As the critics warned, this was an early, low-significance match in the competition, yet it carried notable structural implications. Ancelotti passed the ball toward a porous Barça framework, while Xavi faced a demanding week of evaluation. The result stood at 3-1, in line with expectations. Beyond the scoreline, the current Barcelona shows more potential templates than finished outcomes. There has been a rush to see them sprint ahead, yet the team has not fully cooked yet. The key question remains: will Laporta demonstrate patience to allow Xavi the time needed to build this squad around his style?
Carlo Ancelotti and Xavi shared a common thread from their playing days. One was a midfielder who navigated the tactical game with authority, a leader in the great Milan side. The other epitomized Barça’s tiki-taka philosophy, rooted in La Masía and linked to the Ballon d’Or dream. Both managers have stayed true to their roots in their coaching careers, balancing pragmatism with expressive football.
Ahead of the clash, Barça was warned not to become volcanic in its approach, while Madrid relied on a steady, powerful second half boosted by the bench and the Pintus era. The lineup decisions reflected a plan: Ancelotti left Rodrygo on the bench to restart the duel and Xavi pressed Gavi to anticipate a tougher second phase for his side. Madrid began on the left with Viníus Jr. cutting inside against Segi Roberto, while Koundé tracked the danger in the box.
Carletto noted in the preview that he had learned from a brave Inter side. A moment in the 12th minute saw Madrid press early, knocking the ball toward Barça in search of openings. A quick steal from Kroos sent Vinícius behind Barça’s defense, and Ter Stegen blocked the initial effort. Benzema followed up from close range as four Barça defenders failed to clear, and Real Madrid converted once again. The visitors hurt Barça with their precision, while Madrid’s forward line carried renewed momentum as the wind shifted in the game.
@ToniKroos sought his purpose #Classical! #LaLigaSantander#LaLigaFeatured pic.twitter.com/i9qSMMNgVo
– LaLiga (@LaLiga) 16 October 2022
mouth of the glass
There is a clear distinction between Madrid and Barça: Madrid’s punch lands with devastating force. Barça’s errors were counted and punished. Vinícius showed patience, waiting for teammates, while Mendy advanced, finding space behind Tchouaméni and drawing the attention of Valverde before firing toward the goal. The Uruguayan marked five of Madrid’s ten goals this season. Barça’s half-baked performance remained a half-measure, with Ancelotti’s pragmatism exploiting Xavi’s idealism and exposing the Catalan side’s fragility.
Barça’s midfield is a mixed bag: too young in some roles, too seasoned in others. It does not yet deliver the kind of control that defined last season. The attack and defense in combination can deliver moments, but the balance is still unsettled. When Barça pushes high, turnovers often turn into swift Madrid counters.
The game wore on as the Catalans searched for a spark from Lewandowski, Raphinha and Dembélé, two attackers who did not quite find their best form. Madrid’s third goal arrived through a diagonal move finished by Vinícius, although Benzema initially appeared offside on the play. In response, Xavi shuffled his pieces, bringing on Ferran, Jordi Alba, Ansu Fati and others in an effort to inject life into Barça’s attack. Yet Madrid remained compact, and changes across the board did little to alter the outcome. Ancelotti kept his guards steady, while Barça tried to reassemble their ideas.
The late portion of the match offered chances, including a Ferran attempt that found the far post and a late penalty appeal resolved by VAR against Rodrygo. The game drifted toward its conclusion with Madrid showing maturity and Barcelona still in a learning phase. The result underscored two realities: Madrid is moving decisively, while Barça is rebuilding and seeking a coherent structure under Xavi.
Data sheet:
3 – Real Madrid: Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Kroos, Modric; Fede Valverde, Vinícius and Benzema.
1 – Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Koundé, Eric Garcia, Balde; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, Dembélé and Lewandowski.
Events noted: The match took place on the ninth matchday of La Liga Santander in front of about 62,876 spectators at the Santiago Bernabéu. The scoreboard showed 3-1 for Madrid with goals coming from Benzema, Valverde and Rodrygo, while Ferran Torres scored for Barça. The officials included José María Sánchez Martínez, who cautioned Vinícius and Modric for Madrid and Gavi and Kessié for Barcelona during the match.