4.16.11
Alright! Let’s get this Clasico started!! Coming to you live … from my friend’s basement! It’s Real Madrid versus Barcelona, Part II.
My Villa jersey, check... Spikey black hair, check ... Tiny soul patch, check ... Channeling my inner David Villa Power! Starting off with a couple of pre-match thoughts and stats:
- When Pep Guardiola is manager of Barcelona, they are a perfect 5 for 5 against
Real Madrid in La Liga – 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
- Messi has never scored against a Jose Mourinho coached squad.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has never scored against Barcelona in a Clasico match-up.
- Reports are just starting to come in that Carles Puyol
is in the startingXI for Barca! Amazing that he is fully fit when it
was said he would be out until at least next week’s
Copa del Rey Final against Real Madrid.
- I am nervous.
Let’s take a look at the startingXI’s for both sides:
Barcelona: Valdés ; Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Adriano ; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta ; Pedro, Villa, Messi
Real Madrid: Casillas ; Ramos, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo ; Pepe, Khedira, X.Alonso ; Di Maria, C.Ronaldo, Benzema
Couple things stand out to me … Pepe, who is usually a centre back for Madrid, is listed as playing in midfield (possible defensive holding midfielder). Will be interesting how he handles that role Or if he’s basically going to be a 5th defender and Mourinho just wants to sit back, pack it in and defend … Puyol hasn’t played any kind of a match (start or sub) in 83 days (Jan 22nd against Racing). How will his fitness hold up? Will he be rusty at all? We’re definitely going to find out.
Casillas and Puyol walk out first out of the tunnel as Captain for their club. The opening hymns are being played here at the Bernabeu. The crowd is raucous and you can tell the Madridistas seek revenge over the 5-0 defeat at Camp Nou back in November. Epic trailer shown with Messi and Ronaldo, Messi has scored 48 goals, Ronaldo 40 in all competitions.
1’ - We’re under way at the Bernabeu!
2’ - Announcers are saying this match is the least important of the 4 Clasicos. I could argue that this match could be the most important for psychological reasons. Another big Barcelona win could really kill Real’s confidence.
4’ - Adriano cuts off Cristiano on a counter attack. Cristiano sulks. What else is new.
8’ - Adriano, this time cuts off Khedira on a counter and he flops after contact Adriano gets a yellow. Ridiculous. The result is a Cristiano FK that stays on target (a low line drive) Valdes gets in front of the strike and secures it cleanly.
11’ - Alves makes one of his patented streaking runs down the right side, called offsides. He hasn’t had a lot of touches so far. Usually the offense flows through Dani and Messi on that right sideline.
13’ - Puyol makes an athletic play and intercepts Cristiano’s through-ball, could’ve been dangerous there. Nice to see Puyi able to make plays like that after being out for so long.
15 minute review: Slow pace to start, FCB dominating possession, Madrid just sitting back and allowing Barca to pass it around midfield
18’ - Messi receives a lobbed through-ball past the defense, bit heavy on the first touch and tries a cute volley chip shot, Casillas doesn’t fall for it. Messi tries this at least once a match.
20’ - Puyol with another great defense play, 1v1 against Di Maria... Puyi says “You shall not Pass!” Welcome back Captain!
21’ - Benzema with a shot that skips right in front of Victor, couldn’t hold onto the bad bounce, rolls right past the near post. Madrid corner.
23’ - David Villa flagged for offsides. Absolutely, without a doubt, ranked #1 in offsides called on in all of Europe. Every game this happens ... At least twice.
25’ - Messi plays a good through-ball to Villa, David gets to the ball first, and Casillas takes down Villa in the box. That was a CERTAIN penalty!! Replay clearly shows that Iker doesn’t even get an inch of the ball. Pique gets a yellow afterwards for dissent to the referee. Casillas is so lucky not to get carded or give up a penalty at the very least.
28’ - Possession Stats: 75% Barcelona, Real Madrid 25% … Geez, feels like more like 90%
30 minute review: Tempo and pace have improved on both sides, Messi with a great chance at goal and Villa taken down by Casillas receives a no-call by the ref.
31’ - Marcelo yellow card for a blatant hand ball, he complains anyway.
33’ - Cristano on a counter-attack, first touch is a bit heavy and Adriano recovers with great defending to save the day.
41’ - Messi takes a Pepe leg right to his head. Ouch. Leo is a bit shaken up. Pepe has been really physical all match long with everyone.
43’ - Great combination by Barca … Messi to Iniesta to Villa back to Messi, nice strike on goal, good save by casillas
44’ - Adriano with goal line saving header! Ramos’ attempt was headed for goal with Valdes out of position. . What a play by the Brazilian.
HALFTIME: 0-0, Barca controlling possession, Madrid just defending and playing “long ball” … Best scoring chances so far: Villa’s non-penalty call, Messi’s 2 shots on goal and Cristiano receiving an open look at the top of the box but touch lets him down allowing Adriano to recover to defend.
Man of the Match so far: Adriano with 2 great defensive efforts keeping Madrid scoreless. Working hard.
Extra Thoughts - Madrid practically parking the bus in their defending box, and when they get possession, just sending it down field, trying to get a quick counter. Barca seem comfortable just waiting for an opening, just prodding and probing Madrid’s defense.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
49’ - Ronaldo “earns” a FK on a counter by falling over. This is a dangerous spot, almost dead center from goal about 25m out ….. His FK hits the post, wow!! Valdes was beat, got lucky there.
50’ - Villa earns a PENALTY!! Albiol wraps Villa around his neck and brings him down hard, RED CARD! Madrid down to 10 men!
GOAL!!!!! Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona … MESSI BURIES THE PENALTY RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE!! BARCA! BARCA!! BARRRRRCCCAA!!
51’ - What a surprise, another offsides on Villa.
53’ - WOW, Pepe just shoves Villa over on a counter, HOW IS THAT NOT AT LEAST A FOUL?
56’ Benzema off – Ozil on … Madrid’s most consistent player is in the match, Ozil. Thank you, Mourinho for not playing him all 90 minutes. Love, all Barca fans.
PUYOL IS HURT, What the heck! I said NOT TO RUSH HIM BACK!?! UHG THIS IS TERRIBLE.
HES BEING TAKEN OFF ON A STRETCHER. OMG. Please be ok, Carles…..
Puyol off – Keita on
58’ - Villa with a hat trick! … now 3 offsides in the match. Grr.
61’ - Xavi with a great first touch attempt on goal. Skids off the top crossbar.
63’ - Barca just seem content with possession with this lead 0-1 lead… Madrid is down to 10 men!! … Attack and make it 0-2 and END this match?!?
64’ - Pique defends by using a bicycle to stop a cross, wow athletic play. Those yoga classes with Shakira seem to be paying off.
65’ - Pedro comes off – Afellay on … Adebayor on – Alonso off
67’ - Adebayor blows a huge opportunity, misjudges a cross with no one around him and can’t bring it down in box
70’ - Messi blowing by the defense, sets up 3-course platter for Villa in the box & shoots it RIGHT to Casillas ... Anywhere else on target with that power and it’s a goal. Just not his night. Maybe he needs another International match so he can score again L I’m so tough on David sometimes but that’s only because I expect great things from him. Confidence is struggling but he always plays hard.
76’ - OKAY I’m REALLY STARTING to get UPSET and PISSED OFF. Don’t get this strategy by Barca by just keeping possession ... We should be pressuring AT LEAST in the final third, not just keeping it in midfield .. Even with 10 men, only takes 1 bad touch for a lightning quick Madrid counter attack to make this match level at 1-1
77’ - Another Cristiano FK , What a rocket, but 10 ft over the bar
Final sub: Maxwell on – Adriano off… Barca’s best player tonight … This could easily be a
80’ - Penalty to Madrid. Way too close of a call to get a PK there. Replay shows Alves gets a touch on the ball first. Valdes gets a yellow now for dissent. Mourinho is shown on the sidelines asking for a Red … It’s bad enough that players are always arguing for cards but managers?!
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona … Cristiano scores the PK easily
82’ - Pepe pushes over another Barca player, this time Keita. Maybe he should be in wrestling instead.
83’ - Xavi excellent, superb through-ball to Messi, Casillas reads it and intercepts. Close.
84’ - Pepe takes out Xavi now. Ok maybe Mixed Martial Arts, seems crazy enough … Pepe hasn’t got a SINGLE YELLOW ALL MATCH … W. T. H.
86’ - Villa receives a nice ball over the top of Madrid’s, first touch fails him
88’ - Adebayor streaks down the right side, centers to the top of the box to Khedira, strikes it right at Valdes, wow. Wasted opportunity, thankfully.
89’ - Messi kicks the ball away right on the sidelines and the Madrid fans are throwing sticks or flags at Messi. Utterly class-less.
93’ - Xavi yellow card for protesting. This ref has been HORRENDOUSLY INCONSISTENT.
FINAL WHISTLE: 1-1 … Barca still up 8 points in La Liga … From a big-picture point-of-view, it’s a good result but there was a LOT more to be had for Barcelona.
My expectations were through the roof when Villa earned a penalty, Madrid’s Albiol received a Red Card and Messi made it 1-up for Barcelona on the PK. Then, for some reason, Barca was content with just keeping possession near midfield and playing “piggy in the middle” instead of attacking. Both sides I think will be satisfied, Madrid equalizing with 10-men and Barcelona keeping their 8-point spread in La Liga.
I can’t imagine what the next 3 Clasicos are going to be like, each game, even more stressful with more importance. Next up, Wednesday, Copa del Rey Final, Barcelona vs Real Madrid, being played in Valencia.
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