Double Delight for Real Madrid? Not Quite.
In a week of highs and lows, Real Madrid CF experienced contrasting fortunes. FC Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-0 at Spotify Camp Nou in LaLiga week 35, while Madrid bounced back to secure a 2-1 win over SL Benfica in the UEFA Champions League Knockout Play-off.
LaLiga: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona (May 10, 2026)
Barcelona 2 - 0 Real Madrid
Match Summary
Barcelona dominated the match, handing Madrid a defeat at the Camp Nou. Key player performances tell the story of a difficult night for the visitors.
- Thibaut Courtois: Made five saves but could not keep a clean sheet.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold: Recorded four key passes and was noted for dangerous set-pieces. He was initially beaten by Fermín López but recovered defensively.
- Raúl Asencio: Delivered good long passes but was reported at fault for Barcelona's second goal.
- Antonio Rüdiger: Was described as scrambling defensively, though he had solid distribution.
- Fran García: Struggled significantly under Barcelona's press.
- Eduardo Camavinga: Solid long-range distribution and played a through ball to Jude Bellingham.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni: Executed good switches of play and was a threat on set pieces.
- Brahim Díaz: Led the team with six completed dribbles but was noted to have overdribbled at times.
- Jude Bellingham: Was described as poor on the ball and not imposing himself.
- Vinicius Jr.: Lost possession 17 times, misplaced nearly 50% of his passes, and had poor shooting.
- Gonzalo García: Missed a breakaway chance and struggled to get involved.
Substitutes:
- Thiago Pitarch: Showed good effort and helped the team escape pressure.
- César Palacios: Was not rated.
UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid vs. SL Benfica
Real Madrid 2 - 1 SL Benfica
Match Summary
Real Madrid secured advancement with a gritty 2-1 victory at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
- Thibaut Courtois: Executed four saves, including a significant stop during the first half. He faced minimal defensive protection on Benfica’s goal.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold: Engaged in defensive actions and contributed to offensive plays with line-breaking passes and dangerous entries into the box.
- Raúl Asencio: Experienced a second-half injury, leading to his removal via stretcher.
- Antonio Rüdiger: Encountered challenges with aerial balls but demonstrated resilience in critical moments.
- Álvaro Carreras: Performed effectively in one-on-one defensive situations, though some risky maneuvers created space behind him.
- Fede Valverde: Delivered two assists and made four key passes.
- Arda Güler: In his 100th club appearance and on his 21st birthday, displayed quality in ball control, linking play, and purposeful distribution.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni: Scored the opening goal and exhibited dominance in duels, aggressive pressing, and composed possession.
- Eduardo Camavinga: Was out of position on Benfica’s goal but subsequently recovered, assisting with ball progression and providing defensive support.
- Gonzalo García: Faced difficulties in establishing an offensive rhythm but created space for Vinícius Jr. and performed off-ball work.
- Vinícius Jr.: Scored the team’s second goal and presented a continuous offensive threat.
Substitutions:
- David Alaba: Provided stability and experience after Asencio’s injury.
- Franco Mastantuono: Entered with a defensive focus.
- Thiago Pitarch: Showed promise in build-up play.
- César Palacios: Demonstrated technical skill.
- Fran García: Played limited minutes.