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Benzema goes straight for it
Successful dress rehearsal for “KB9”.
On the eve of a ceremony where everything suggests that he will be crowned Ballon d'Or, the Madrid captain was one of the architects of his team's victory in the Clasico against Barça (3-1).
Brilliant in composure to adjust the empty goal from the start (12th), the Blues striker was unfailingly accurate in conservation as well as creation.
Always on the move, he also brought danger from the sides, as on this back pass for Toni Kroos (50th) or this goal refused for a slight offside from the right (52nd).
Applauded and consecrated by his audience upon his release, the King of Madrid has fulfilled his mission.
Kroos and Modric don't look their age
Majestic Kroos and Modric?
Like a truism by dint of observing these two aesthetes of the game. The years pass (32 years for the first, 37 for the second) but the quality remains.
Models of play under pressure, the two men entertained a Santiago-Bernabeu quick to sing the "Olé" as soon as they returned from the locker room after two technical festivals of the two men (52nd, 57th).
Precious in ball outings and in orientation, the two friends were also valuable in recovery, like the eight balls scraped in the duel by Kroos.
Read alsoLiga: Real masters Barça and takes control
Militao size pattern
A mammoth match from the central defender of Real.
Often singled out as a pale copy of Sergio Ramos, the Brazilian is gaining more and more momentum alongside David Alaba, with whom the tasks are perfectly distributed.
This Sunday, it was Robert Lewandowski's "breeches" marking that was in question.
And as on this rough intervention on the Pole (61st) or this foot sufficiently well placed to hinder him, the former FC Porto has perfectly fulfilled his role.
And he leaves with "Lewy" in the pocket of his shorts, as the saying goes.
Eder Militao fought a big battle with Lewandowski.
SUSANA VERA / REUTERS
FLOPS
Garcia at bay
A sinking in the first half.
To start, a failed raise that will set the tone for his multiple swinging transmissions sometimes in touch.
Often late and too tender in the duel, the 21-year-old central defender deflects the ball with his head in spite of himself to revive Vinicius Jr on the second goal.
To top it off, he concedes a penalty in stoppage time, when Barça could still believe it (90th).
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Lewandowski in trouble
We were expecting the Benzema-Lewandowski duel, we saw.
And the balance clearly tilts in favor of "KB9", more effective than a "Lewy" too well muzzled by Militao
(see above)
.
Far from being erased, the top scorer in La Liga (9 goals), a real anchor for a team that is striving to go through him, just did not measure up to the duel (4 duels won out of 12 ).
His gross fault behind the back of his vis-à-vis speaks volumes about his Sunday frustration.
And even when he had the chance (6 shots!), the former Bayern man failed, like his almost inexplicable miss in front of the empty goal (25th) or this free kick swung into the wall (72nd).
To his credit all the same, this “Madjer” transformed into a decisive pass as involuntary towards Ferran Torres (81st).
There too,
Raphinha not up to par
The almost winning coaching from Xavi (Torres goal, great entry from Ansu Fati) was only too late.
And for good reason, there was no reason to see Raphinha stay on the meadow for an hour.
Active certainly, the former Rennais shone with his technical errors (11 loss of balls), as on a series of arabesques leading to nothing before the break (39th).
His "Robben" game is too stereotyped and Real has understood it well.
He didn't have the stuff for the Clasico this Sunday.