In the world of football, every match is an intense battle, carrying the glory and dreams of the team. However, in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, Real Madrid suffered a painful defeat, losing 2-5 to Barcelona. This result was like a heavy blow, striking hard on the hearts of Real Madrid fans and shocking the entire football world. Following their 0-4 defeat in the La Liga El Clasico, Real Madrid once again found themselves at the center of public opinion, with this loss undoubtedly becoming a painful memory for the team.
The Spanish Super Cup final was filled with tension from the start. Barcelona displayed their powerful attacking force and teamwork, while Real Madrid's defense was riddled with flaws, leading to this catastrophic defeat. After the match, various media outlets conducted in-depth analyses of the game, with "El Diario Deportivo" mercilessly rating the entire Real Madrid squad. Unfortunately, three players—Bale, Jovic, and Odriozola—became known as the "Real Madrid culprits" in the eyes of many. Looking back at the match, all four goals conceded by Real Madrid were directly related to the poor performances of these three players.
Carlo Ancelotti's tactical deployment did not bring much surprise in this match. He chose Bale to play as the right-back, Jovic as the center-back, and Odriozola as the defensive midfielder. Such arrangements put these three players under tremendous pressure when facing a formidable Barcelona. Barcelona's attack line was luxurious, with Rafinha on the left wing possessing great speed and dribbling ability; midfielders Lewandowski, Gavi, and Pedri had excellent skills and默契配合, putting immense pressure on Real Madrid's defense.
Jovic: Defensive Dullness, Becoming the Breakthrough Point
The first goal conceded highlighted Jovic's problems in defense. At that time, Barcelona's Ilaix Moriba took the ball on the flank and showed off his excellent dribbling skills, moving horizontally across the field like a nimble sprite. However, Jovic could not keep up with Moriba's rhythm in defense, only chasing for two steps before helplessly giving up. This scene clearly showed the huge gap between the two. Moriba's agility contrasted sharply with Jovic's clumsiness, making Jovic seem like a breakthrough point for Barcelona's offense, creating a gap in Real Madrid's defense at that moment.
Odriozola: Reckless Foul, Giving Away a Penalty
The second goal was a fatal mistake by Odriozola. In the process of contesting the ball with Gavi, Odriozola appeared overly reckless, thoughtlessly sticking out his foot and directly knocking Gavi to the ground. In the strict refereeing system of modern football, such a foul naturally did not escape the referee's eyes. Odriozola not only gave Barcelona a penalty but also received a yellow card. More astonishingly, he previously performed a waist tackle on Moriba, which, if strictly penalized, would have been enough for him to receive a second yellow card and be sent off. Fortunately, the main referee, Gil Manzano, showed leniency, allowing Odriozola to remain on the field. However, his series of reckless actions undoubtedly posed a significant risk to Real Madrid's defense.
Bale: Defensive Weakness Exposed, Unable to Resist Opponent's Impact
The third goal turned Bale into the target of criticism. While defending against Rafinha's attack, Bale's defense was virtually non-existent, allowing Rafinha to easily complete a header in the air, while Bale made no effective defensive action. This mistake, although not entirely Bale's fault, as he was not a regular right-back and had certain shortcomings in defensive ability. However, in such a crucial match, this mistake cost Real Madrid dearly. Bale has always been known for his offensive capabilities and fighting spirit, but his deficiencies in defense were magnified in this match, becoming a major flaw in Real Madrid's right-side defense.
Real Madrid's Overall Defensive Chaos, Fourth Goal Resulting from Corner Kick Mistake
The fourth goal, although not directly the responsibility of Bale, Jovic, and Odriozola, reflected the confusion in Real Madrid's overall defense. At that time, Real Madrid made a serious mistake in defending against Barcelona's corner kick, allowing the ball to be seized by Barcelona players and launching a quick counterattack. Real Madrid players appeared flustered in their pursuit, ultimately being caught by Barcelona and conceding a goal. This goal caused Real Madrid's defense to completely collapse and dealt a severe blow to the team's morale.
Jovic Again Becomes the Culprit, Fifth Goal Highlighting the Huge Gap
The fifth goal once again pushed Jovic to the forefront of criticism. This time, Rafinha used his outstanding speed and skills to easily break through Jovic's defense and then shot to score. In this process, Jovic was unable to effectively restrict Rafinha, and the gap between the two was clear. This goal turned Jovic into a laughingstock on the field and made people extremely disappointed with his performance in this match.
Post-match Ratings, Players' Performances Questioned
After the match, "El Diario Deportivo" rated the performances of Real Madrid players. Jovic only received a score of 1, which was undoubtedly the best interpretation of his poor performance. In the match, he was slow to react and move, completely overwhelmed by Barcelona's players, becoming the biggest loophole in Real Madrid's defense. Bale received a score of 2, with his right flank becoming the domain where Rafinha could roam freely, exposing his defensive shortcomings in this match. Although Odriozola received a score of 3, his reckless fouls made him one of the main reasons for the team's loss. His behavior of giving away a penalty and pulling down Moriba raised questions about his attitude towards the game and professional ethics.
This crushing defeat has placed Carlo Ancelotti in a difficult situation. It is evident from this match that Real Madrid urgently needs to strengthen their right-back position. Bale can only be used as a trump card occasionally in this position and cannot shoulder the responsibility of a regular starter. Jovic, who played as a center-back in strong matchups, always became the team's weakness, perhaps Raul Albiol should get more opportunities to fill the void in the center-back position. Additionally, Odriozola failed to fill the midfield void left by Kroos' retirement and Modric's aging, with his deficiencies in defense and organization also exposed in this match.
Real Madrid's crushing defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final has sounded the alarm for the team. The team needs to seriously reflect on the problems in this match, conducting comprehensive reviews and improvements in terms of player conditioning, tactical optimization, and lineup reinforcement. Only in this way can Real Madrid regain its former glory in future matches and become a powerhouse in football once again. Bale, Jovic, and Odriozola also need to learn from this failure, striving to improve their abilities and performances to contribute to the team's revival. In the days to come, where will Real Madrid go? Let us wait and see.