Real Madrid star acknowledges Barcelona’s superiority in El Clasico thrashing – ‘They played very well’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has offered a rare bit of praise for Barcelona following their dominant 4-0 victory in the most recent El Clasico.

Despite the harsh defeat still lingering in the minds of many Real Madrid players, including Valverde, the Uruguayan took a moment to acknowledge the impressive performance put in by Barcelona, particularly under Hansi Flick.

Valverde’s praise for Barcelona

Valverde noted that Barcelona’s performance during the match was well-executed, especially in the second half. While the first half was closely contested, it was the opening goal by Barcelona that changed the momentum of the game.

“I think Barcelona played a very good game, especially in the second half. The first half was very even, but the goal changed everything,” he began saying.

Once they scored again, the match seemed to slip beyond Real Madrid’s control, with the gap widening quickly.

Valverde pointed out that, at that point, the game was no longer about tactics or technical skill but about maintaining composure and handling the situation effectively.

“They scored the second and it went beyond the tactical or the footballing and you go a little more crazy.”

Barcelona showed great maturity in managing the game after they took the lead, handling the pressure with confidence and finishing the match with a solid performance.

“They play very well, they knew how to handle things when they were ahead and that’s it. They played a good role at the Bernabeu,” he added.

Optimism within Real Madrid persists

While the result was undoubtedly disappointing for Real Madrid, Valverde remained optimistic and refused to let the heavy defeat define their season.

He reminded everyone that a similar defeat, a 0-4 loss at the Bernabeu, had happened not long ago, but the team had bounced back to win both the La Liga and Champions League titles that same season.

“We went through a 0-4 at the Bernabeu a couple of years ago and ended up winning the Champions League and La Liga,” he concluded.