FC Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table to six points after their 4-0 win over Real Madrid last night. But beyond this advantage on the league table, the Blaguranes once again showed that they are ready to beat the biggest teams in Spain and Europe.
As was the case with Villarreal, Real Madrid also got the ball into the back of the Barcelona goal several times in this match. But all of these goals were ruled out for off-side, and this was one of the most distinctive aspects of the Catalans’ defensive game on the night.
The leader of Flick’s defense, Inigo Martinez, perfectly orchestrated his backline to ensure Real Madrid could take no advantage of the Barcelona high line, as the Merengues were flagged offside 12 times in the game.
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Martinez also talked to the media after the game, and previewed the match briefly: “After struggling through the first fifteen minutes, we recovered in the first half, and in the second half the goals came, and we were the superior side. We could have scored more.”
Talking about the team’s strategy of setting an offside trap, the center-back said: “We coordinate very well at the back, knowing when to push the line or not. We take risks, but sitting back against Madrid is worse.”
Martinez highlighted the importance of this win for the league campaign, but still asked the fans not to get too carried away with this win:
“It’s another statement of intent; it’s normal for the fans to be excited, but there’s still a long way to go despite the six-point lead, and Madrid will push hard.”
Despite the feeling of euphoria at Barcelona with the last two wins, it is important to heed Martinez’s words and keep their feet on the ground, as it is only the start of the season. There can be many twists and turns as the season progresses, and Flick will have to ensure his team keeps performing at this level till the end of the season.
