Real Madrid exploited Barcelona's defensive vulnerabilities in El Clásico through coordinated ball switches and numerical overloads on the flanks. Mourinho's team identified that Barcelona's fullbacks operated too far apart, creating gaps that midfielders couldn't cover quickly. Federico Valverde's deep positioning allowed him to switch play across the pitch, forcing Barcelona's defense into constant lateral movement.
Real Madrid maintained extra players wide on both flanks, systematically dragging Barcelona toward one side before transitioning to the opposite wing. When Barcelona's press moved to contain the ball, gaps opened between their center-backs and fullbacks. Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappé, and Yankuba Diomandé repeatedly found themselves unmarked in these spaces after Valverde's switches.
Andriy Lunin replaced the ill Thibaut Courtois in goal and contributed positively to Real Madrid's buildup play. The team's structure allowed them to generate dangerous situations near Barcelona's penalty area by exploiting the disconnect between their defensive lines.
