I just got finished watching the El Clasico match between Barcelona and Madrid. It was a match of contrasts, in a lot of ways. With that in mind, here are my thoughts on the match:
Playing on a wet surface makes for interesting times, if you play a possession-based game
At times, both teams’ passing seemed erratic and haphazard. Madrid could not string more than three passes together, before wasting their possession. Barca were having a less difficult time, but it looked like the wet surface unsettled their rhythm at points.
Too much time spent on the floor, or jawing to the referee
Sanchez, Messi, Ronaldo, even Puyol to a point; all of them spent a good portion of the match contesting decisions. To be fair, I saw it more from the Barcelona players than I did Madrid’s. There was not that much in the way of questionable calls, to me at least, during this match. It got to the point where just before the end of the first half, Xabi Alonso took to diving, to see if any ground could be made up. On the other side, Alexis Sanchez seemed to go down, and then get up and protest, at the slightest of breezes. Messi received a yellow for dissent. It dialed up the absurdity of this fixture, that was already pretty high, to a level that goes beyond plaid.
Mourinho continues to get his tactics wrong against Barca
The Special One seems to have a rough time against Barcelona. I believe it was mentioned that the only team he has beaten the Catalan juggernauts with, was Inter. Mourinho put out a Madrid squad that was bound and determined to take the game to Barca. And they did that, for the first five minutes. After that the familiar rhythm of the Barcelona game reappeared, and Madrid got caught out more times than I could count. Between playing the back four a little higher, their man-marking system seemed to fail them. Especially once the frustration set in, and Madrid’s back four reverted to the youth football tactic of crowding the man with the ball. Granted it was Messi. However, they should all know that Messi does not hold the ball any longer than is absolutely necessary. Thus, space was created in Barcelona’s attacking third, and Madrid were exposed. That ultimately led to Fabregas’ goal.
This is not the end of the world for Madrid
Okay, so Barcelona and Madrid are tied atop La Liga in terms of points. Madrid still has a game in hand over the Catalans, which could prove pivotal later in the season. Madrid, going into this game, was riding a 15 match win streak. Okay, so that streak is broken. They can turn around and start another, and make the rest of the season difficult on Barca, to keep up with. This Madrid team has the talent. Likewise, Barcelona were on a pretty good run themselves. They had a streak of 14 wins, 2 draws, and a loss; all in the same time period as Madrid’s 15 match streak. It will be a horserace to see who finishes atop La Liga. As well as how these two teams fare in Europe. As both are currently being tipped to lift Big Ears at the end of the season.
