Black day for Real Madrid as Barcelona's renaissance under Xavi gathers pace

Manager Ancelotti admits errors in 4-0 clasico defeat as Catalan rivals look sure to be a title threat next season

REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 5. A bad night at the office as Courtois shipped four goals in one of Real Madrid’s worst classicos for some time. Could have been much worse without him. AP

Dani Carvajal – 2. A poor display and as a result was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti at halftime. EPA

Eder Militao 4 – Started brightly but got worse as the game went on with a collection of errors on and off the ball. Reuters

David Alaba – 5. Arguably his worst performance this season. Nervy at times and was at fault for more than one goal. EPA

Nacho – 4. Struggled to cope with Ousmane Dembele on a defensive night to forget for Nacho. Getty Images

Luka Modric – 5. Had to drop too deep just to get touches of the ball. Not as influential as he would've liked. AFP

Casemiro – 5. Although he got a couple of defensive stops, he was too poor in possession as the anchor in midfield. EPA

Toni Kroos – 4. Struggled to get into the game and was chasing Barcelona shadows. Subbed at halftime. AP

Federico Valverde – 6. Best of the worst. Nearly scored and assisted a couple of goals. Never stopped trying. AP

Vinicius Jr – 5. Started well but faded quickly. Had a chance to score but took a dive instead for absolutely no reason. Getty Images

Rodrygo – 4. Poor decision making and minimal contribution in both attack and defence. Overwhelmed by the occasion. AFP

SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga (Kroos 46’) – 6. Didn't offer anything different to Toni Kroos, often committing cheap fouls that allowed Barcelona to slow down the play. Needed to do more defensively. AFP

Mariano Diaz (Carvajal 47) – 5. Fairly anonymous despite coming on a the break, Real Madrid's attack just couldn't get anything going as Xavi Hernandez' side took control of the game. AFP

Lucas Vazquez (Nacho 68) – 6. Took care of the ball and tried to get something going but it was a big ask with the game already heavily in Barcelona's favour. AFP

BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 7. Played the ball out short almost all the time. Sixth minutes save from Valverde. Stopped Vinicius in a rare Madrid attack as Barca ended Madrid’s run of five consecutive clasico wins. His opposite was far busier, but good save on 79. EPA

Ronald Araujo – 9. Scored the second after 37 minutes, a header. Full of confidence, full of energy. He tried to knock the ball around an opponent on the wing at one, then came centrally to end a Madrid attack. Getty Images

Gerard Pique – 8. Blocked a 19th minute Carvajal shot. Started the move which led to the opener. His long ball to Torres set up the fourth. Jeered by home fans. Loved it as his side were 4-0 up after 51 minutes. EPA

Eric Garcia – 8. Knocked the ball forward, usually to Pedri. Stopped Valverde in a rare Madrid attack after they’d gone 4-0 down. Growing in confidence. AP

Jordi Alba – 8. Smashed in a challenge in the opening seconds. Crossed for Aubameyang on 58 when Barca should have made it 5-0. Booked for a challenge on Vinicius – for which he apologised. More touches than any player on the pitch. AFP

Sergio Busquets – 9. Progressive start – as it was for his team. Booked for a pull on Militao. Stopped Vinicius in a 60th minute attack. Excellent overall from the veteran. “We wanted to dominate and we could have scored many more goals,” he said. “We’ve been having lots more of the ball and control of the games with our coach”. Reuters

Pedri – 9. So skilful and chipped a ball forward over the defenders to Torres for his goal. Controlled the pace of the game from the middle. He’s 19. Spectacular. EPA

Frenkie De Jong – 8. Booked for a 25th minute foul on Kroos. Set up Aubameyang, played a part in Pedri’s goal, too. Some beautiful passing movements. Getty Images

Ousmane Dembele – 9. Right in a high press and lost possession to Kroos to set up a 7th minute attack. Drew a save from Courtois on 13. Perfect cross for Aubameyang for the opener. And the perfect corner for the second goal. Involved in the third, too. Started to lose the ball more in the second half and was brought off after 79. EPA

Ferran Torres – 8. Hit the ball high and over in the first attack of the game. Beat Carvajal to set up Aubameyang. Curled a 17th minute shot just wide. Scored the third straight after half time, sweeping the ball in against a side who looked lost. Set up the fourth after 51 minutes. Powerful shot that was saved by the excellent Courtois on 64. Six shots in his best Barca game. AFP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 9. First clasico and what a night for him. Forced a save from Courtois on 13. Put Barça ahead on 29, heading in Dembele’s cross. Almost made it two, set up the third, then scored the fourth. One of the greatest nights of his life. Should have made it 5-0 on 58. AP

SUBS: Gavi (De Jong 70’) – 7. Neat and cool headed, which is what his boss Xavi demanded. Some nice skills. AFP

Memphis Depay (Aubameyang 70’) – 7. Straight into the attack and forced a save from Courtois on 78. EPA

Adama Traore (Dembele 80’) – 7. Went right with instruction not to lose the ball as Dembele was doing. Disciplined. AFP

Nico Gonzalez (Pedri 85’) – N/A. Two fouls with his first two touches. Then a third foul with his fourth touch. Getty Images

Dani Alaves (Alba 85’) – N/A. AP

Real Madrid wore black shirts and black shorts, a novelty choice for a fixture whose aura has been built for more than a century around the fame and lustre of their all-white strip.

It meant that Barcelona were also in a form of clasico disguise, dressed in their ‘second’ outfit of yellow with red diagonal stripes.

After an astonishing night at the Santiago Bernabeu, the attire helped write the headlines. A dark night indeed for Madrid, 4-0 losers at home to their greatest rivals, a Barcelona who had lost the five previous clasicos, who trailed Madrid by 15 points in the Spanish table going into this, a match that will be remembered as a landmark in what looks like a Barca revival.

It may also act as a warning to Sunday’s stunned hosts not to mess with traditional kit, even if the marketing department deems it a good idea.

“We could have scored more goals, and I hadn’t expected to be that much better than Madrid,” said Barcelona’s head coach Xavi.

So utterly were Spain’s champions-elect – Madrid have a nine-point lead over second-placed Sevilla in La Liga – rolled over by the old enemy that there was genuine frustration on Xavi’s bench that all-time records for winning scorelines in an away victory in the clasico were not being challenged.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice. He might have doubled that tally had he not offered a tame save to Thibaut Courtois, busy and brilliant in the Madrid goal, in the first half or miscued his connection with Jordi’s Alba’s cross in the second.

Ferran Torres celebrates with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele after scoring Barcelona's third goal in their 4-0 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 20, 2022. Getty

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, right, scores Barcelona's fourth goal over Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. AP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang battles for possession with Casemiro of Real Madrid. Getty Images

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao attempts to tackle Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele. AFP

Barcelona players celebrate the 4-0 victory over Real Madrid. Getty Images

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring Barcelona's fourth goal against Real Madrid. AP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a shot on goal against Real Madrid. Getty Images

Barcelona players celebrate at the end of the match after beating Real Madrid 4-0. AFP

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is fouled by Barcelona defender Jordi Alba. AFP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with teammates after scoring for Barcelona against Real Madrid. AFP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang points to the crowd after scoring for Barcelona against Real Madrid. AFP

Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring for Barcelona against Real Madrid. AFP

Ferran Torres runs off in celebration after scoring against Real Madrid. AFP

A scoreboard inside the Santiago Bernabeu shows the final result of the game between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Reuters

Ferran Torres, like Aubameyang a January signing, struck a handsome goal, from a similar spot where he had just squandered a better-set chance to score. Ousmane Dembele ended up in a tangle in a one on one with Courtois, who later added to his catalogue of smart saves to keep out substitute Memphis Depay.

After the final whistle the misses had been forgiven. “We are grinning from ear to ear,” said Xavi. Aubameyang could hear his name being sung by the small pocket of away supporters in a high corner of the stadium.

Those fans would have to scroll back more than decade to recall as an exhilarating a night as Sunday’s in this most resonant venue. Perhaps to the fabled 6-2 victory in 2009, during Pep Guardiola’s first season as Barcelona head coach.

Xavi, then in Barcelona’s midfield, set up four of the goals that evening and, though he is still less than five months into his first senior managerial job in Europe, never has he more resembled the Guardiola-to-be that he is so often styled as a coach.

He has clarity in his ideas, and evidently communicates them effectively enough that newcomers, signed from a different league – the Premier League in the case of Torres and Aubameyang – can integrate quickly in into the Xavi plan.

Aubameyang, who was still under contract at Arsenal until very late in the winter transfer window, scored his eighth and ninth Barcelona goals against Madrid. He’s only started eight matches. Torres scored for the sixth time since joining from Manchester City. He has five assists, too, and is interpreting his role on the left of a front three with skill and confidence.

Real Madrid 3 PSG 1 – player ratings

REAL MADRID: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Made three comfortable first-half saves but was then deceived at near post by Mbappe for opening goal of game. EPA

Dani Carvajal - 5: Playing like a winger on right dragged powerful strike wide of target in 12th minute. Costly loss of possession led to counter-attack and Mbappe’s goal. Cynical booking for barging over same player in second half. EPA

Eder Militao - 7: Two vital challenges on Messi and then Neymar when former Barca pair were teeing-up shots just before break. Dominant and error-free at back for Real, unlike some PSG defenders at other end. EPA

David Alaba - 7: Former Bayern Munich defender was last man when Mbappe charged through in first half but couldn’t stop French striker scoring. Perfectly timed tackle to stop Mbappe scoring another early in second period. AFP

Nacho - 6: Picked up yellow for tripping Hakimi late in first half and found Moroccan’s pace a problem for first hour of game until Real’s first goal when balance of game turned on its head and Nacho played his part. AFP

Luka Modric - 8: Croatian midfielder had not been at his most influential then took charge of game on second half. Charging run to begin move for Benzema’s second and then provided pinpoint pass to striker’s feet to seal assist. Curled left-foot shot just wide in last couple of minutes. AP

Federico Valverde - 7: Picked out Benzema with cross in first half but attacker’s header sailed gently into Donnarumma’s hands. Another midfielder who helped Real turnaround game. EPA

Toni Kroos – 6: Recovered from hamstring injury to start in midfield and his perfect ball into middle picked out Benzema for French striker’s second missed headed opportunity. German didn’t look 100 per cent fit and came off before hour mark. AP

Marco Asensio - 4: Couldn’t get into game and when half-chance did fall his way just after half-time, his control let him down and PSG cleared. Hooked early in second half. AFP

Karim Benzema – 9.5: Thought he had opened scoring with curling shot but Donnarumma tipped narrowly wide of upright. Levelled scores on night after taking advantage of Donnarumma error. Then scored two goals in less than a minute to seal his second-half hat-trick. AFP

Vinicius Junior - 8: Pace caused PSG early problems and looked like he might run riot but threat waned as first-half wore on. Back with bang after break. Heavily involved in all three of Benzema’s goals. Should have put Real 2-1 up but snatched at chance and fired over bar. AP

SUBS: Rodrygo – (On for Asensio 57’) 7: Helped give Real some extra width and stretch the PSG defence. Reuters

Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Kroos 57’) 7: All of Carlo Ancelotti’s substitutes paid off and French midfielder helped change game. Getty

Lucas Vazquez – (On for Carvajal 66’) 7: Harsh booking for minor touch on Mbappe. EPA

PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 5: Fantastic fingertip save at full stretch to turn Benzema shot round post 25 minutes in. Awful mistake to give ball away for Benzema’s opening goal and booked for protesting that he was fouled but error was own making. AP

Achraf Hakimi - 6: Given early headache down right by Vinicius Jnr’s pace but regained control and looked threat himself when bombing forward. Played Benzema narrowly onside for striker’s hat-trick finish and picked up a booking for fouling Vinicius Junior soon after. EPA

Marquinhos - 3: Some uncharacteristic howlers from Brazilian. Captain gifted ball to Vinicius Jnr with ludicrous backheel flick just before half-hour mark and was lucky not to be punished. Gave ball straight to Benzema for Real striker’s third goal. Getty

Presnel Kimpembe - 6: France defender was solid at back and was rarely troubled in first half. Called on to tidy up when Ansensio threatened just after break but was booked late on as game slipped away from PSG. Getty

Nuno Mendes - 6: Failed to time his run and was caught offside while setting up Mbappe’s disallowed first-half goal. Good going forward, not so convincing the other direction. Getty

Leandro Paredes - 6: Seventh-minute booking left him on knife-edge for rest of game and would have ruled him out of quarter-final first leg. Headed block on Valvderde blockbusting volley at start of second half. Getty

Danilo - 7: Chased and harried Real, doing the donkey work for more esteemed attacking teammates but couldn’t stop Real’s second-half onslaught. Getty

Marco Verratti - 6: Helped dictate midfield along with Messi in first half but, like all his teammates, completely lost control of game in second. AFP

Lionel Messi - 7: Linked up well with Mbappe and Neymar to set up first-half chances. Dinked one of those across goal himself but no teammate was there to finish. Influence and threat fell away as second half wore on until hitting roof of net with late free-kick. AFP

Kylian Mbappe - 9: Had two early strikes saved by Courtois and then had ball in the net but disallowed for offside. Did score in 39th minute, drilling home into corner after PSG counter-attack. Rounded keeper and scored another just after break but again denied by offside flag. Getty

Neymar - 6: Shot easily saved by keeper after linking up with Mbappe and Verratti. Sent Mbappe through for opening goal with first-time ball. Anonymous second 45 minutes. AP

SUBS: Idrissa Gueye – (On for Paredes 71’) 5: Midfielder brought to try and give PSG a bit of control back into game that Real were dominating but couldn’t turn tide. AFP

Angel Di Maria – (On for Danilo 81’) N/A. AP Julian Draxler – (On for Hakimi 88’) N/A.

Dembele, who the club’s executives pushed, aggressively, to leave in January to ease the club’s salary burden, can thank Xavi for making him feel he still belongs.

Dembele’s crosses, one from a zippy run, the other from a corner, set up both first-half goals at the Bernabeu, and by the time Adama Traore, another winter recruit, came on as a menacing second-half substitute, Madrid’s back four had been run ragged.

“It’s my fault,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, admitting that, dynamic though Barcelona were, their hosts were a mess. Missing the injured Karim Benzema, Ancelotti had started the match with Luka Modric as the most advanced player in the centre of the pitch. By half-time he had taken off one full-back, Dani Carvajal, and moved the other Nacho into a back three, so tortured had they been by Torres and Dembele.

“My planning was wrong,” admitted Ancelotti. “I can get things wrong once, but usually it’s a while before it happens a second time.”

Madrid certainly want to regard the four-goal fiesta as a one-off. What Ancelotti will recognise is that there is a revival under way with their oldest enemies, and that, if the 12-point gap between the clubs in the domestic table won’t be eroded completely this season, it will be very surprising if it stretches so wide in the next campaign.