Ancelotti criticized for choosing 39-year-old Modric over Arda Guler as savior
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti (R) shake hands with his player Arda Guler (L) during the La Liga week 2 football match between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, August 25, 2024. (AA Photo)
In the 11th week of Spain’s La Liga, Barcelona secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico, with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha.
Ancelotti faces criticism over Arda Guler
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti faced criticism for selecting 39-year-old Luka Modric over 19-year-old Turkish star Arda Guler. Cameras caught Guler looking frustrated on the bench during the match.
The first half at Santiago Bernabeu, witnessed by 80,000 fans, ended goalless. Real Madrid, benefiting from their speed, frequently reached Barcelona’s goal but strikers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. were unable to convert clear chances.
Barcelona surged in the second half, with Lewandowski netting two goals in quick succession in the 54th and 56th minutes, extending his La Liga top scorer lead with 14 goals, ahead of Villarreal’s Ayoze Perez, who has seven.
Barcelona sealed their triumph with a goal from Lamine Yamal in the 77th minute and another from Raphinha in the 84th. This victory solidified Barcelona’s lead in La Liga, increasing their points to 30, while Real Madrid remained in second place with 24.
Kylian Mbappe, in his first El Clasico, drew attention for missing multiple key chances. Two of his goals were ruled out for offside.
Arda Guler did not feature as a substitute for Real Madrid, despite the buildup to the match.
Barcelona’s 1st victory since 2015
Barcelona’s emphatic win at the Bernabeu was their first 4-0 victory over Real Madrid since November 21, 2015.
The match marked the 258th El Clasico in all competitions, with Real Madrid holding 105 wins to Barcelona’s 101, alongside 52 draws.
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