Ahead of the 17th Real-Atletico derby of his coaching career, Carlo Ancelotti took the precaution of praising the referee. Cesar Soto Grado, the 42-year-old official designated for Thursday's Copa del Rey quarter-final at the Bernabeu, is, noted Ancelotti, “young and has character. I like him.”
Which, as Ancelotti has learned over a football career that started before Soto Grado was born, is the right thing to say in a pre-match press conference where advice is indirectly being given to the man with the whistle. The Real Madrid manager also addressed the hot topic of how his livewire winger, Vinicius Junior, keeps being fouled.
“In every sense, Vini needs protecting,” said Ancelotti of the Brazilian, subject of criticism for a perceived dip in form and for his showy antics at moments of celebration. “In fact, football needs people like Vinicius.”
It needs, he implied, its thrilling entertainers, as Vinicius is with his speed and unique control of the ball at pace. Ancelotti was signalling that referees have a responsibility to punish those who act outside the rules to combat the Vinicius skill-set.
No player in the top five leagues of Europe suffers more fouls per match than Vinicius: there were 62 committed against him in the 17 Liga games he has taken part in this season. If that indicates that some referees are applying a degree of vigilance to the rough attention Vinicius draws, Ancelotti would like the scrutiny upped and made more consistent.
“Luckily, he has a superb physique,” said Ancelotti, on the player’s capacity to overcome all the knocks and bruises, “and he doesn’t complain. His mentality is the key. I see it in his motivation and his focus.”
The veteran Italian coach has been an influential guide in the blossoming of Vini Jr, a player bought by Madrid in his teens, their faith in him reflected in the size of the fee – €45 million to Flamengo – given his tender years. Under other Madrid coaches, he developed a reputation for being erratic, reliably unreliable as a finisher.
When Ancelotti returned to Madrid for a second stint in charge 18 months ago, all that changed. Vinicius made the penultimate of his 20 assists in a brilliant campaign to confirm the league title; his 22nd goal of 2021/22 decided the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Spanish Super Cup final 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
His follow-up has been lower-key, and although Vinicius began this season brightly, his run of just one goal in 10 Liga matches either side of his World Cup with Brazil coincided with Madrid losing the leadership of title race.
Ancelotti remains steadfast in his backing of a “great player, who has earned great respect, but who gets constant stick from the opposition kicking at him, from fans and even from referees.” Vinicius has also endured some vile racist abuse at away stadiums, notably at Valladolid, and, in the autumn, at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium.
That was Vinicius’ most recent of his nine Madrid derbies, a fixture in which he has come to expect rugged attention on the pitch since his first start in one, when he won a penalty and was subsequently accused of ensuring he fell inside the area after a foul from Jose Maria Gimenez – the first contact took place outside it.
Vinicius, coming off the bench at half time, would play a part in the goal that settled the Bernabeu derby in 2019/20, but his overall record against Atletico is understated, other than the two goals he set up in last season’s 2-0 home win.
The stakes on Thursday are high. Madrid face a potentially tumultuous month, having fallen behind Barcelona in the Liga race and lost the Spanish Super Cup final 3-1 to Barca. They go to the Club World Cup in Morocco at the end of next week and then to Anfield to meet Liverpool for their last-16 stage of their defence of the European Cup.
For Atletico, elimination from the Copa would effectively end prospects of any silverware in what has been a troubling campaign. They finished bottom of their group in the Champions League, ousted from Europe by mid-November. Atletico, Liga winners in 2021, sit fifth in the Spanish table, 13 points beneath leaders Barcelona and 10 shy of Real Madrid.
Where Atletico men have collected medals is at the World Cup, and a strong likelihood is that their trio of victorious Argentinians will all start at the Bernabeu: That’s Nahuel Molina at right-back, Rodrigo de Paul immediately in front of him, and Angel Correa manning the wing. They will be under orders to mark close and tackle hard – because that’s the flank Vinicius jets up and down.
