Real Madrid suffered a disappointing 2-5 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 13, 2025, which not only cost them the chance to defend their title but also served as a stark warning of the team's overall state. The match took place on the grand stage of the Spanish Super Cup, though the specific location was not emphasized; it was clearly a significant clash between two giants of Spanish football. The outcome left many puzzled and helpless.
Barcelona's performance was outstanding, with Rafinha contributing two goals and an assist, while Lewandowski also excelled with a goal and an assist. Other Barcelona players, such as Yamar and Balde, each scored a goal, demonstrating a cohesive effort.
On Real Madrid's side, Mbappe shone with several threatening passes, including an impressive backheel pass that unfortunately went uncapitalized by Bellingham. Besides Mbappe's breakthroughs, Rodrygo scored a goal for Real Madrid, but overall, the team's attack was weak and their defense riddled with gaps.
What particularly distressed Real Madrid fans was the red card given to goalkeeper Szczesny in the 56th minute for a foul. While this incident significantly impacted the game, even without the red card, it seemed unlikely that Real Madrid could have turned the tide.
In fact, Real Madrid had already lost six matches this season, a significant decline from last season when they only suffered two defeats, both against Atletico Madrid.
The sense of loss for Real Madrid is growing stronger. Bellingham's performance has been a hot topic among fans. Often compared to former Real Madrid legend Zidane, the two have vastly different playing styles. In the match against Barcelona, Bellingham scored only 6.6 points, the lowest among the four front-line players of Real Madrid.
Bellingham has excellent physical attributes, a strong physique, decent heading ability, and a strong desire to attack. He enjoys fighting for the ball and has good timing for shots, but his ball control and organizing abilities are clearly lacking. In the game, he rarely engaged in effective offensive combinations, often playing more like a center forward, frequently inserting into the penalty area for shots.
This style of play can occasionally create threats but lacks an effective midfield engine. Some netizens commented: "Bellingham's performance makes me feel helpless; his position seems to be an attacking midfielder, but he hardly organizes the offense in midfield, instead focusing more on point attacks. It's like sitting in the No. 10 position but never truly controlling the rhythm of the game." This sentiment reflects the dissatisfaction of many fans with Bellingham's role within the Real Madrid lineup, as his style does not seem to align with the club's traditional controlling midfield approach.
More worrying is that Bellingham does not possess the same match-coordinating capabilities as Zidane at Real Madrid. Zidane, regardless of his position, was always capable of influencing the entire game, able to attack himself and mobilize his teammates, leading the team to play fluid combinations. However, Bellingham's performance in these areas is relatively weaker, and young Real Madrid midfielders like Valverde and Camavinga also exhibit similar shortcomings.
A midfield lacking creativity is destined to fail to provide sufficient support to the forwards, as evident in this match. Although Bellingham had some offensive contributions, Real Madrid's problems extend beyond him alone. The team's overall offensive end lacks effective organization and creativity, especially when facing teams like Barcelona, who emphasize quick passing and close-range combinations, leaving Real Madrid somewhat overwhelmed.
The €180 million Bellingham must improve his organizational skills in upcoming matches, or Real Madrid may face more embarrassing situations. The overall decline in Real Madrid's form is not just Bellingham's issue but reflects the lack of creativity in the entire midfield.
Despite glimpses of hope from Mbappe's breakthroughs and Rodrygo's goal, the team lacks a core player capable of linking the offense and dictating the pace, losing their former dominance. For Ancelotti, the challenges of this season have just begun. He needs to find solutions in upcoming matches; otherwise, Real Madrid will struggle to emerge from their current difficulties.
Some netizens summarized post-match: "Real Madrid cannot rely solely on individual player highlights but requires adjustments in overall tactics and midfield reinforcement. It seems that this Real Madrid has somewhat lost its direction." This might be the true portrayal of Real Madrid's current situation, with fans expecting to see a cohesive team that operates smoothly rather than one that relies on individual performances to prop up the whole squad.