Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: 6 Points Taken from El Clasico

Congratulations to Real Madrid!

For the first time under manager Jose Mourinho, Los Blancos have defeated Barcelona in La Liga. And what a sweet victory this was.

After losing their lead in the 70th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo silenced Camp Nou and broke the hearts of Barcelona fans everywhere.

This win will give Real Madrid the league title for the first time in three years. Madrid will be in a state of celebration tonight!

It is only fitting that the league is won at Camp Nou, the home of Real Madrid's rivals and bane of their existence during the Pep Guardiola era.

It is also very fitting that Cristiano Ronaldo be the man to end Barcelona's title defense.

After all, this is the man who has been so criticized at Real Madrid for not performing in big games and always playing in the shadow of Lionel Messi.

What a deserving win for one of the best Spanish sides we have ever seen.

Her are six observations from El Clasico.

Pep Guardiola Got It Wrong Again

First of all, let me say that Pep Guardiola has been brilliant all season long.

The way he has managed this team through so many injuries while imposing his own brand of total football has been incredible.

Only two players from Barcelona's starting roster—Victor Valdes and Lionel Messi—have not had significant injuries this season.

Still, he has not been perfect. For weeks now, I have criticized Guardiola for fielding too many midfielders, which has limited Barcelona's attack. This tactic creates two major problems for Barcelona.

First, it limits the amount of help Messi gets in the attack. Having Fabregas and Iniesta up front is great for breaking down defenses and creating chances for Messi, but not a great deal more than having Alves or Pedro does.

Second, when Iniesta is playing up front, it weakens the midfield. The amount of space created in the center is lessened and the ability for the opposition to pressure Barcelona's midfield is increased without his presence alongside Xavi and Sergio.

Pep made this mistake against Chelsea with Cesc Fabregas, who could not convert chances and made the same mistake against Real.

With Pedro and Alexis Sanchez on the bench, Pep decided to play Iniesta as a fourth midfielder. Throughout the match, Iniesta or Xavi would come into the attack.

While Iniesta is an elite attacking midfielder, he cannot stretch a defense like Real's with only two other attackers on the pitch.

Just as they were against Cheslea, Barcelona created tons of chances, but could not convert and had too few players willing to take shots.

Once again, Barcelona had only two true forwards in the match and the entire attack changed when Pep fielded three attackers. Having people create space for Messi is not a problem for a great number of Barcelona players. But when there are only two real options up front, defenses can put more bodies on Messi and take their chances one on one with Tello or whoever the second man is.

Having a third option immediately gives Messi more space when he first gets on the ball and takes pressure off the defense on counters.

If Pep does not field three true forwards against Chelsea, look for the Blues to keep Barcelona below the three goals that will most likely be needed to move on.

Real Madrid's Attack the Best in the History of Spanish Football

Congratulations to Real Madrid, who made history yet again!

When Sami Khedira scored the opening goal, it gave Real 107 on the season. That breaks La Liga's single season record for goals scored by a team.

But despite that strategy, Real has now become at least one of the very best attacking sides in the history of Spanish football.

Cristiano Ronaldo has already broken the individual record for most goals in a season. While that goal is also incredible and worthy of all respect, Ronaldo also did that last year.

This record goes to the entire team and gives credence to the idea of the current Real Madrid squad being the best in their very decorated history.

If this is not the best Real Madrid side of all time, it is at least the most prolific. Jose Mourinho is often criticized for being too defensive-minded, and there is a fair argument there.

Real Madrid's Counter Attack Is Peerless

There may be other counter attacks nearly as good as Real's, but there are none better.

Throughout the season, Real has put on a clinic, showing students of the beautiful game exactly how a counter attack is to be executed.

This team is simply built for this fast attacking style.

With so much pace up front, the ability for Mezut Ozil to read defenses, the way the defensive midfielders can gain possession and then quickly find the wide men, and the width created on the wing, Madrid's counter is as unstoppable as any I have seen.

It is the perfect way to attack Barcelona, and Madrid's second goal was a fine example of how deadly Real Madrid can be.

Angel di Maria found space after getting the ball back, while Ozil and Benzema spread play wide to receive. As soon as di Maria released, he moved quickly to pull defenders off of Ozil.

As soon as the first pass was made, Ronaldo—who had swapped with the Frenchman to get into the central role—went right into Barcelona's central defense and found the seam.

Ozil then took just a moment to control the ball and envision his pass. It was perfection and we have seen it all season long.

Take notes, coaches of the world.

Who Never Steps Up in Big Games?

For the past year especially, many critics have unfairly attacked Cristiano Ronaldo as someone who does not step up in big games.

While I thought that claim was inaccurate to begin with, this most recent Clasico, and this season, should silence all critics for good.

Even before tonight, Ronaldo has shown that he plays when it matters. Starting with last season's Copa del Rey final when Ronaldo gave Real Madrid their first trophy in three years. He has been immense in almost every big match.

Whether it was in Clasico's or a Madrid derby that could have emotionally broken Real's title hopes, Ronaldo has stepped up his game in the biggest moments.

That big game play by Ronaldo continued in the Clasico and marked the end of Barcelona's reign in La Liga.

When Alexis Sanchez brought Barcelona level in the 70th minute, it seemed as though the momentum had shifted.

Camp Nou saw the match going the other way and were just waiting for the winning goal to come for Barcelona. After all, Real Madrid had been here before—taking the lead just to lose the mental edge later on.

But then Mr. Small Time himself put the game away three minutes later.

Not only did Ronaldo give Real the lead, he put a dagger in the heart of Barcelona right when hope had peaked.

Beyond the goal, though, CR7 was outstanding all match. Before the first goal, he was spreading Barcelona's defense and working with his midfield. After the goal, he was tracking back and set himself up perfectly for the counter attack.

All this talk of Cristiano Ronaldo not playing well in big matches has to end now.  In the three-to-four Clasicos, Ronaldo has three goals and Messi has none.

La Liga Is over

We thought this was obvious a month ago, but a terrible two weeks for Real Madrid back in March allowed Barcelona to gimp on in the title run.

Neither team has been great in the second half, but Barcelona has gotten better results. After letting Real Madrid build a 10 point lead, Pep Guardiola knew the race was over.

But then Real Madrid began to look vulnerable. They dropped four points in three days against Malaga and Villarreal.

Then Valencia held Real to a goalless draw, and a Madrid derby looked like the mental defeat that Barcelona would need to snatch momentum.

Fortunately for Real, Cristiano Ronaldo's big-game play saved the derby and, in a sense, Madrid's season.

Real Madrid now have a seven point lead with only four games to play. Barcelona is not mathematically out of it yet, but we all know it is over.

Ironically, despite Real's near epic collapse, they have a chance to finish the season with just two losses all season.

They can also break the single season points record by reaching 100 if they win every match to end the season.

The records just do not stop with this club. Are we seeing a changing of the guard?

Lots of Room for Improvement

In the past two seasons, Barcelona have set a very high standard for themselves.

They have been the best team in the world ever since Pep Guardiola's arrival to Camp Nou, but we may now be watching their arch rival replacing them at the pinnacle of the game.

This Clasico showed the many weaknesses that the club has shown this season. The defense was slow, weak and terrible in the air. The attack was too weak aside from Messi, and Real shut Leo down far too easily as a result.

Looking to next season for Barcelona, there is a great need to consider getting another striker and some defensive help.

Throughout this season, the club has been too reliant on the Argentinian, and none of the other attacking options have carried enough of the goal-scoring load.

This new signing could be Neymar, but it does not necessarily have to be a blockbuster move. Another center-forward to add more depth could be all the club needs.

Having everyone back to full health would be nice, but it does not guarantee form or even sustainable fitness. A purchase will likely be made up front.

In addition to the attack, defensive help is clearly needed. Left back should be the priority and they may have their solution in Jordi Alva. Also, another quality central defender is also needed.

Carles Puyol is on the tail end of his incredible career and cannot be looked at as the first-team answer for the club. Javier Mascherano has been a key player, but has shown throughout the season that he is not a central defender.

Barcelona must add more quality depth. Next season, the club will promote Marc Muniesa and Marc Bartra along with Andreu Fontas, but none of those players can be looked at as the immediate answer.

A top-class defender must be brought in elsewhere. Someone like Thiago Silva may be too expensive and even too old. David Luiz is not the defensive answer. Mat Hummels will be hard to get.

This means that Barcelona may struggle to complete the team even after the summer. Is the era of Barcelona nearing its end?

Conclusion

Congratulations again to Real Madrid!

The title has not technically been won, but the club and its fans will surely celebrate as if it has been tonight.

What an emotional and well-deserved win to cap off one of the best seasons of any Spanish club in history.

Congratulations to the club for continuing to set records, and to Cristiano Ronaldo for silencing the most stubborn critics.

You have read my observation from the game, but what were yours? What did you take away from the game, and what have I missed?

Thank you for reading. I welcome and appreciate all feedback.