of men against boys. Real Madrid’s defence was much stronger than Barcelona’s.
“In attack, Madrid always looked capable of scoring, while Barcelona seemed ineffective.
“They had a lot of possession, but they never really looked capable of scoring,” he said, as quoted by AS.
Wenger is certainly not wrong
Barcelona could not find the breakthrough. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Despite Hansi Flick’s side dominating possession for long stretches, they struggled to create meaningful chances against Madrid’s backline.
Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen stood tall, while Federico Valverde/Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Carreras provided the necessary balance on the flanks.
A Clasico is never just another fixture on the calendar, and this encounter lived up to its reputation.
From the first whistle, intensity and tension were evident. The match was fiercely contested, with emotions running high right until the final moments, culminating in a heated exchange between players after the full-time whistle.
For Barcelona, the defeat is certainly a setback, but not one that defines their season.
They now find themselves five points behind Real Madrid in the La Liga standings, yet there is still a long road ahead.
Flick’s team have shown resilience before, and as last season demonstrated, momentum in Spanish football can change quickly.