El Clasico

[brunswick]

good time for chelsea to play them - they dont lost twice in a week often.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Barca's light is fading, well and truly found out.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Di Maria and Tello looked woefully out of place in that game. Both of them had shockers.

Barcelona's team were unbalanced, rather than "fading".

 

[Dan Gleeballs]

Happy with that. Not a fan of Barca. Quality side but so dirty when not in possession of the ball

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Quality side but so dirty when not in possession of the ball

Really?

My opinion on the game tonight is quite simple. Barcelona's team selection was all wrong. I can see what Guardiola was trying to do, he was trying to counter the need to win the game tonight with the desire to win against Chelsea on tuesday as well. Leaving out Fabregas and Sanchez, blooding young Tello and playing Puyol at right back with Dani Alves further up the pitch was a bold tactical move. Personally, I thought it left the team unbalanced. Having Busquets and Mascherano as the centre backs is fine, Real weren't going to play with 1 proper striker who was up there the whole time so having the two ball playing midfielders wasn't a problem, in fact it was tactically astute. But by leaving out both Sanchez and Fabregas, the whole attacking emphasis was put on Messi, because Tello is a winger learning his trade, Alves is a full back playing out wide, high up the pitch, and Iniesta, Xavi and Tiago aren't going to be your attacking outlet, they're the supply. It meant that there was more emphasis on Messi, which made it easier for Real to pack their midfield and defence and force Barcelona to play in front of them. Had they started with Fabregas OR Sanchez, either of them would have been the focal point which would have allowed more space for Messi to do what he does. And if you look at the Barcelona goal, that's what happened. Sanchez was occupying the centre backs, Messi got the ball in space and all hell broke loose. Fabregas was the furthest forward at Stamford Bridge, and whilst I don't think you're going to get the most out of him playing that way, it would have allowed Messi more freedom tonight.

Saying that, I also thought that Real Madrid got the game absolutely right as well. It was made easier for them, in my opinion, with Barcelona's team selection and shape, but they played it to perfection. If Pepe wasn't such a wimp and Ramos was slightly less of a dirty, cynical beast, they would be recognised as two of the finest centre backs in the world. Alonso was fantastic, Khedira worked tirelessly and Ozil was as good in defence as he was in playing in Ronaldo for the winner. Only Di Mario had a stinker for Real, which was balanced out by Tello having a shocker for Barcelona.

On the evidence of tonight, Real Madrid have deffinitely closed the gap. I wonder what might have happened if the game hadn't fallen between the semi-finals of the Champions League. And if Real Madrid didn't have the massive advantage of playing the tuesday before, and then the wednesday after.

Hala Madrid!

 

[Bob!]

Does anyone happen to have a feed for the game? My Sky has just crashed on me!

are you chicken licken?

 

[Beach Hut]

Missed the game but very pleased for Real Madrid and hope they win La Liga