All changes. La Liga is no longer the most attractive league in the world (the Premier League leads by a field) and its big teams are no longer the most powerful in Europe either. Barcelona and Real Madrid, today, don't scare anyone. On Wednesday, with 13 absences due to injury and other causes, the Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk gave Real Madrid a walk and beat them 3-2. In the Champions League and away from home. And the previous Saturday, Cadiz had already done the same. Spain doesn't even attract the big stars anymore, as before; now they are also distributed in England, Germany, France, Italy. Even the Spanish National Team does not dominate Europe as it did in its times as a two-time European champion and winner of the 2010 World Cup. That was a long time ago. But a Barcelona-Madrid is always an attractive option for football fans around the world. And we sit at the table.
During the week, the Barcelona media warned about referee Martínez Munuera, whose record in Madrid matches invited caution. And they called on Barcelona's decision makers to do something. But the last thing Barcelona's leadership will be thinking about in these hours is sports. Barca is a devastated club, immersed in a monumental financial and institutional mess, and its treasurer admitted a debt of 840 million euros (unofficial sources speak of 1,200). Its executives are two weeks away from being ejected from the club, they don't have the muscle to protest an arbitral appointment. Not being investigated in the future will make them happy. "The Referee Everyone Feared (And Nobody Did Anything)," lamented Albert Masnou, a journalist for Sport newspaper.
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And Martínez Munuera, or the VAR, were decisive in Real Madrid's final victory of 3-1. In the 28th minute, with the scoreboard tied at 1-1, Messi entered the area dribbling and in a favorable position was swept by Casemiro, who took everything, the ball and the leg. Clear penalty. The referee said play on, play on and there was no VAR either. Barcelona could have gone 2-1 up and gained more confidence. In the 62nd minute, a cross rained into the Blaugrana area and there was a minimal shirt grab from Lenglet to Ramos (he fell after being released); there the VAR did work: penalty for the Whites and a goal from Ramos. "It's a small grab from Lenglet to Ramos, there's no reason to signal the penalty," wrote Andújar Oliver, in the Real Madrid newspaper Marca. Andújar is the best refereeing analyst in the world in our opinion. Highly respected and impartial.
In those two maneuvers, the Clasico was decided. Everything else is anecdotal. Even the third goal, a gem from that talent that is Modric, when the clock indicated 90 minutes. Barcelona was already in disarray. Ronald Koeman had sent in four forwards at once in search of the equalizer and unbalanced the whole team structure. Koeman was the last to leave, he greeted everyone and stood still waiting for the departure of the refereeing team. "Is there only VAR when it's against Barça?" he snapped at Martínez Munuera, who walked on. The Dutchman had been out of Spain for decades, after the first game of the season he was diplomatic: "We must respect the judges, they can make mistakes." By the sixth round, he changed his mind.
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When the VAR was about to be introduced, millions thought "now Madrid is finished". They were referring to their historical arbitral favoritism. But the VAR came and it was never better for them. The technological resource validates all the controversial plays that surround them. For decades, the Spanish championship has been altered by refereeing mistakes. The VAR is only an official who came to legalize them.
The Catalan afternoon made it clear that Barcelona is not ready to fight for any title, unless it improves a lot. And be careful, let's see if it doesn't fall in the next Champions League... It is not capable of competing with real chances against anyone. Maybe it can aspire to a Copa del Rey if it doesn't cross paths with Madrid and their infallible VAR. When it comes down to it, the explanation is that it has no more; it must resort to the sterile trio of Coutinho-Griezmann-Dembelé, which cost them more than 500 million euros and they have zero contribution. But they are there because they have tried to put them on the market and no one offers for them, except for loans in which Barça should continue to pay a large part of their contracts. Or giving them away while paying, like Suárez, who was transferred for free and also receives a fortune for his first year at Atlético. The economic-sports disaster of recent years has generated this black present. Until there is a new government, it will continue like this. If the pandemic does not force the closure of all public events, on November 16th the members should confirm in the polls the victory of the motion of censure and the current board would cease immediately. Then a management committee would take over and call for elections. Barcelona is a club in flames.
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Real Madrid is the super favorite to win the league and cup in Spain, of course not because of their dull and idealess game, less because of Zinedine Zidane's tactics (there were rumors that he would be fired if he lost yesterday). But they have already taken the lead. And they have character, Barcelona doesn't even have that. In Europe it's different, it will be difficult for them, there the VAR is more cautious and the opponents, stronger. Unfortunately, in every Real Madrid match, we always end up talking about the controversial refereeing in their favor and not about football. As long as there was only a game, we saw an inspired Benzema again, who brilliantly assisted Valverde for the opening goal.
"The drama extends to Europe," titled Marca after the debacle against Shakhtar. We don't see so much drama. This Real Madrid plays the same way as when they won the last league and those consecutive Champions Leagues. They never had a style, a scheme or a plan. They beat Barcelona because surely this one is worse. But that won't change the concept either. It will only give firm ground to Zidane to stand on. (O)