It was appropriate that it was met with silence. The great symbolic Camp Nou, a mix of fervent colour and noise as they welcomed Real Madrid was punctured when Cristiano Ronaldo decided he would finally score in an important game and win one of these supposed personal duels with Lionel Messi. Barcelona were dethroned in their own castle. A once invincible force sacked by a horde of brilliant-white, six foot-plus beasts.
There will be many reasons trotted out for Barcelona’s loss. Pep Guardiola’s team selection raised more than one question though why the omitting of Gerard Pique was one is a mystery. His imperious form of the last couple of years has deserted him while more than one seasoned Catalan watcher has questioned some of his off the ball activities.
That Barca lacked height was not a good enough reason to include Pique. What might have been would be the fact he is a recognised central defender. Guardiola started with Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol at the heart of his defence. He'd switch Puyol to right-back and dropped Sergio Busquets to centre half at one stage in the game. His back four already contained two full-backs in Adriano and Dani Alves who consider defending a secondary concern.
Barcelona’s scurrying movement and flawless interchanging has been a joy and Pep has been its architect, but a stable base is surely a prerequisite. Defenders shouldn’t need to move.
That said, one of the finest coaches in the world cannot legislate for his most experienced defender committing a schoolboy error in his own six yard box. Quite what Puyol was trying to do as Victor Valdes deflected a header into his path is a mystery. Sami Khedira hooked his leg around the Barca captain and Real had a precious lead.
We had heard little from Jose Mourinho in the lead up to this Clasico. His self-imposed exile from La Liga press duties ensured no war of words with Guardiola and this did him no harm. This was his tenth match as a manager in the Camp Nou and his first victory. Ahab spearing the whale. Because while he may always deny it, Barca occupy his thoughts like no other.
With the goal in their pocket Real were content to stay compact and choose their moments to press. After his Inter side famously knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League in 2010, Jose said his team didn’t need the ball to win. Real was proving his theory all over again.
Pep acted with less than a third of the game to go. Xavi made way for Alexis Sanchez. That’s twice in a week the pass master has been sacrificed with his team chasing games. He has been on a customised training programme recently to manage his fitness. All that success, all that pressing and passing may finally be taking a toll on the maestro.
Sanchez bundled home the equaliser almost immediately after coming on. With twenty minutes to go, a siege was expected. But then Mesut Ozil found a rare pocket of space and slid in Ronaldo. He took one touch past the advancing Valdes and coolly clipped home. The die was cast. The crown had slipped.
Madrid’s success in La Liga this year is testament to Mourinho’s innate ability to craft winning teams, but also owes much to timing. To expect Barcelona to win four titles in a row, two Champions Leagues, two World Club Cups and reach two other Champions League semi-finals is too much even for them. Their high intensity, almost manic pressing game exacts a price.
Guardiola is on a rolling contract and that is apt. He never commits more than a year to Barca because he knows this is fleeting. They have been the coruscating force in football for nigh on four years. They may still end up as European champions this year but the inevitable pause is coming and Real Madrid it appears, are ready to start again.
The silence said it all.
