"Substitution going wrong: Barcelona-Real Madrid"
It is easy to blame a coach when a team loses and especially when it is a high profile game with lots of emotion. Al Classico is one of those games where nothing else then winning is expected from the supporters. Last Saturdays "Al Classico" was a very dull and not to exciting performance from both teams though interesting Barcelona was the favourite to win and Real Madrid Head coach Zidane got his first chance to prove his qualities in a big game like this. But can we blame Luis Enrique for the lost 1-2 because off a wrong substitution?
The first half the game was clearly in hands of Barcelona without creating too many chances but they could have taken the lead in the 10th minute where Luis Suarez missed a sitter before open goal. Overall I think Barcelona was dominating and Real Madrid was pretty well organised. I give Zidane credit for not just leaning back but playing with a "high'" defensive line and using the offside to stop Barca from their attacks. Also i give Zidane credit for playing only with "one" holding defensive midfielder that he brought into the team. Not like Mourinho who plays always "Two" holding midfielders and the whole team parks the bus. So Zidane knows that Barca is the "Better" team but still manages to use a pro active attitude to defeat them.
The Second half was still in Barca's favour and they scored a very well organised corner where Pepe was blocked so Pique could make a free header and score 1-0. Just before that Messi orchestrated a banana curved ball with high precision into the top corner but was stopped by Real Madrid's Goal keeper with a high class safe. After the 1-0 for Barca something happened!!!!! The 3 strikers Messi, Suarez and Neymar where not tracking back and Real got more grip on the game. Especially on the position of Messi who needs to cover Marcelo who was involved in the 1-1 and the disallowed goal for Bale that was a clear goal. See Below on the picture that leads to the disallowed goal where nobody is with Marcello who takes the pressure away for Ronaldo who gave the cross to Bale and should have been the 1-2.
See below how again Marcello is unmarked and can cross the field. He eventually gives the ball to Kroos who crosses and Benzema scores 1-1.
At this stage, after the 1-1 Real Madrid got really into the game and Enrique made a crucial mistake in my opinion. He takes out Rakatic and substitute him for Arda Turan. A fantastic creative player but who does not track back and is more offensive than Rakatic. This was in my opinion the changing point that even later gave 10 players of Real Madrid eventually the 3 points they deserved. The midfield was completely open in the transition moments. Messi and Turan both not tracking back on the right side.
Look at the 1-2 from Madrid. Barcelona makes a build up and is trying to reach Neymar who's under pressure. This ball gets intercepted, also see Ronaldo with the white circle has all the space to run into counterattack. The red circle is Turan who plays to deep and did not track back after Barca lost the ball. The discussion will be that Dani Alves should drop back. This is a possibility but then there will be no wing occupation and Ronaldo drops to the midfield. Also Turan goes to the same space as Messi is and has therefor no use.
Real Madrid Intercepts and the ball ends up on the right side where Bale gives an intended ball to Ronaldo who scores 1-2. Now everyone gives the credit to Ronaldo. For me the cross from Bale was more important. People will say it was a lucky cross but i am 100% sure he saw Ronaldo and intended to play it there.
Conclusion:
The moment Real Madrid scored 1-1 you could feel they started to control the game. Rakatic normally has to track back many times to cover Messi's lack of defensive. So when Rakatic was substituted for an attacking midfielder who doesn't track back we have an issue!!!! Especially on Marcello who keeps coming forward. Of course you can analyse afterwards and say it was wrong to substitute Rakatic. But the moment he got changed I was convinced it was the wrong one. After so many wins people always will be negative if you loose this game. To me it was just a tactical moment that in my eyes was the decisive factor for loosing the Al Classico. The gave it away. Barcelona will be champion this year and they are the best team to me. It was just a very interesting learning moment. Football is many times decided by details and this was an important one.