It's funny no-one talks about what 'actually' happened.

Mourinho got his tactics wrong. Real defended so high up the pitch, but didn't put pressure on Barca when they had the ball, so that through balls could be played at will. All 4 goals came from balls played behind the defence.

If real defended closer to the goal, this space wouldn't be there. The subbing of Ozil baffled me. He did alright when he had the ball and didn't gave it away at every opportunity (Unlike Benzema).

I can only hypothesize that Real thought they could actually play with Barca instead of defend against them  and hit them on the break (as they should have, look at Barca v Inter).

Hi Tim,

Nice insight on what the papers are saying, typical reaction from most!

One thing I think is missing though, what did you make of the game overall and what it means for the season?

Bit of luck well taken by Xavi.

Villa is just a superb striker who plays well for any team who sign him. He is one of the best ( but of course it wasn't so long ago he was rumoured to be signing for the opposition).

Pedro now has two great goals against Madrid...he is really developing in that team.

Good to see Jeffren get a goal...let's hope there are more to come.

Shame about the ill-tempered element, but derbies will be derbies I suppose.

All FCB need to do now is avoid any daft defeats against Depor or Racing or even Atletico to make sure they keep ahead.

I don't think Mourinho is correct about it simply being a team 'playing to their potential,' he just couldn't get the superstars motivated enough to care about the game. But I expect the Bernabeu fixture to be more difficult. But a 5-0 head-to-head aggregate is a very strong position to hold.

Not necessarily a bad idea to push high up the field against a team such as Barca - it limits the space available for them to play tikka-takka or whatever it is called, but the flip side is you can be too open to counter attacks. Madrid perhaps tried too hard to play their own game yesterday and weren't disciplined enough to keep the pressure on Barca after making mistakes to go two goals down. It is far too easy to blame the tactics of the coach and far too often done by people who don't know much about the subject to begin with,

'...often done by people who don't know much about the subject to begin with.'

Nice ad hom. without refuting anything I said and agreeing with half the things I said. But this is often done by people who have a comprehensive reading problem...

Just a couple of points:  first, Codorniu, Barca dropped "5" on a hapless Real, not 4 - throw one hand in the air if you's a true playa!!!!!

Secondly Codorniu, I believe that subbing Ozil was actually one of Jose's better moves on the dreadful night for the Madridistas.  Lassana Diara was far more positive - and I think he should have gotten the start.  Mezut was totally ineffectual.  I think I can count on one hand (yes, pun intended)the number of touches he had.  As an attacking midfielder (playing right behind the striker), he's supposed to be the focal point of a Real attack.  There was no direct foray on Barca's goal to speak of - Ozil must take the blame.  He's a quality player, but out of his element on the night.  He showed no determination nor fortitude, nor did he make any attempt to wrest initiative from Barca in the mid-field.  Easier said than done though against the likes of Iniesta and Xavi.  I don't think Ozil comprehended the difficulty of the derby until the final whistle blew - Welcome to the Clasico Mezut!

In other news - Karim Benzema who?!?  FAIL... I think, the game settled it for Jose - there's only 1 dependable striker on his team.  Higuain needs to make it back to fitness quick or Real is in real trouble.

Play high and press like the devil is how to play Barça. That's because FCB play high and press like the devil. It cuts off possession for the opposition. I thought for sure that was what RM were going to do. And what happens? They barely even press the entire first half. Visca Barça, the sorcerers of football.

Jesus, men against boys last night.

Plus, because, I actually like the guy I did feel sorry for Ramos as he seemed to be the only Madrid player who gave a crap.

There was absolutely bugger all they could have done about it though. We are just too good for them, (at the moment).

Ad hominem?  Pray tell, how have I personally attacked you?  

Its not a question of refutation my fragile friend.  Just a correction.  Calm yourself.  

FACT:  You stated that Barca scored 4, WRONG.

FACT:  You stated that it was bad move to sub-out Ozil.  PROBABLY WRONG (again for all the analyzed and factual reasons stated by my foregoing)  

Your logic is baffling.      

Actually on reflection, I need a bit more of that on the pitch brawling, and a bit more cheek from Guardiola, it'll make me think he is actually human, not some replicant with a supercomputer for football.

Ps; I just love the way Iniesta, (of all people) seems to be itching for a square go on Ronaldo, If this continues I can see him witing for the Portuguese chap at the Bernabeu carpark.

Great stuff!

@Codorniu - you claimed the defeat had to do with the tactics of the coach and I disagreed with you on the basis that the tactic in question could be a good idea but that the players were unable to perform it. I get annoyed when people claim that this and this manager "got their tactics wrong" because most people don't seem to either not know much about tactics or not recognize the difference between the tactics of the coach and the execution of them by the players. I'm sorry if you took that comment to be directed at you, it wasn't in particular but English is not my first language.

Getting slightly back on track, Eduardo Inda's videoblog today is an absolute masterpiece of 'elephant? What elephant? I see no elephant in this room...'

He's doing his squinty-tied rant about Ramos and Alonso getting fined for deliberately getting themselves sent off, THE SAME DAY that Ramos gets a one match ban for trying to break the record for most red cards earnt in a minute.

And his reasoning - Guardiola did the same two years ago. I'm Madrid born and bred (I got my mother to make me a replica shirt before they were even sold as 'normal'), and it is just plain embarassing what a shower of sh*t the level of editorial (and opinion) is.

Man up, for Christ's sake. Most of your editorial colleagues have at least some handle on reality (even if the guy questioning the current club captains' understanding of madridismo is really licking Raul and Guti's arses).

Yours, Cross of West London

Vergilius, isn't it part of a manager's job to ensure that he sets the team up with tactics they are capable of executing ? And besides, considering how Mourinho loves hogging the glory when his teams win, it is ridiculous that he doesn't take more of the blame when his team gets stuffed.

Whether or not Madrid should have played a high line, what is abundantly clear is that it didn't work for a minute. And that had little to do with lack of endeavor from the defenders. Marcelo's positioning is poor, but for the love of Christ is that really such a secret to Mourinho ?

His tactics failed miserably, he should take more of the blame for a number of gross miscalculations.

''you claimed the defeat had to do with the tactics of the coach and I disagreed with you on the basis that the tactic in question could be a good idea but that the players were unable to perform it. ''

I didn't claim that with different tactics he would have won; Inter also lost 1-0 @ Nou Camp (which was the match I was referencing). Furthermore I agree with somoza. The manager SHOULD know his players. But surely you agree Madrid should be able to do better than 5-0?

And honestly, Madrid's line up is not THAT different from Milaan's last year. (Same kind of players) the only thing Milaan didn't have is Ronaldo really.

Looking back on the game, I see where we went wrong. Suprisingly its actually mostly tactical.. So I agree partially with the tactics debate. The players only know that 1 crazy 4-2-4 style since Mou has taken over, and as good as Xabi and Khedira are they can't handle the whole mid by themselves against the MACHINE.

You cannot match Barca's attacking line-up pound for pound. There is no beating them like that. ManU tried and failed before us.

The only way to beat Barca is to not play your own style but rather play to stop them. In the past Chelsea succeeded in doing this and more recently Inter Milan last season. The answer is 3 defensive minded midfielders. Roberto Mancini currently has Man City playing in this manner with de Jong, Barry and Yaya Toure in the centre of the park.

Added to this, Barca can only be destabilised by intense intimidating pressure, the only player up for that last night was Pepe.

Barca are clinical in their passing, they telepathically know where each player will be moving around the pitch whilst throwing in fullbacks on the overlap. The Spanish national team plays in exactly the same way, to win, you must physically beat them into submission.. Its a shame, but you'll never be allowed to play your own game.

This is the best Barca side in history. One can only watch in admiration, as they float majestically around the ground inflicting pain from any angle of the pitch. The best player in that side is Iniesta, he is never phased, the picture of composure- My nomination for Ballon d'or. The secret to that side is that their midfield three of Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta never panic and that translates confidence to the defense and attack.

this just in:

Manolo Preciado wishes to make a formal complaint against Madrid. He feels they threw away the game in Barcelona, and this is just not on, it brings the league into disrepute.

XD

Lol! I should be annoyed at that joke, but its just too funny!