Another El- Clasico ends with the same kind of result we have gotten used to over the last 3 years, a number of lessons were learnt and i was able to come to certain conclusions from last night's clash.
Messi V Ronaldo (No Contest)
Any time the El Clasico is on the horizon, a lot is made about it been a battle between two of the best footballers in the world; but on the strength of yesterday's showing, Lionel Messi is many eons ahead of Ronaldo. Ronaldo needs to be a big game changer and more of a team player. I have battled with the urge to write a piece comparing both of them, but on yesterday's performance there's absolutely no need.
Your Reputation precedes you
How else can you justify Messi not getting sent off after an obvious second bookable offense; well the whole world knows Messi not to be a dirty player, but then the outcome may just have been different if he had been sent off.
Pep has got mad guts
In my preview of the game, i clearly stated that Guardiola would not dear revert to a back 3 based formation; he did not even do that. He named his regular back line, but reconfigured the back four pushing Alves up the pitch as a winger, hence eliminating the effect of Real trying to break on that side with Puyol providing the cover whenever Alves left gaps on his forward forays. It was unimaginable having a back four; Puyol (at Right Back), Busquets at Center Back partnering Pique with Abidal in his regular left back position for this kind of game. The last time, i can remember Barca having a back line reconfigured like this was again Manchester United in the 2009 Rome UCL Final with Yaya Toure at center back; the ploy worked perfectly with Alves supplying the telling cross for the third goal. Pep is a genius, simply put.
What do Real have to do to beat Barca?
Frankly, its not as simple as it looks, Mourinho has done it all; defended, pressed hard, closed down all round the pitch; but what i feel he needs to really do is throw caution to the wind. Real Madrid have the players, man for man they can match Barca. You've just got to take the game to them simple and short and they need a huge slice of luck.
Mourinho needs to grow some Balls
When your top player or marquee player does not turn for the biggest game of the season; you simply man up and substitute him; with the caliber of players Real Madrid have the result could not have been different or any worse with or without Ronaldo. Grow some balls Jose.
