The boiler is now heated once more. The words used by Carlo Ancelotti in the press conference following Real Madrid’s victory at Camp Nou (0-4) are a superb description of the performance of the white players in the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg. Before Rodrygo’s cunning and the ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟɪᴛʏ of a Camavinga, who does whatever he wants on the green and who goes further, they killed a tie that was born again from a saving save by Don Thibaut Courtois, the initial strategy had a hard time carburizing after the strong pressure from Xavi Hernández’s ᴍᴇɴ in the early stages of the game.
The ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟɪᴛʏ of Camavinga
We continue to believe that he should only play on the left in an ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇɴᴄʏ, although he excels at it. He can play there as a backup, as we are aware. When listening to Ancelotti talk, one is ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟᴇᴅ to consider how good Camavinga’s center-field play must be in order for him to always be the first choice in the white lineup, barring an ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇɴᴄʏ. Since the Frenchman can play as a pivot, a winger, and it’s probable that he can also function under sticks, his performance already defies interpretation.
“He’s incredibly young and in a great place, whether as a center or a winger… He is adjusting to it. Raphinha has been played extremely effectively in the duel. He’s had a strong performance,” says Carletto. Barcelona glanced behind him, and Camavinga’s reaction was flawless (8/8 in the inning). After beginning the game with physical difficulties, the French player took pleasure in his defensive play after a counterball was used to close the band to Raphinha. He did not participate in many attacks, but he left his mark alongside Vinicius in several attacks. His internal efficiency allowed his teammates to escape the oppressive pressure of the Barça team. After not missing a single pass all game: 32 of 32 to sign flawless data, it is currently unknown if he is better as a pivot than as a winger.
The data from Camp Nou by Camavinga is alarming. The Real Madrid “12” finished third on the team in terms of interventions (66), had a pass completion rate of 100%, and maintained his perfect stats in the final third of the field. Despite “dancing” with a pure dribbler like Raphinha, who was sᴜᴄᴋᴇᴅ up by the Frenchman’s quick legs, he only committed one foul. He also had the most direct duels won (8 total) of any player on the field. For a football player whose ID ticks the box for 2002, almost nothing (he is only 20 years old).
Xavi’s plan
High pressure and Balones at Camavinga’s epaulet. The Real Madrid coach was given the ball two hours prior to kickoff and used that time to devise a strategy for sending Barcelona to the Copa del Rey championship game. The sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇ arrived at the palestra when Camavinga entered in place of Nacho, who had earned the position through meritocracy. The French football player always succeeds because to his fantastic physique, which helps him deal with any potential problems that may arise along the way—problems that are occasionally caused by himself.
After cornering the white team on the Camp Nou pitch for the first 40 minutes, the first part of their strategy was a complete success for them. To stop a white start that suffered too much, Kessié-Kroos, Busquets-Modric, and Sergi Roberto-Valverde were the matches selected. The second component of Xavi’s strategy was a relentless barrage of long balls at Raphinha in an effort to sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇ Camavinga, who typically falters when gauging or foreseeing the play. The French footballer’s lack of defensive automatisms at full-back has given Ancelotti’s team cause for concern more than once. Eduardo Camavinga, however, emerged as the clear victor of the contest between the French and the Brazilian. He was careful to cover his back and always knew how to make the right choice, and in a face-to-face ᴄᴏɴꜰʀᴏɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, he almost won them all. For some time, Raphinha will experience nightmares.
Rodrygo and his peculiar way of fooling the defenders
One of Rodrygo’s strengths on the green was highlighted in the 24th minute. He entered the “21” to make a pass to Modric and accurately read the unmarking behind Marcos Alonso. The Brazilian footballer discovered a gap in Barcelona’s defense, Carvajal intercepted a pinpoint pass with his first touch, and Rodrygo missed it by a fraction of an inch.
It was the Brazilian’s first forewarning that he would shortly assist the white squad in scoring the crucial 1-0. Rodrygo unleashed the hordes of attackers to produce a deadly counter after Courtois looked to deflect Lewandowski’s goal. The action changed to a clear 3 against 2 in favor of Ancelotti’s team when the Brazilian expected Marcos Alonso, who was mistaken to leave his impact zone thus far. Vini had a choice between two possibilities, and everyone is already aware of what happens next. After an astute drag move in the 50th minute forced Koundé to err by chasing the Brazilian and leaving a gap, Rodrygo created another unreplaceable opening, which allowed Benzema to enter and make it 0-2 at the time. Too much of a present for the Ballon d’Or, who has leveled off during the season’s pivotal stretch. The last night at the Camp Nou, a hat-trick that had not been witnessed there since Puskas, was the second in a row.
