‘Big game bottler’ Zlatan Ibrahimovic came good in the ‘clasico de debutantes’ on Sunday night –a match that ranks amongst the most eagerly anticipated Barça-Madrid clashes in recent memory. An almost unprecedented amount of hype in the English press greeted the capital’s finest as they made the trip to the Camp Nou, although the star names were always destined to have bit-part cameos.

Coming into the game, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Leo Messi and ‘Ibra’ were all doubts as main players in the latest ‘El Clasico’, three of them through injury and Kaká through his startling descent in form since putting on the white shirt of Real. The talismanic Messi lasted the full ninety minutes of tough challenges and adolescent bickering –yes, I’m looking at you Dani Alves- whilst Ibrahimovic shared under twenty minutes on the field with Ronaldo. It was fitting, then, that the Swedish superstar should take over headline duties from the attention-seeking Portuguese with his lovely left footed volley. Let’s make this clear: the Barcelona fans like their new signing, but their dislike for Ronaldo is far greater.

Clinical as the finish for their lone goal was, Barça had not looked that potent a threat in the final third. No one-on-one chances, few real troubling shots for Iker Casillas to contend with and perhaps the lack of killer instinct present during the last days of Rijkaard have begun to creep in. Henry drifted at times before being replaced by the hero of the day and Messi’s mazy dribbles never saw him get the ball out from under his feet. Madrid looked the sharper team in front of goal, so why didn’t they get the win?

The flying feet of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique had a lot to do with it. The former’s three last-gasp tackles were the highlight reel material in the case for the defence, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say either was really a standout player. The effectiveness of the back four came principally in their organisation –something lacking in the Madrid last line but not taken advantage of to the extent of the last time the two teams met. Madrid spent a large part of the first half pinging balls out to the left wing, but the zonal defence was largely impenetrable. Manuel Pelligrini’s boys had the better chances, but boy did they have to work for every one of them.

Unbeaten in twelve, odds-on for the top spot in their Champions League group and not as adversely affected by injuries as feared one week ago, Barça look strong even without routing teams as they did earlier in the year. The ‘false derby’ gave the typical psychological advantage oft-repeated by the winning team, but more than anything it was a chance to see what Madrid can bring to the table this season. As the ten men of the Azulgrana danced around Sergio Ramos et al, the question on their minds must have been “is that all?”.