Paris Saint-Germain have been the only club to find the net multiple times against Barcelona this season. So ahead of the season's first Clásico, I put on the game tape and fired up Paint to forge another disgrace against art while trying to figure out what Ligue 1's champions did so well.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique sent out a back line of Jordi Alba, Jérémy Mathieu, Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves. I'm operating under the assumption Real Madrid will be seeing at least 75 percent of the players in that formation because A) this formation is probably their preferred for dealing with stronger attacking sides, and B) I don't imagine Enrique will trust Piqué and Marc Bartra to match Bale James and Ronaldo's pace.
It didn't take too long for PSG to settle in and start attacking as they netted twice from set pieces in the first 26 minutes. A common denominator in the buildup ahead of each goal was risky play by Barcelona's fullbacks.
Here, PSG did a great job at bracketing Alves as he tried to dribble out of his own box. Maybe it was a poor decision on Alves' part, but PSG's midfield did a great job all night of forcing Barcelona's defenders to get rid of the ball before they wanted to. This led to a giveaway and subsequent free kick and goal.
Ahead of PSG's second goal, Jordi Alba had a similar blunder. Here, he had a few decent passing lanes but he, too, tried to dribble past his man, and ended up turning the ball over. PSG were off to the races immediately, coerced Barça into fouling, and scored on the set piece.
Both Dani Alves and Jordi Alba have exceptional ball skills, but their confidence in said ball skills cost them. Paris Saint-Germain put on a clinic on how to press in the midfield -- they were tenacious but didn't overpursue, a common mistake teams make against Barcelona.
Paris Saint-Germain's forwards were Edinson Cavani, Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore, and their patience while attacking all night was key.
Pastore didn't often waste crosses and caused all sorts of problems. Cavani seemed a bit out of sorts on the ball and would often take a few touches too many when in on goal, but the service he was routinely getting from Lucas and Pastore was quality. This, like keeping disciplined while pressing, is something Real will certainly try to emulate.
PSG were very keen on using 1-2 passes down the wings to spring their forwards. This is pertinent to Madrid because Marcelo and Ronaldo have been doing this for years, and given Alba and Alves' aggressive natures, it could be of even more use against Barça.
A few things were constant on all three of PSG's goals: the service into the area was precisely put to either post, and the scorer beat their man with a composed first touch and finish. Not exactly rocket science.
Goal #1: David Luiz beats Mascherano inside, and Lucas' service hits him right at his feet. Dani Alves was the help defender, but he stepped forward to try to head it out. Again, maybe a bad decision by Alves, but how Barça defend set pieces is a whole other rabbit hole to go down.
Goal #2: Motta's service meets Verratti at the far past and he heads it past a charging Marc-André ter Stegen. Notice eight Barcelona players in the box to PSG's six. Looks like Madrid aren't the only La Liga team with deplorable corner defending!
Goal #3: A few 1-2 passes release Van Der Wiel down the wing and he delivers the ball gorgeously to Matuidi, just out of the reach of a sliding Jordi Alba.
Paris Saint-Germain were the first quality attacking side Barça's faced this season, and they beat them with relatively simple tactics. This is a Barcelona defense that is certainly strong when composed, but if Ancelotti's boys can get them panicked and tracking back unexpectedly, their weaknesses will be exposed.
If Madrid want to keep the ball on the wings and let the likes of Modrić, Isco and James send crosses in, I imagine chances would come. If Madrid want to send it through the middle, it would require A) moving Ronaldo to a more central role, and B) hoping Enrique sends out Pique and/or Bartra to defend the center of the pitch.
Jérémy Mathieu has surprised everyone with how well he's shored up Barcelona's defense, and while Luis Suárez's return will make headlines, Thomas Vermaelen's (pending) return might be more impactful for Barça in the defensive midfield. Many of Barça's defensive flaws from last season hold true, but their defensive record in La Liga speaks for itself. We'll find out if they're for real or not when they step onto the Bernabéu.