Jude Bellingham during #ElClasico was average by his standards. Which speaks of how high the bar he’s set. He’s absolutely knackered, out of gas & given the role he’s carried until Madrid found it’s footing v Sevilla: to be expected. He’s not just best MF in the world. There’s a clear argument to make that he’s best footballer ITWA right now. That in addition to being the greatest two-way player ever.

Easy to overlook Mbappé with the absurd amount of quality and consistency of scoring, but he was excellent against Barça. Constantly threatening either channel, keeping the centre-backs occupied, giving the passer a target & following attacks into the box. Two goals to decide El Clásico.

Real Madrid have completely buried Barça at their own stadium. Just 38% possession, but 1.94–1.19 xG, 4 big chances to 2 & a late winner at Camp Nou. The Mourinho special. Barça had nine league wins from nine, their own crowd & the momentum after equalising. Madrid still buried their what was deemed a perfect start. A chance to go nine points clear became a three-point lead. That’s a brutal swing: Madrid survived Barça’s best spell and made them pay in their own stadium. When it comes to do or die, Real Madrid comes on top. Just the heritage.

Vinícius has no right to walk back into this XI. Diomandé has 3 goals & 3 assists across five straight wins while combining, protecting possession & doing the defensive work that allows the left side to function while not stepping into Bellingham’s or Mbappé’s toes. He’s earned that place. Mbappé, Diomandé, Bellingham, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva & even Tchouaméni with Camavinga have to be ahead. That’s the fundamental pieces. Benching any of the players delivering this beautiful & sustainable football to accommodate Vinícius based on reputation & not performances would be a mockery.

José Mourinho gave a football lesson to Hansi Flick. Here’s our full breakdown of the match. We had so much fun going through sequences. Don’t miss it out!

Diomandé gave Cucurella the defensive help Lamine Yamal wasn’t giving his own full-back. Tchouaméni protecting inside, Huijsen covering & Diomandé recovering meant Cucurella could engage with support around him. Going forward, Cucurella & Diomandé kept finding room to combine as they doubled Barça’s DF. The opening goal came through that left side. A winger’s work without the ball changes what his full-back can do with it.

Bernardo starting & Camavinga finishing was Mourinho’s brilliance. Got them up to gears v Leipzig with this idea in mind. Bernardo gave Madrid patience against Barça’s pressure. By the closing stages Madrid were tiring, Barça were higher & Camavinga offered the legs to turn an escape into a run beyond their midfield. The combination with Arda kept him moving, the run took him beyond Cubarsí & the cutback left Mbappé with the finish.

Watch the starting position & the timing. Camavinga arrives from midfield, combines with Arda & accelerates beyond Barça’s line. Deeper starting point + well-timed run = beating the offside trap. This goal is coached.

Tchouaméni’s El Clásico is an argument for giving him a clearer job: Mourinho identified it against Sevilla & hammered it against Barcelona. Bernardo + Dean Huijsen handling more of the build-up & Arda connecting ahead let him concentrate on protecting the middle and supporting. He had players to find after a recovery, rather than having to manufacture the next phase himself. 11 recoveries, 44/46 passes completed. An organiser alongside him makes his own passing more useful. A good tactical set-up amplifies the strengths & hides the weaknesses. Mourinho’s brilliance at show past 7 days.

This is the level Jude Bellingham is showing in #ElClásico while completely depleted of energy since International Break. For his level? This was a good performance. For his peers? This is type of game they play once in 5 years. Best midfielder ITW!

A tactical masterclass by José Mourinho this #ElClásico Four midfielders rotating to block Barça’s inside options, Arda & Bernardo escaping pressure, Diomandé combining with Cucurella on the left: Mourinho gave Madrid a structure that made the players’ qualities work together. Congested and dominated every area of the pitch. Barça were forced wide. Their hesitation to engage gave Madrid time on the ball, and when pressure arrived, the support was there to combine out of it. Diomandé’s understanding with Cucurella kept exposing the space Lamine left behind, giving Madrid a way forward on the left. Barça improved after half-time, but Jude released Camavinga for Mbappé’s winner. A 2–1 away win, with the gap cut to three. Credit to Mourinho tonight. This is the technical core and collective support Madrid should be building around.

I don’t know what Zidane has done but this isn’t Camavinga we had before. Incredible.

MBAPPEEEEEE

Courtois saves are otherworldly but you miss him the most when a dead-ball situation arises. Courtois will get into the crowd and win it. Lunin reads it from the line. One is release pressure on players, other forces constant reactions.

Trent + Brahim should’ve come-on for Valverde and Arda. Dumfries last game for Real Madrid should really be this one. — Poor body orientation on both sides — Poor positioning — Poor timing of actions He’s killed Madrid’s RHS completely.

Third crucial defensive intervention by Dean Huijsen.

Cucurella had an excellent first half and one of worst showings this second. Slow during build-up & supporting Diomandé. Gave away the corner unnecessarily that led to the goal. And generally defensive-work and intensity have slowed down.