Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: 6 Points from the Spanish Supercopa Second Leg

El Clasico, ladies and gentlemen.

The Spanish Supercopa is the way Europe's greatest rivalry should be played.

No fights, no short tempers, no sore losers—just football. Great football.

The first leg showed Barcelona near their best, and they dominated their rivals. In the capital, we saw the spirit and superiority of Real Madrid overcome a one-goal deficit to lift their first trophy of the season.

Tito Vilanova's defense cost them big time, but Madrid's attack was so relentless that I'm not sure anyone could have kept a clean sheet against them.

This match could mean nothing when the dust is settled and La Liga is decided.

On the other hand, it could be the early momentum shift that gives Madrid the confidence, mental supremacy and winning streak that helps them retain the title.

Read on to see six things we learned in the second leg of the Spanish Supercopa.

Mourinho: Predictable, but Victorious

He is not sneaky, he will not surprise you and his repertoire is not very deep.

In other words, Jose Mourinho is not the greatest tactician.

Fortunately for Real Madrid, he doesn't have to be. He has perhaps the most talented team in football and knows exactly how to play to the strengths of the collective.

Many of us knew how the two legs would be played. We've seen it so many times before in these types of competitions—when he plays the first leg away, especially.

The Madrid boss likes to play very defensively in the first half of the first match, playing off the counter attack.

He usually opens up a bit more in the second half, but leaves the double pivot anchored to cover the defense.

In the second leg, he allows the team open up in the first half.

No big surprises, no shocking strategy—but effective. It is hard to criticize a manager who is so successful in two-legged ties no matter how limited his tactics are.

For Barcelona, knowing the train is coming and getting out of the way are two different things. Unfortunately for Cules, La Blaugrana almost got run over by Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Did Victor Valdes Cost Barcelona?

After the first leg had been played in Barcelona, many people—including myself—were critical of the Barcelona shot-stopper.

Victor Valdes played a great match, but made one huge error that I believed could cost his team the trophy.

In the end, that vital away goal was the difference when the final whistle blew.

However, does that make Valdes responsible for losing the trophy? I think a bit more analysis is needed.

Why Victor Valdes Cost Barcelona

There is no doubt that the second away goal was the decisive factor. Yes, the Blaugrana keeper kept his team in the game at Madrid, but how much of that is his fault?

We have to look past the score. Not only did Valdes put Madrid in great position to win the tie, he gave them hope and that was more important in the end.

Being down 3-1 and being outplayed by their rivals seemed to break Madrid. They were back to that familiar place, with Barcelona proving they are still the superior team. The difference in their league performances further proved that on the following weekend.

Valdes' big error changed not just the goal count, but the mood and mentality of Los Blancos.

Without that second goal, Mourinho and company would have limped back to Madrid with very little hope.

They would have needed at least two goals and to keep Barcelona out of the net to win. When facing their rivals, that may have been too much to overcome, even for the reigning league champions.

Therefore, we have to ask, just how much did that second goal really change the final score?

Or Save Them?

Why Victor Valdes Saved Barcelona

Yes, without that away goal, the final score would have left Barcelona victorious. However, without Valdes in goal for both matches, Real Madrid could have scored close to 10 goals.

Aside from his one big mistake, I mentioned the keeper was great in the first leg. In the second leg, Valdes was the only reason Barcelona weren't completely embarrassed.

While his central defense was shaky, inconsistent and lacked focus, Valdes was simply incredible.

Los Merengues were relentless in the first half and were unlucky not to have returned La Manita to Barcelona. They reminded everyone why they were so deadly last season.

Gonzalo Higuain's wastefulness limited the route, but Valdes deserves far more credit than the Argentinian deserves blame.

Valdes made five saves against the league's best attack and kept his team in the game. He made no mistakes and limited damage in the end.

Many want to blame him and send him packing, but would you rather live with the current results or 3-1 in the first leg and a 6-1 blowout in the second leg?

If Victor Valdes were not in goal, the final goal tally against Barcelona could have been much worse.

Are Valdes' mistakes big enough to outweigh his usual quality in goal?

Barcelona Will Struggle to Win Trophies with This Defense

For those who regularly read my work or that of Xoel Cardenas, last night's defensive performance should not have come as a huge surprise.

The current defense is weak, lacks a true leader and suffers from the stubborn tactics of Barcelona's style of football.

Without Carles Puyol, there is no one to lead and direct the back line. Gerard Pique is a great defender, but has not yet become that person who can control the back half.

Javier Mascherano is solid, but wildly inconsistent. His positioning has always been poor and he gets caught out far too often on counter attacks.

However, it is not just the players who are to blame. The defense has been a concern for the last three seasons. Puyol hasn't been able to stay healthy since 2009.

So how have Barcelona responded?

By converting a defensive midfielder to center-back, relying on unproven youth products for depth and buying a second attacking full-back that leaves the back line even more exposed.

If Barcelona is going to get back to the pinnacle of European football, serious help is needed in defense. That means buying a world class center-back.

The team showed tremendous character to battle with a man down, but the close result should not mask the very serious defensive issues at Barcelona.

Real Madrid's Attack Still the Deadliest in Spain

In the majority of games that Barcelona plays in Spain and the Champions League, the great weakness of the team is masked.

There just aren't many teams on the continent with the right mix of a quick, potent attack and a midfield capable of pressing Barcelona enough to pull off a counter-attack without opening themselves up to slaughter.

Unfortunately for Cules, the team best suited to do just that is Real Madrid.

They have an elite midfield unit who can limit lanes and dispossess the Catalans, a stout defense and an attack that is almost unrivaled in football.

They showed it last night and showed it last season—Real Madrid are built to attack. Mourinho finally let them play to that strength.

Gonzalo Higuain has started the new campaign with a mission to take back his starting job, Ronaldo has slowly started getting back to form and Karim Benzema will likely be right behind him.

Last season, Real broke countless scoring records in Spain. They had the best attack in all of Europe at times.

Last night, they showed that they will not relinquish that title any time soon. Someone will have to take it.

Watch Out, La Liga

The good news for Barcelona and the rest of La Liga is that the reigning champs have started slowly and are yet to pick up a win.

With a quick turnaround before facing a good Granada team this weekend, Los Blancos could go their first three matches without taking three points.

After that, watch out.

Real Madrid will have more than a full week's rest to get everyone healthy and fit. They already look to have their confidence back.

This team just welcomed Barcelona into the Bernabeu—a place where they had not beaten their rivals since 2008—feeling tired, short of full strength and still dominated their opponents.

Barcelona were fortunate to have not left Madrid in shame after the defeat.

Imagine what could have been if Real had been rested.

If last night's near-demolition of the league's second best team is a sign of things to come, the rest of the league and the rest of Europe should be fearful of playing a fully fit Madrid side.

Real Madrid: The New Standard in Spain?

This is a big point that many fans will debate over.

Have Real Madrid replaced Barcelona as the standard of Spanish football?

Some could say it is premature to say this. Los Merengues are the better team, but are they the team Europe fears most?

"It was just one match. It wasn't even a league match. How many points does Madrid have in La Liga?"

All fine points, to be sure. However, let's look beyond last night.

When Barcelona last won the league, Spain's final match ended with Real Madrid lifting the Copa del Rey trophy after beating their rivals.

The next season, Real Madrid finally ended Pep Guardiola's stranglehold on the league title and were a penalty shootout away from the Champions League final.

Last night, they turned a 3-2 deficit around and almost played their rivals off the pitch in the first half.

Barcelona is still one of Europe's elite, and maybe still the best. However, Real Madrid have spent more than three years assembling a team that can overcome them.

This is how the team is built to play. Real Madrid have spent hundreds of millions of euros and more than three years building a team that can counter Barcelona's strengths.

We are finally seeing the results of that planning.

Follow @MichaelCernaBR