Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona: Hits and Flops as Los Blancos record statement El Clasico victory | La Liga 2019-20

#1 Lionel Messi – Flop

Lionel Messi had a bad day at the office

For a major chunk of the 2019-20 season, Lionel Messi has carried Barcelona on his shoulders. And, for most of it, he has been rather successful. However, on Sunday, the Argentine failed to conjure a magical performance, meaning that the Blaugrana also inevitably struggled.

Throughout the encounter, the Barcelona skipper was kept on a tight leash as Casemiro and Valverde effectively crowded him out. Additionally, the supply lines towards the Argentine were cut off as Madrid rarely allowed the visitors any opportunity to rattle the ball into him in space.

In addition, Messi’s deliveries from set-pieces were also uncharacteristically poor as he kept clipping them too close to the keeper.

More worryingly though, the striker seemed to lack a touch of imagination at the Bernabeu. During the game, there were moments when he could’ve sprung into life. However, nothing of the sort materialized, thereby allowing the Los Blancos to shut the Blaugrana out.

The Argentine also looked devoid of his usual sharpness, a fact that was emphasized in both halves. Before the break, Messi fashioned himself a shooting chance when he took down Sergio Busquets’ chipped pass. However, rather surprisingly, he shot straight at Courtois.

After the restart, the forward had another opportunity to open his tally but he failed to get away from the retreating Marcelo as the Brazilian caught up with the former and ultimately, nicked the ball off him.

And, though it would be extremely premature to argue about the Argentine perhaps undergoing a decline in form, one certainly wouldn’t be too wrong to term Messi’s performance at the Bernabeu as an anomaly, especially considering the standards he sets for himself.