Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: All Is Not Lost for Los Blancos

Real Madrid may have lost the Super Cup to Barcelona in the latest in a string of Clasico disappointments, but the positives of the game far outweigh the negatives. So much so, in fact, that it is ominous of future triumphs over their hated rivals.

Sure, the game was a glorified friendly. Barca's team may not have been fully fit or quite at full strength yet, as has been suggested over and over again, but what tells us that Madrid was fully prepared for the upcoming season? Their performances in the preseason?

Notably below-par were the performances of Ronaldo and Benzema.

Sure, Benzema looked great with the ball and making runs, but his finishing was abominable; Ronaldo's goals may have been there, but his possession and various runs were not quite as sparkling as we've come to expect. 

With the start of the season now weeks away (maybe months if this strike isn't resolved soon), why would Jose Mourinho have the team peaking now?

The play of Real Madrid was far better than their performances in last year's Clasicos. Whereas last year the boys from the capital played the game not to lose, this year they took the tie to Barcelona and played an inspired game.

They were unlucky not to score more in the periods in which they dominated, which were vast; I wouldn't expect that to be the case when the squad settles into the season.

But, of course, Barcelona was also not at their best over the tie. In addition, Barca's effectiveness, turning a total of two chances in the first half of the tie at the Santiago Bernabeu into two goals, is not something that will go away as the season continues.

Obviously, even though Madrid will improve over the season, so will Barcelona. However, there was a marked change in something in this tie that hints at the changing of the guard in this Clasico rivalry: the unpleasant incidents. 

Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of unpleasant incidents in their meetings last season; the red cards in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League meetings suggest this. However, the overall tenor of those incidents were always the same: Real Madrid's frustration with a superior opponent and anger at the referees.

In this tie, it looked as though we would go the entire two matches without one of these incidents. That is, until Marcelo's crunching scissor-kick tackle on Fabregas. The ensuing Barcelona-defending-their-player routine was quite predictable; however, the anger of the Madrid players, who came in to defend Marcelo, and even the anger of the Special One, who pulled at the face of Barca assistant Vilanova, was not so expected. 

On the surface, this may have looked similar to last season, but if one looks closer, it is clear that this was not the same team—this was a squad showing anger and hatred toward another squad that they knew they could beat, but also frustration at themselves for not completing the task that was right in front of them.

Barcelona no longer has a frustrated rival who will lie low in an attempt not to lose. Instead, they have an angry rival who will come after them and do anything within their power to win.

Barca is an all-time squad and may be able to find a way to keep Madrid at bay; but with this mindset, those players and that manager, I expect at least some Madrid triumphs this season.

Oh yes, and some amazing matches.