In addition, for a man so often called “a free kick specialist”, Ronaldo hit almost every one of his free kick attempts (all in very good scoring positions) directly into the Barcelona wall. So absent was Real’s poster boy most would agree that Jose Mourinho made a rare tactical error when he brought off Angel di Maria instead of substituting his No. 7. Di Maria was Madrid’s star player, constantly pressuring Valdes and causing Barcelona as many problems down the left side as Dani Alves was causing Madrid down the right. After the Argentinian was taken off the pitch, Madrid never looked like quite the same team.
Lionel Messi, by his own high standards, did not have a good game either. For a good deal of the first half, the high pressure style of the Madrid defenders and midfielders kept the Argentinean No. 10 quiet. In addition, it could be argued that Messi was lucky to stay on the pitch. He earned a booking for, of all things, dissent before bringing down Xabi Alonso with a late challenge. Referee David Fernández Borbalán, correctly in this writer’s opinion, chose to show leniency. A sending off with the second half still to play would have been a massive decision to make, as for either team to lose one of their players would have all but handed the win to their opponents, such is the quality of players each possess.
However, as much as Mourinho’s men were able to stifle Messi’s playing style for a while, it only takes one moment of magic to remind you how talented the little man is. His work to set up Barcelona’s opening goal, and equaliser, was sublime. Messi worked his way through a cul-de-sac of Madrid players using a trademark mazy run, with the ball appearing superglued to his boot, before slotting a beautifully weighted ball through to Alexis Sanchez who finished in style.
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It is matches like this which once again reiterate why Lionel Messi remains the world’s best player and why he should make it three Ballon d’Or wins in a row on January 9th.
Barcelona are still the team to beat. Although this loss wasn’t a complete disaster for Mourinho and his men (Madrid are level on points with Barcelona but have a game in hand over their rivals), it is tough to deny that Barcelona remain La Liga’s best team. Under Mourinho’s guidance, Real have won just one of the twelve matches they have contested with Barcelona, losing eight of those.
In this latest encounter I believe Mourinho got his tactics absolutely spot on and set his team out right. The high pressure style caused Barcelona problems but, yet again, El Catalans were able to weather the storm and secure another win with their possession football style. This was Madrid’s big chance to show that they are the new top dogs in Spanish football and although they could feasibly win every match they play against teams not named “Barcelona” it seems they will always struggle with Barca’s style. Perhaps Mourinho’s tactics will pay off next time the teams meet in La Liga on April 22nd next year. I wouldn’t count on it though.
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Real were simply not good enough, giving Blaugrana a game for 20 minutes is not enough, the game is 90 minutes. When Pep tinckered with his tactics, which was so well executed by his multi skilled men, Madrid and Mourinho simply had no answer. If you take away the 2 lucky goals, Benzema and Xavi then the score stands at 0-2, Real coundn’t come up with another goal despite scoring after 23 seconds…and thats from a side the ruthlessly destroyed all its opponents scoring 65 goals in the process. Absolutely no excuse Im afraid just ask all the sports journalists around the glode, notably a Madridista named Sid Lowe of the Guardian.