"The World Cup is past,” said Christophe Galtier firmly, a post-match message to the various stars of Paris Saint-Germain, the club he coaches. Galtier was surveying the messy leftovers of a second Ligue 1 defeat in three games, uncharacteristic form for France’s dominant club.
They had just lost 1-0 at Rennes. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Achraf Hakimi were all on the pitch for the last 40 minutes, chasing a goal that, with a single shot on target all night, barely threatened to come. “We can find a thousand excuses,” sighed Galtier. And then he referenced the World Cup.
Messi and Mbappe both played, and starred, in the World Cup final, which ended deep into the evening of December 18. That’s a month ago on Wednesday, a distance of time away that’s more or less equal to what footballers normally have off from competitive action, if not from practice, after a major tournament.
The rescheduling of Qatar 2022 to winter, with most club seasons split in half to accommodate it and club football resuming after a break of between a week and a fortnight, has radically altered that timetable. It challenged the body clocks of experienced players. It exposed distinct tactical plans to those who were serving their country’s coaches during November and December.
The heavyweight clubs of Europe knew it would be disruptive. They, naturally, supplied a high number of the players who went deepest into the World Cup. There is tiredness, physical and psychological.
As Galtier on Sunday assessed PSG’s limp performance at Rennes, hot on the heels of a 3-1 loss at Lens, his observations about low intensity echoed several of his most esteemed peers on an eye-catching 48 hours of damage for seasoned champions.
Serial winners suffered everywhere. The weekend began with Juventus, domestic champions nine times in the past 11 seasons, having their run of eight consecutive victories brought to a thumping end at Serie A leaders Napoli.
Juve manager Max Allegri acknowledged Napoli, Italy’s best performers through the season, had been utterly superior in the 5-1 thrashing of his team. But he identified “a lack of energy” in his players. “It’s not just chance when the loose balls always get won by the opposition.”
Allegri did not cite World Cup fatigue, but the numbers tell a story. Juventus used 10 players who had been in Qatar in the starting XI against Napoli; two, Angel Di Maria and Adrien Rabiot, played in the final, as did Leandro Paredes, who came off the bench on Friday. Napoli had just three World Cup returnees in their XI, none of whose countries were in Qatar beyond the last-16 phase.
Manchester City, Premier League champions for four of the past five seasons, caught the stumbling habit. Saturday’s tight derby defeat at Manchester United cannot be easily blamed on post-World Cup exhaustion given that United had 13 players in Qatar to City’s 16. But when a team as meticulously drilled as Pep Guardiola’s City loses twice on the trot – they were also beaten in the League Cup at Southampton – it is cause to wonder about the effects of a mid-term interruption to training patterns and momentum.
Spain’s reigning champions and European Cup holders, Real Madrid, were humbled, too, albeit in a different competition – the Spanish Super Cup final – albeit against current La Liga leaders Barcelona.
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Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring Manchester United's second goal in the 2-1 Premier League win against Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 14, 2023. EPA -
United's Marcus Rashford scores their second goal past Manchester City's Ederson. Reuters -
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates after the match. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford celebrates with teammates. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring United's second goal. PA -
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates levelling at 1-1 with Casemiro and Antony. Reuters -
Fernandes scores the equalising goal past Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson. AFP -
City's Jack Grealish celebrates scoring the opening goal. AFP -
Jack Grealish scores with a header past goalkeeper David De Gea. Getty -
Tyrell Malacia of Manchester United is challenged by City's Riyad Mahrez. Getty -
City's Erling Haaland see's his shot blocked by Fred and Casemiro. PA -
City's Erling Haaland in action. Reuters -
City's Kevin De Bruyne passes while under pressure from Fred. Getty -
United's Marcus Rashford goes down with an injury. Getty -
City coach Pep Guardiola gestures next to United's Erik ten Hag. AP -
City's Phil Foden is replaced by Jack Grealish. Getty
A clasico loss always hurts, especially as Madrid had won seven of the previous eight. “The team is not at its peak,” said Carlo Ancelotti after Barca dominated, unflattered by the 3-1 scoreline in Riyadh. “There was very little intensity, we weren’t competitive in the duels.”
Have World Cup endeavours left Madrid leaden-footed? Barca sent more players to Qatar than their rivals, but Madrid had more of their key midfield duellers involved in the World Cup’s final weekend than Barca did. They are Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and veteran Luka Modric. That trio played in one – or both – the Super Cup final and the preceding loss to Villarreal.
A freakish weekend it may have been, being uniformly poor for the modern standard-bearers of Europe’s top leagues. Coming at the mid-point of the domestic season, it offers huge encouragement to the surprise risers.
To Barcelona, chasing a first Liga title that has not featured Messi since 1999; to Arsenal, whose last Premier League crown was in 2004 but who now hold an eight-point lead over City; to Lens, who if they win their next match will go joint top of Ligue 1 with PSG. And to Napoli, nine points clear in Italy and focused firmly on a first scudetto since 1990.
Real 1 Barca 3: Spanish Super Cup player ratings
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REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 7 – The Belgian was by far the busier of the two keepers. He could do little about any of the goals, and was left stranded by his defenders in two of them. Made some terrific saves, the best denying Lewandowski and Dembele. AFP -
Dani Carvajal 4 – The only Spaniard in Madrid’s starting line-up, both he and Militao were caught out in the most clinical fashion when, after pressing in the centre of the park, they were cut open by one pass before Lewandowski doubled Barca’s advantage. Substituted after 72 minutes. Getty Images -
Eder Militao 5 – A disappointing evening in which he was either caught out when attempting to press, or trying to hold the back line together when others also tried – and failed – to close down a rampant Barca. AFP -
Antonio Rüdiger 5 – Though he was left exposed by Militao and Carvajal in the build-up to the second goal, the German was also guilty of leaving Lewandowski to score by being pulled out of position in trying to close down Gavi. In the third, he stood off as Barca edged forward. Reuters -
Ferland Mendy 4 – Gave Benzema a great chance to open the deadlock with a teasing cross, but the Frenchman couldn’t convert. Soon after, he picked up the first yellow of the game when he pulled back Dembele. Poor evening overall. Getty Images -
Luka Modrić 5 – With Barcelona off to a fast start, the Croat tried to slow things down. It didn’t work. Barca were too quick and clinical on this occasion. Not surprisingly, he was substituted in the second half. AFP -
Federico Valverde 5 – Not effective playing on the right side of the centre. In fact, he barely saw much of the ball, and couldn’t deal with Alejandro Balde. AFP -
Eduardo Camavinga 5 – On a night where Camavinga was among the bright young talents on the pitch, he was overshadowed by Pedri and Gavi. AP Photo -
Toni Kroos 5 – Not the most auspicious of performances from the German who, as a sign of things to come in this game, gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area early on. He cut a frustrated figure throughout, and with Barca dominating he made his displeasure to his teammates known. Got caught out with weak pressing in the second half. Totally outplayed. AFP -
Karim Benzema 7 – He had several of Madrid’s best chances and so it was probably only fair that when Madrid did find the net, albeit with a consolation goal, that he was the man to claim it. Getty Images -
Vinicius Junior 6 – Only really started to make an impact in the last 20 minutes with the game already gone. Kounde and Araujo did a pretty good number on him. Getty Images -
SUBS: Rodrygo (Camavinga, 46) 7 – Had a cracking effort from the edge of the area but it was palmed to safety by Ter Stegen at full stretch. Brought some energy to the Madrid side in the second half. Reuters -
Dani Ceballos (Modric, 65) 6 – Another who will feel he should have started, though he was at fault in the build-up to Barca’s third. AFP -
Marco Asensio (Kroos, 72) N/A – Had a pop from distance soon after coming on, but it didn’t trouble Ter Stegen. Getty Images -
Nacho Fernandez (Carvajal, 72) N/A – The Spaniard was an upgrade when he came on, though Barca had taken their foot off the gas at that stage. An odd choice to bring him on with Real chasing a goal, though. Getty Images -
BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7 - Almost another clean sheet – Benzema’s 93rd minute goal changed that – but Xavi won his first trophy as Barcelona manager and the Catalans won Spain’s Super cup for the first time in five years. AFP -
Alex Balde 8 - Teen full-back continued to do well and again started over Alba. His run to burst past Carvajal and set up Dembele with a clear goalscoring chance was his best moment. Cunning when he needed to be, too. Had the better of Valverde. Reuters -
Jules Kounde 8 - Supported Araujo in marking Vinicius Jr. Barça’s defence is the best in La Liga and has conceded only six goals – yet three were against Madrid in the league. The roles were reversed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for this Spanish Super Cup final. AP Photo -
Andreas Christensen 8 - Injury and non-selection meant his Barcelona career took time to get going, but he’s now establishing himself as a central defender in Xavi’s best XI. Calm. Getty Images -
Ronald Araujo 8 - Came close to connecting with a sixth minute free kick. Handled Vinicius Junior well, aggressively marking him and getting the better of him most of the time. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets 8 - Clever thinking to win the ball from Madrid and put in motion the first goal. Played in Lewandowski for a 54th minute chance. Miles better than any Madrid midfielder as he knocked the ball around them. Reuters -
Frenkie de Jong 8 - Box to box. Attacked yet dropped deep alongside Busquets when needed. Worked well with Gavi and Pedri, the best example being when he won the ball in the middle and started the move which led to the second. Complete performance. Getty Images -
Gavi 9 - Put Barça ahead after 33 minutes, with a fine first touch before staying on his feet and sliding the ball past Courtois. Assisted Lewandowski, putting the ball to him right in front of goal, for the second. Attacked, defended, ran and ran. Outstanding off the ball. Man of the match. AFP -
Pedri 8 - Played as a No 10. Involved in the first goal as Barcelona’s young midfield ran the show. Scored the third after 69 minutes, a simple finish. Another top class performance. AFP -
Ousmane 7 - Another of the Barcelona players who looked hungrier and more energetic than their opponents. Kept Mendy concentrating. Shot with his right foot on 54 minutes, but Courtois saved well. Getty Images -
Robert Lewandowski 7 - Coming back to fitness. Headed over and then assisted Gavi for the opener, then scored his first ever clasico goal. It’s now 20 goals in 22 matches for his new club. Getty Images -
SUBS: Raphinha - 6 On for Dembele on 78. Hit and miss at Barcelona so far this season, he came on when the game was won in front of the 57,340 crowd. Getty Images -
Eric Garcia - NA On for Araujo after 89. Getty Images -
Ansu Fati - N/A On for Gavi after 89. Getty Images -
Sergi Roberto - N/A On for Pedri after 89. Getty Images
