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| Rafael Benítez |
Change of philosophy
"If Atlético didn't put four past us, we must have been doing something right," Benítez said after the 1-1 derby draw, alluding to the disintegration of Carlo Ancelotti's side in the Calderón last season. In that draw last month, there was a key player: Casemiro, who Benítez specifically asked be brought back from his loan at Porto during the summer. After that game the Brazilian was a fixture in the first 11 (Levante, PSG, Celta, Las Palmas, PSG and Sevilla). He was a safety belt for the team and one of 16 players who had spent two weeks preparing for the Clásico. When the time came, Benítez instead opted for "quality and experience."
A Florentino 11
Benítez's team selection was a fop to the VIP box. Danilo (31.5 million euros) started ahead of Carvajal, who was one of the side's star performers until he was injured and who like Casemiro had had a full two weeks to prepare for the game. The manager put out the BBC (who have scored 22 goals at this stage of the season compared to 41 by this time in 2014-15) and with Benzema having been injured for 40 days. The Frenchman's inclusion was a surprise after Benítez's reluctance to bring James Rodríguez back too quickly.
Unjust selection policy
Together with Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco is the only player to have featured in all 16 matches this season. Under Benítez, he had started on 13 occasions. He withdrew from the Spain squad to get back to full fitness but was left out of the starting 11 alongside Casemiro and Carvajal. Toni Kroos, who was among the best midfielders in the division last season, was selected despite his form this campaign being nowhere near his last.
No faith in La Fábrica
Lucas Vázquez was blooded in the Parc des Princes, played well in Balaídos from the start and was then relegated to the bench for the next three games. For the Clásico, he didn't even make the squad. Nacho, who scored the only goal of the game against PSG to send Real through to the Champions League knock-out stages and had started the previous three games, was also left in the stands. Jesé had started four consecutive games until Gareth Bale returned to the side in the Sánchez Pizjuán but didn't get off the bench in the Bernabéu.
Substitutions
At the break Barcelona had enjoyed 63 percent of possession but Benítez did not consider the problem to be in midfield and left Casemiro and Mateo Kovacic on the bench. He also elected against bringing Pepe in to the fray and replaced James with Isco when the Colombian was Real's most dangerous attacking outlet. He brought off Marcelo because of injury but took no tactical risks. He also left one substitution unmade.
No plan
Until the loss in Seville Benítez had used the same discourse in every press conference to defend his side's performances: "Look at the statistics. They are spectacular." It is necessary to go back 10 seasons to 2005-06, when Florentino Pérez resigned, for a worse start to a league campaign at this stage. Although Real have had more shots on goal than any other side this season (197), there was no coherent plan against Barcelona. Benítez's side did not defend, or attack.
The BBC untouchables
Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes. Although Benítez is a fan of rotation, Ronaldo has played every minute of every game this season. The Portuguese is obviously tired and unhappy at being forced to play as a nine to accommodate Bale in the hole. None of the BBC stood out against Barcelona, but Benítez lacked the courage to substitute any of them.
credit: AS
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