AP Photo/Andres KudackiReal Madrid to its archenemy 5-0, but the scoreline doesn't begin to tell of Barca's total domination.Here's a frightening realization for you: Things could have been a lot worse for Real Madrid in its 5-0 battering at the hands of Barcelona.
It could have been worse if Lionel Messi's early chip had gone in, rather than clipped the post.
It could have been worse if Messi had played the ball into the path of the wide-open David Villa shortly after Barca went up 2-0.
It could have been worse if Xavi had played it square to the unmarked Messi or Villa, rather than shanking the ball into the side-netting from an impossible angle.
It could have been worse if Bojan Krkic hadn't stumbled when he broke free seconds after coming on.
It could have been much worse for Real supercoach Jose Mourinho, who had never lost by more than 3-0 in a league game in his life, and spent much of the game blushing in shame. Perhaps an admission that all was lost after the first half, the Special One took off his lone attacking midfielder, Mesut Ozil, and replaced him with a third defensive midfielder, Lassana Diarra. Maybe Mourinho thought Diarra would help Real gain control of the midfield. But it clearly didn't work. Nor did Real's offside traps, which were exploited time and again.
Finally, though, Barcelona took things down a gear after it built a commanding 4-0 lead and contented itself with skipping the ball back and forth as if the players were taking a leisurely walk along the beach. Barca was showing its sworn enemies the kind of mercy of a boxer standing over his vanquished opponent, knowing he could pound on him some more, but that he's had enough.
Barcelona destroyed Real. But Barca also demonstrated -- on this day, anyway -- their superior style of play and approach to the game. That theirs is a team built, not bought. That their wins are won positively, not negatively, by taking on the burden of possession and perfection, rather than pouncing on those unable to defend themselves.
Barca left Real with just enough life in them to walk their forced march of shame back to Madrid, all of the injustices the capital ever brought on Catalonia resoundingly avenged at long last.
