The Champions League quarterfinals have made one thing very clear: Barça and Real Madrid are experiencing radically different moments. While the blaugrana team advances with determination and joy, the White team seems to have lost its soul.
Hansi Flick's Barça smiles. Despite a small dip in November and December, they have come back strong after the Christmas break. They haven't lost since then and remain alive in all competitions, winning decisively against Borussia Dortmund and already dreaming of the semifinals.
On the other side, Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid, a team that seemed invincible after signing Mbappé, but the reality has been different. Struggling in every match, a heavy defeat at the Emirates. Now, an almost impossible comeback as the only way out.
The Painful Fact
Juanma Castaño made it clear on El Partidazo de COPE. After reviewing the quarterfinal matches, he dropped the fact that portrays the two Spanish giants.
"Barça has run 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) more than Real Madrid in their matches," he said with a tone of surprise. He concluded: "I thought teams without the ball ran more. It's outrageous."
It's not just a number; it's an X-ray of what's happening. The White team ran just 62.9 miles (101.2 kilometers) against Arsenal. The English, 70.8 miles (113.9 kilometers), Barça, against Dortmund, went even higher.
Lack of Fuel or Soul?
The physical difference between both teams is scandalous, but beyond the form, the worrying thing is the attitude. Because Madrid not only ran less, they did it when they didn't have the ball. That is, they neither dominated nor fought enough.
Pedro Martín, Castaño's colleague, summed it up brilliantly: "It's as if Real Madrid had played with one less footballer."
Many people had that feeling. In the first half, Madrid held on, competed, but after the break, they deflated. Arsenal ran over them physically and mentally.
Barça, in Another Dimension
Meanwhile, Barça breathes easy. Their advantage is wide, and they can face the return leg with some calm. In Montjuïc, they danced around Dortmund with a mix of intensity, precision, and joy; the team seems to have found its identity.
They not only win, they run and fight. They convey excitement, something Madrid has lost, at least for now.
Comeback or Farewell?
The return leg remains. If Madrid has shown anything in its history, it's that they can never be counted out. But this time, the path is uphill.
That fact shared by Castaño is more than a statistic. It's a reflection of what today separates the two greats of Spanish soccer.