Barcelona 3:0 Real Madrid: The 5 Things We Learned As Barca Crush El Clasico Rivals in Preseason

Real Madrid's impressive start to preseason came to a sudden halt when Barcelona handed them a resounding 3-0 defeat in their El Clasico showdown on Saturday, July 29.

Los Blancos were considered strong favourites before their reunion with Barcelona in Arlington, Texas, United States of America.

Contrary to expectations, Xavi's team emerged victorious, claiming the bragging rights in their first match-up against Real Madrid ahead of the upcoming season.

Sports Brief examines the five key takeaways from this heated 'El Clasico Americano':

Madrid needs Benzema's replacement ASAP

Carlo Ancelotti's team seemed to cope well without Karim Benzema until they faced Barcelona, and that's when the void left by the departed Frenchman became evident.

Despite Joselu's impressive bicycle kick against Manchester United, it might not be enough to guarantee him a permanent spot in the starting lineup.

At best, he is likely to be viewed as a valuable squad player. In simpler terms, the team is in urgent need of a high-quality forward, possibly someone of Kylian Mbappe's calibre.

Barcelona are no longer pushovers

Under Xavi Hernandez's leadership, it is evident that Barcelona has deviated from its traditional DNA, as the protege of Pep Guardiola places significant emphasis on defence first.

This approach stands in stark contrast to the principles and ideals of Guardiola, who is known for his attacking philosophy, especially during his time with the Catalan giants.

However, despite this departure from the tiki-taka-flavoured brand of football associated with Barcelona, Xavi's tactics have proven to be effective.

He led the team to clinch La Liga last season and continues to work his magic, as demonstrated by their impressive 3-0 victory over Real Madrid.

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Although the team may lack the fluidity of tiki-taka under Xavi, they compensate with their unwavering fighting spirit and clever gameplay, which gives them a feisty and determined appearance on the field. This combination seems to be the right formula for success under the former midfielder's guidance.

Vinicius on penalty duties

Vinicius Jr has emerged as the undisputed poster boy of Madrid, seemingly taking over from Benzema. However, to fulfill the penalty duty role, he needs more than just wearing the iconic No.7 shirt.

Benzema, now playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Ittihad, was prolific in scoring penalties, especially during clutch moments, contributing significantly to the team, per Fansided.

As of now, Ancelotti has not settled on a definitive penalty taker, but it's crucial to find one before the season commences, especially after Vinicius Jr's failed attempt against Barca. If Mbappe joins the team, this dilemma may be resolved, as he could become the designated penalty taker for the White Angels.

Xavi still has Ancelotti's number

In his relatively early years as a manager, the former Spain midfielder has managed to build an astonishingly one-sided head-to-head record against Carlo Ancelotti.

Since taking on the role of head coach at Barca, Xavi has faced the veteran Italian tactician on ten occasions, including the recent pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Out of these matches, the 42-year-old has secured an impressive seven victories, experiencing only three losses, including the Spanish Super Cup, which originally resulted in a draw after 90 minutes before Madrid edged them in extra time.

Whatever the circumstances, Ancelotti seems to consistently struggle whenever he comes face-to-face with Xavi, making the matchups quite tilted in favour of the 43-year-old.

Courtois, Ter Stergen impressive

Barcelona and Real Madrid undeniably stand as the top clubs in Spain, and they also happen to boast the world's finest goalkeepers by a considerable margin.

Thibaut Courtois has proven to be a wise acquisition for Real Madrid. Despite a challenging first season, the Belgian shot-stopper has displayed remarkable performances, solidifying his position as one of the best in his role.

In his most recent match for Los Blancos, he showcased his skills with four exceptional saves, including a point-blank stop against Ousmane Dembele, further affirming his goalkeeping prowess.

On the other side of the El Clasico rivalry, Marc Andre Ter Stegen has become an indispensable figure at Camp Nou.

In the same match in Texas, he demonstrated his significance to the club with an impeccable display, making an impressive total of seven saves that exhibited his exceptional goalkeeping abilities.