For those who still doubted it, Kylian Mbappé vividly recalled that he had found the best version of himself. To make an impression, it was necessary to have a Clasicoon mondiovision, at snack time, on an autumn Sunday, against Barça of the new global phenomenon Lamine Yamal. Incisive, bleeding, clinical, the captain of the France team once again reaches dizzying altitudes, as if the years of the World Cup gave him back his appetite.
It would be simplistic to say that Mbappé was the only big man on his team, but he unlocked everything, in his own way, very quickly. After a first goal refused on a sudden and splendid half-volley (3rd), the former Parisian did not tremble to adjust Szczęsny on a nice deep serve from Bellingham (1-0, 22nd). The Englishman took the light, too. Just before the break, it was he who shook up the Bernabeu again by finishing a nice move from close range (2-1, 43rd).
In the meantime, Barça, stung, reacted through their providential scorer Fermin Lopez, at the conclusion of a school action initiated by Marcus Rashford. We've seen a lot of these two. A little less Lamine Yamal. Confined to his side, the artist obviously made some differences, but he also seemed to be searching for a long time to extricate himself from the tight marking to which he was subject. He also lacked relaxation in his last gesture. Lamine Yamal is therefore human. His virtuosity cannot always hide his rough edges.
Barça betrayed by its defense
But the little wonder of Barça is not really responsible for the defensive bankruptcy of his team. Pau Cubarsi and – even more worrying – Jules Koundé, embodied, despite themselves, the porosity of a misaligned defense that was often disrupted in the duels. The Frenchman experienced an ordeal facing Vinicius, who became Vinicius again, little by little, by regaining his electricity, his canes and his anger. Mbappé, Bellingham, Vinicius: this Real has been carried by its stars while waiting to become a collective machine to which Xabi Alonso aspires.
Because the bill could have been higher, depending on the blows of these three monsters. Mbappé even had the luxury of missing a penalty without there being any impact on the outcome (49th). Because this Real was well above a Barça cut in two, even with its imperfections. This was not the case last season, where the Blaugrana were a hit against a cracked White House. It remains to be seen whether these beautiful people can really compete against a real collective machine, precisely, such as PSG or Bayern. This Barça has not been one for some time.
