Football Club Barcelona suffered a decisive defeat against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España final in Riyadh, with a scoreline of 4-1 favoring the Whites. Despite dominating possession, defensive errors proved costly for Barça, allowing the skillful Real Madrid side to take advantage. Here’s a breakdown of Barcelona’s players in the defeat:

Iñaki Crag: Helpless

Recurring defensive gaps and passing errors left Crag completely exposed against the Whites, and the goalkeeper could do little to prevent the goals.

Koundé: Catastrophic

The French player had one of his worst performances of the season, making glaring errors that resulted in more than one goal against Barcelona. Mistakes in marking Vinicius led to the first goal, and a clear error in the box contributed to the fourth goal for Real Madrid, making it a forgettable day for Koundé.

Christensen: Unremarkable

While not making many errors, Christensen did not shine excessively. The central defender played a decent game but lacked speed in marking and appeared somewhat lost on the field compared to his teammates. He was the least problematic among the defenders.

Araújo: Disoriented

Assigning Araujo the task of covering Vinicius proved unsuccessful, as the Brazilian changed his position and did not stick to the wing. Araújo appeared disoriented in marking Vinicius, who moved along the left flank with great ease. The central defender was imprecise in passing and completely lost in defense, an uncommon occurrence for a player of his caliber.

Balde: Overwhelmed

The game proved to be too much for the young side, who failed to pose any tҺreat from the left wing. Despite a formation without wingers, Balde couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and struggled with ball control and defensive positioning.

Sergi Roberto: Confused

Changes in the lineup also posed challenges for Sergi Roberto, who seemed uncertain about his position on the field. Despite the tactical plan suggesting he would operate from the second line, in practice, he often pursued the ball in a disorderly and disoriented manner.

Gündogan: Outperformed

His performance declined as the game progressed. While prominent in the first half, particularly in organizing play and providing the final pass, Gündogan’s influence diminished over time, nearly disappearing from the game.

Frenkie De Jong: Unresponsive

Although he demonstrated intentions to create opportunities from his position, De Jong was overshadowed by Real Madrid’s compact midfield. His crucial role in the game was impacted, and the team’s performance suffered when he was not in top form.

Pedri: Hindered

While glimpses of his immense talent were evident, it was clear that Pedri was not in peak physical condition. Despite standing out in the second half, he was substituted due to physical fatigue.

Lewandowski: Dimmed

While he capitalized on the only opportunity he had, Lewandowski was otherwise contained by a solid White defense. Rudiger effectively controlled the Pole and thwarted any offe𝚗sive attempts.

Ferran Torres: Determined

One of the few who persevered throughout the game, Torres had a couple of clear opportunities that were close to turning into goals. Despite showing determination to stage a comeback, the White defense remained vigilant, preventing Torres from prospering.

Fermín: Courageous

When spirits were at their lowest, Fermín came off the bench and gave his all to try and reverse the game. One of the few players displaying energy and heart, qualities seemingly scarce in this disoriented Barcelona under Xavi.

Lamine Yamal: Industrious

Despite efforts, Yamal couldn’t yield results. He demonstrated dedication and intentions to reverse the game, working diligently in defense.

Joao Félix: Impact Substitute

Perhaps the ideal stage for his excellent performance as a false nine, Xavi’s late decision to bring him in came when the game was already nearly lost. Félix showed flashes of quality but couldn’t unleash his best performance.