Storify by José A.

Don Alfredo Di Stefano, on the Clásico

A rough translation of the most relevant parts of Don Alfredo's article on today's Marca (almost official Real Madrid paper in Spain)

WHAT I LIKED: THE GREAT CONTROL OF THE FOOTBALL BY BARCELONA. I like and I admire the great control of the game that Barça has. You don't look at their game with your eyes but with your soul. They treat the football with respect, almost petting it. To see this team in action is a joy for everybody.

WHAT I DISLIKED: REAL MADRID, A TEAM WITHOUT A PERSONALITY. This game must give the hints to know how to face the next one, once we know that the plan of trying to face Barcelona only through counter strikes revealed clearly as not the best one.

Simply brilliant was the football produced by Barcelona. The superiority of the "culés" was clear and shown to the whole planet. They have something we lack: the White Team played as if they were intimidated by a rival that ruled the midfield throughout the whole match. Barça play football and dance, Real Madrid came and went constantly.

Whenever Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets dropped the ball was when Real Madrid tried to build an attack, of course, with a long pass to the guys up there looking for a fluke. And if those three wanted, they were able to send to sleep everybody passing the ball masterly, short and precise, passes perfectly shot, safe for the one who is to get it.

It seemed that they wanted to take the football home with them. They were in charge of feeding their forwards (well fed ones!!) because their effectiveness is hard and they are easy creating danger constantly.

Besides keeping an extremely high pace, that they didn't change, they fought like true gladiators. Barça ones work a lot when not in possession of the ball, with a constant movemen

Not a negotiation at all. They didn't refuse to their idea, no matter the outcome could suggest another thing, because they even played "bonito" (=beautiful), always well positioned, their places on the team are basic. All their players show the best tactical concepts, with a high sense of multi-role play.

The defensive work was for Real Madrid, as the Lyon against the Mouse, that could not overcome his rivals with an effective pressing in the midfield, as they should have done. This is very hard to do, as Barça's attacks, well produced, give a magnificent outcome for the viewer.

While Di María had the power he needed in the few times he had the ball, he was arguably the best on the Whites, as well as "Saint Iker"

Messi is the best in the world. Being his football is spectacular, he is a great professional too. He shone on Saturday, and next Wednesday on the Cup Final it will be great to watch him again live.

The successes for Barça are the outcome of a mature idea of attacking football which is very solid to face the three Clasicos that we are approaching. To attack you need a perfect control of time and of temper.

So, it's evident that Barcelona is superior to Real Madrid, and that trying to play them on a counter strike based football is not the most proper way to try to catch them by surprise. Thay have such a tremendous quality - both from a tactical and a technical point of view -, they stay on the pitch always on a meaningful and balanced way, so they don't give you free spaces to occupy.

Pep Team had always the control of the match on their hands. The final score pushes them closer to their 3rd La Liga title on a row, and the truth is that they deserve it, because they have done their homework in time. They have been always loyal to themselves, being obvious that they enjoy and play on a happy manner.

Finally, I have to point out that Real Madrid is not bringing to their fans the happiness they deserve. The fans have been supporting the team with loyalty. Real Madrid was more heart than order, they tried but they couldn't.