Barcelona's defense shows weakness on the biggest stage
The focus is often on Barcelona's high attack, but if they cannot defend seriously, the whole quartet will be meaningless. Barca's defense in this match was too fragile compared to the tense nature of a top-notch confrontation.
Alejandro Balde made a mistake in the opening goal when he left Kylian Mbappe in the position without being caught offside. Bellingham also comfortably scored a second goal after Balde was overtaken by Eder Militao in an aerial battle.
In addition to the 2 goals conceded, Jules Kounde also played with little determination in situations facing Vinicius Junior, while the central defender duo Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi continued to worry fans.
Garcia was unlucky to commit a foul that led to a missed penalty from Mbappe. However, overall, the combination of him and Cubarsi has not created a solid feeling for the defense, especially at the highest level like El Clasico.
Since Inigo Martinez's sudden departure in the summer, many people have believed that Hansi Flick will prioritize using the Cubarsi - Ronald Araujo pair in the defensive center. However, his selection of Garcia, who has been in quite stable form this season, shows the German coach's confidence in the central defender's ability to coordinate and control the ball.
However, there are still big questions. Can they give the Blaugrana more than they have to trade for when facing the world's top strikers?
The Vanity of Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal has become the "most hated name" at the Bernabeu after his controversial statements in midweek. The young Spanish star believes that Real Madrid "always benefit from refereeing decisions" but still "often complains".
These words angered Madrid fans, and Yamal was praised for his actions just before the match. Every time he touched the ball, from the first minute to the last minute, the Bernabeu stands whistled loudly.
One of the most exciting moments for Madrid's audience was when Alvaro Carreras, who played solidly on the wing, won against Yamal.
Yamal often plays best when he becomes the center of attention. Barcelona assistant coach Marcus Sorg had commented before the match that "criticizing is his motivation".
However, this time, Yamal could not help Barcelona escape the deadlock - just a week after returning from a groin injury. He was then pushed into midfield, away from Alvaro Carreras' control, but perhaps it was a late adjustment.
"When I was winning, they couldn't say anything" - Yamal once declared when Barca dominated the Super Classics last season. But in Madrid at the moment, there will definitely be a lot to say about him.
Injuries affect Barcelona
Fermin Lopez continued to score after scoring a hat-trick in the win over Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. He possesses one ability, no different from Frank Lampard, which is to penetrate the penalty area at the right time.
That was shown when he had the perfect running time to welcome Marcus Rashford's pass and score the equalizer for Barcelona. Lopez's explosive form has also been lacking for Barca, having been sidelined with an injury early in the season.
But his desire to score, often an advantage for Barca, also cost the team in the second half. Once, instead of passing the ball, Lopez chose to shoot right at the edge of the penalty area. And both times, Thibaut Courtois easily blocked.
However, in the end, it was Barca's lack of strength that haunted them late in the match. They had to wait until the last 15 minutes to make a substitution due to a lack of an attack plan on the bench.
With Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Gavi and Dani Olmo among the players on the sidelines, Araujo and Marc Casado were tasked with finding a way to turn the game around.
