Real Madrid tactically outshine Barca in El Classico

The Christmas holiday gift from the Spanish La Liga, was on Sunday, the first episode of what is dubbed the "El Classico" of Spain. This is arguably the fiercest rivalry in Europe and historically always creates some classics. This time around it was Barcelona who had the chance to have the first bite at home soil advantage. Last year the corresponding fixture was a brilliant match that ended in a 3-3 stalemate as Lionel Messi single handedly grabbed a point for the home side. With a 4 point advantage over second place Barcelona in the League, Real knew that even if they lose, they will go in to the Winter break as Champions.

My cousin was visiting me from Pittsburg and with a bunch of friends was out traveling to Lake Tahoe for Skiing. I did not want to miss the match but soon realized that i would have to be happy with a repeat telecast. I went one better, and that was to make sure not to know the result of the match before i see the repeat on Monday morning.

It was a glorious sight to see a Camp Nou jam packed with over 98,400 fans. Real in white made just one change. Shcuster brought Heinze in at LB instead of the young Brazilian Marcelo. Though Messi who usually plays in the right wing for Barcelona was injured Heinze was bringing immense experience which could be crucial to such an intense away fixture. Schuster continued to partner Pepe and Cannavaro in the center of defense, and Sergio Ramos at RB. Diarra in the holding role was joined by Baptista. Schuster continued with "the beast" seeing that he has been putting in some superb performances. Sneijder on the Right wing and Robinho on the left joined the dangerous striking duo of Van Nistelrooy and Raul.

Right from the kick off it was evident that Barcelona were not going to attack blindly and would try to play the passing game to create opportunities. Ronaldinho on the left and Iniesta on the right would be the creators and Xavi and Deco in the middle. One thing i can say for sure was seeing Real play in the first 15 minutes, i felt confident and for the first time in a few years proud the way the defense was looking organized. The way Pepe and Cannavaro were cutting off Eto in every play was so confident that i had a feeling that if they can continue this same intensity for a while Real have a chance here.

The initial sparring saw Real's first chance at goal pulled back for an offside on Van Nistelrooy. The Referee was having a tough time with the fouls, but it was the home team who was conceding more trying hard to make sure that Madrid does not get into rhythm and does not hit them in a counter attack. Pepe was the first to get a chance at goal for Real Madrid when he headed a free kick, but it was straight at Valdes. Time after time straight balls through the center were being cut off by Pepe and Cannavaro and there was no wing activity for Barcelona on the right as Heinze had an easy night. Sergio Ramos was marking Ronaldinho very closely, preventing the Brazilian to create any magic.

After a Sneijder free kick was saved by Valdes the resulting counter attack ended in a fine cross from Iniesta into the box, Cassilas saved the shot from Eto, the ball fell to Iniesta, and the Spanish keeper was coolly off his line and covered Iniesta into the corner of the penalty box and finally cleared it. Iniesta fell in anticipation of a penalty and was lucky not to be booked for diving. Sergio Ramos close to the action was quick to give an earful to the young Spaniard.

Again it was Iniesta who crossed in for Ronaldinho who was prevented a goal again by the superlative Cassilas and saved the follow up shot by Deco also though there was a foul committed on Sergio Ramos by Ronladinho that was called by the referee. It was time for the pivotal moment in the game, through the center, Raul headed a ball to Baptista who passed to Van Nistelrooy who passed back one time through to Baptista who scored with a beautiful strike to the top corner. Valdes could not even make an attempt. The brilliant triangle one touch movement split the center of the Barca midfield in half. 0-1 Real Madrid on 36 minutes.

Real Madrid continued looking for the killer blow till half time, Robinho constantly trying to break out of the shackles of Carles Puyol, Raul hardly seeing the ball but it was amazing to see the Captain running at defenders non stop trying to force a mistake. The Spanish titans head into the dressing room at half time with the score 0-1.

The second half saw pretty much of the same intense and fierce attacks from the both sides, really going end to end. But in both cases it was not going beyond the edge of the penalty box. Eto missed a shot on target and Iniesta from the edge of the box again was denied by Casillas. From a corner that Casillas again gathered he released Baptista with a throw and the Brazilian ran the entire pitch and passed it onto Robinho and after dribbling across defenders his shot was easily gathered by Valdes.

Rijkaard seeing that with almost 20 minutes remaining Real were getting confident on their role and were trying to control plays introduced the young Mexican Giovanni for Deco. Even with Van Nistelrooy and Raul the highest scorers in the Spanish league in the Real attack, it was the goal scorer of the night Baptista who was heading the attack line. Real were bent upon defending and Barca were getting desperate to score. Ronaldinho's shot from outside the box went wide, Iniesta was yet again denied by Casillas. Rijkaard had introduced the 17 year old Bojan for Xavi and his shot from outside the box was saved again by Casillas and with Barca shirts lining up for the rebound it was Pepe again heading it to safety. From the resulting corner it was Yaya Toure to miss again for Barca as he could not hit the target from a close range volley on the turn. It was just not Barca's day.

I was sitting at awe on the performance from the Real Madrid back line and it went one step higher when Eto smashed a shot at Real goal and out came Pepe's legs to put it out for a corner. No wonder the tall lanky defender is nick named "Scissors" as he cuts off almost all attacking plays. Real win the El Classico 0-1 and head into the winter break as Winter Champions with a 7 point lead over second place Barca.

Tactics wins Matches:

I spend time to see the match 3 times, to analyze this splendid performance. It was not just a contest between 22 players on the pitch. The contest was more between the tactics of Rijkaard and Schuster. This time Schuster had won the contest for Real with his tactics. Many feel football is a dull game because even after playing 90 minutes it could very well end in a 0-0 draw. I would disagree on this saying that there is a lot more to a game of this stature.

Schuster has identified what makes Barca dangerous and how they get to the opponents goal line. Since Messi was not playing as he was out injured, Barca was going to be dependent on the center midfielders as there were no wingers. There was only one striker in the form of Samuel Eto. This is how i have broken up Schuster's tactics when he put 11 men from Real on the Camp Nou. Sergio Ramos was put on a Man Marking role on Ronaldinho and he did a brilliant job at doing it. He curtailed his runs down the right wing and seldom joined in attack as he was pretty much focused on the task in hand and kept Ronaldinho quiet almost all through the match. Any other Manager would have started with Guti instead of Baptista in the midfield as he is more experienced and played in numerous such encounters. While the goal scored by Baptista was definitely a bonus, and in this game the match winner, Baptista was on the ground to create plays and start attacking moves but his primary job was to mark Xavi. Each time i watched the match i noticed how Baptista was always on the heels of Xavi. Diarra was marking Deco and that is taking out everyone in the equation in terms of creative force.

Schuster lined up Heinze on LB instead of Marcelo to counter Iniesta whom he expected would be playing in a right wing role. Iniesta is very similar to Sneijder has the habit of being a drifting player and he did exactly the same and did not stick to wing play. Schuster's plan was to push Barcelona to play on the wings were they are not comfortable.

Its one thing to have tactics but it requires exceptional performances from the players to implement the same. Pepe and Cannavaro were phenomenal in defense. Pepe was there every where and was cutting off all balls in the air and the ground. Cannavaro i should say put in one of the best performances of the season and could see the spirit he was in when Ronaldinho took a tumble in the penalty box and appealed for a penalty, the Italian was in the Brazilian's face. It was amazing to see the only defender world player of the year battling it out with the 2 times world player of the year. Cannavaro was even standing upto Eto, who tried to dribble past him on the wing, the Italian just stood up to the approaching Eto and stole the ball away from him. Sergio Ramos suffocated Ronaldinho and the Brazilian could not make any productive dribbles or creative plays.

The defense did a phenomenal job, it has to be said that Barca were trying really hard to win penalties and free kicks around the Real penalty box,but it was the Real keeper Casillas who made saves after saves who was the King pin. I wanted to identify a Man of the Match, i could not say the match winner Baptista was the Man of the match, was it Pepe, Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos or Casillas?

I am picking this match for Real Madrid's best team performance in a long time and a successful implementation of tactics...

Someone from the press asked the Sporting Director Mijatovic why spend 30M on a defender? and he replied "You have to see him play and you will be answered"

Just watch this video to see Pepe in action, the entire video is a compilation from the Barcelona game, still anyone asking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv4fxAHc7gA

Here is the video link of match highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML0kkEgLX-0

The Italians had a dream...Ya dream on says Real Madrid

I decided to go slow on my blog, as i was creating my own website dedicated as a fan website on Real Madrid. With the limited time i am having these days to write i end up writing mostly match reports of the games that Real play and i thought that is a bit unfair with the name of the blog being "World Club Football". Well after the initial dedication, the website has hit a road block of finalizing the lay out and a bit of fine tuning. The help that was extended my friend seems to be far away as he is neck deep in work. I will start with the Real Madrid V Lazio Game which happened on Tuesday. Real were heading the group and Lazio needed to win by two goals to keep their hopes alive of reaching the knock-out stages. Scoring against Real Madrid is never an issue and the way Italian teams are known for their discipline in defense it should not be a problem to win by 2 goals against Madrid. But right before kick off the statistics were something that Lazio would not want to go by.

At the Santiago Bernabeu Real have not lost a competitive game since February 2007, this is including La Liga games and the Champions League. In the Champions League it was a bit more scary for Lazio, Real have only lost one match in the last 26 Champions league. That reverse coming at the hands of Arsenal when Henry scored the wonder goal. The Italians were specially strong in attack with Rocchi and Pandev. Pandev having scored both the goals in the earlier fixture between the two clubs in Rome.

Lazio started cool and organized and almost scored immediately and that would have been one of the goals that they needed to win by as the finishing was not up to the same level as the pass.

Schuster made only a couple of changes and that was to replace Torres with Marcelo and Guti by Baptista. The Beast immediately made an impact and continued his terrific form, pass from Robinho on the left, Baptista feinted a shot, left the defender flat footed, and the unleashed a superlative shot to the corner. The 43 year old Lazio keeper did not stand a chance. 1-0 Real Madrid.

This was the beginning, Real Madrid wanted to make sure that they bury their opposition two minutes from the Baptista goal, a corner beautifully worked out between Sneijder and Robinho saw the Brazilian floating in a cross only for the Captain to rise un marked and head in the second of the night. It was Raul's 59th goal in the Champions League and 11th for the season in all competitions. Raul is a player in Madrid who is re-inventing himself under Schuster and has found his scoring touch again. 2-0 Real Madrid.

Real did not still take their foot away from the gas pedal as they were still pushing for more goals and Lazio seemed dead and buried with some sporatic advances at the Real goal. Cannavaro and Pepe were keeping Rocchi and Pandev quiet and they were drifting wide to see if they could create something from there. It was time for Bernabeu fans to celebrate again as a drifting Robinho on the right side of the pitch saw Van Nistelrooy free between two defenders. The dutch man had the option to shoot with the right and left foot but instead passes it Robinho who was following up through the centre who blasted it past the keeper. It was one of the best worked out goals i have seen the entire season. 3-0 Real Madrid.

The first half that Real played against Lazio was the best 45 minute performance i have seen from Real the entire season. The passing was crisp, quick and the defense was sure of what they were doing. I am not sure what Shcuster told the players and Real came out after the break with no intend to play any positive football and let Lazio dominate plays. The obvious reasoning would be that Real just now needed to walk away with the 3 points and it was highly unlikely that Lazio would score 5 goals against Madrid in the second half.

Schuster gave an appearance to Robben, Guti and Higuain in the second half. Robben seemed very lively and created some panic especially when Real was absorbing all the pressure from Lazio and were concentrating on counter attacks. Robben had a chance at goal when the Lazio keeper made a spectacular save and another attempt by the Dutchman fell on top of the roof.

It was time for the Italians to have some consolation to the entire match and it was to come through Rocchi who made a screaming run on the right beat Marcelo who was not so surprisingly out of position and he chipped the advancing Cassilas and it would have not gone it had it not been for his strike partner who came sliding in and put the ball in though that was his last touch of the match. Pandev collided with the post and had to be substituted. 3-1

A freak hand ball by Pepe in stoppage time awarded the Italians a penalty and a chance for someone who has not seen the game to say "oh that was a close match", Rocchi stepped up to take the penalty, the weak shot was saved by Casillas and he also saved the follow up shot and the referee went for the final whistle.

Real buried Lazio with a classy and polished performance and ended as top of the group. The knock out draws have not been taken yet. This will be starting only in March.

Here is a video of full match highlight and this time with English commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srs2Uucl5X0

Real ease past Racing Santander

The festive season is here and the holidays are around the corner. Lights and Christmas trees are going up everywhere, but for me its been a time where my company does not seem to share the same festive mood as the rest of the world. I am working around my hectic schedule to see most of the games and as many as i possibly can, including mid week Champions League games. Normally i would love to write about the game as soon as i see it so that i have the entire game fresh off my mind and now it is taking almost 4-5 days from a game that i can even find time to write few lines.

All this standing, Saturday it was a treat when Real Madrid welcomed Racing Santander to the Bernabeu. Though Real has a mid week defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen in Germany, they were the league leaders who had won 8/8 at the Santiago Bernabeu this season and had scored the highest number of team goals. Racing on the other hand where coming off an excellent run including a latest win over Valencia and 9 games unbeaten, and the best of all they were the team to concede the minimum number of goals in the league, just 9.

Schuster had to make changes to his squad. He welcomed Cannavaro back to the center of defense and partnered him with Pepe, who has been phenomenal after his return from injury. Marcelo continued to be the first choice at LB and Sergio Ramos at RB. Schuster had problem in midfield as Guti was suspended, but i was really hoping that someone else gets a chance and the coach did exactly the same when he introduced Baptista to play in the attacking midfielder role. The Brazilian has got very few chances in competitive games for Real and this was the chance to shine for him. Diarra continued in the holding role, Schneider on the left of midfield, Robinho on the right and the most successful strike partnership of Raul and Van Nistelrooy.

Real were in no mood to glorify Racing's defensive accomplishments, but it was the visitors who were pushing for a goal and after three successive corners, Baptista justified his inclusion in the team with a splendid defense splitting pass to Van Nistelrooy who found his strike partner with a through ball that was a bit heavy, but the Captain controlled in brilliantly and finished off past an advancing keeper and that too to the near post. 1-0 Real Madrid.



Raul could have tallied his second of the game but was to be denied by an under the bar clearance from a defender. With the goal in Madrid looked really comfortable and had some good passing going on. Pepe and Cannavaro were cutting off dangerous plays to the key player for Racing, the dangerous Captain Munitis. There was someone else in the Real ranks who was having a special day and it was Iker Casillas the goal keeper. We always associate him to be a veteran player in the squad who is now the captain of the Spanish national team, but i remember him making his first team debut as a youngster. He was always an understudy for Cesar till 2002 Champions League final when Casillas got thrown into the action for the last 15 minutes or so and had to pull off some outstanding saves. The same Casillas was making his 400th appearance as a Real Madrid first team player. He made an outstanding save first off by getting off his line. The full house Bernabeu fans literally screamed when he also saved a powerful shot from Duscher.

The action was just getting started but still i could not take my eyes off the TV because of the end to end play. The counter attack started at the left wing when Marcelo cut the ball and naturally passed the Robinho who squared it for Baptista who made the second brilliant play of the night with an exquisite through ball to Sneijder who was in full stride down the right wing. Facing the keeper one-one of at a difficult angle the Dutchman tried to squeeze a shot through the legs of the keeper, but it was saved, he got a second chance and shot at goal, Sergio Sanchez in his best efforts to save it made it end to an own goal. 2-0 Real Madrid.

Racing never surrendered to the pressure that they were under but it was Real who were to strike again. A free kick in front of the D and Raul asked for the free kick from the usual kick taker Sneijder and everyone witnessed something which we are not used to. The Captain hit a sweet left foot free kick that curled into the corner past a diving keeper. Having always played in a team with numerous free kick specialists, this was a fresh feeling for a veteran in the team. He has made one of the best goal scoring starts in his career. The last time Raul had 8 goals in the same number of games he ended the season as the league top scorer with 25 goals. He is currently the pichichi with 8 goals sharing the spot with Messi and Fabiano. 3-0 Real Madrid.

As if it to honor the fight from Racing, Real guard fell and Munitis scored the consolation goal to make it 3-1 and it stood the same. It was a solid performance to say the least from Real and i was extremely happy to see Shcuster finally giving Baptista a chance and the Brazilian performing superbly as well. Even when Guti is back from suspension Baptista should be given a few chances ahead of at least having Gago and Diarra on the ground at the same time.

With Barcelona only notching a draw against Espanyol it was Real at 32 points leading by 4 points. Madrid will be playing Athletic Bilbao next...

Here is a video of the match highlights with some irritating music....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI30pWuibcU

Mid week defeat in Germany

Real Madrid needed just one point to make it through to the Round of 16, but their trip to Germany against Werder Bremen would be no easy affair. Though the Germans were missing their star player Diego through injury and also their keeper Wiese through injury as well. There was no change to the Madrid line up except that Fabio Cannavaro fell sick after landing in Germany and had to be replaced with Metzelder. The first real chance of the game came when Sergio Ramos had a chance on goal.But it was the Germans who were to take the lead, as Rosenborg made maximum use of a defensive error from Real as his strike partner Sanogo missed the chance. 1-0 Werder Bremen

Schuster had said in the press conference before the game that Real would be gunning for victory and will not settle for a draw. That is exactly what happened and Real did not drop dead with the 5th minute goal from the Germans. In minute 12, the Brazilian connection worked as Marcelo provided an excellent ball to Robinho who got past Mertesacker and scored a brilliant goal at a difficult angle. 1-1 Real Madrid

It was an open game for almost the entire first half and it was an absolutely brilliant 40 meter run by Rosenborg that set up Sanogo and this time he was not to miss the chance. He scored a brilliant volley to make it 2-1 Werder Bremen. Rosenborg's run was so good that he got past Gago with ease and then Metzelder as well before providing the cross to Sanogo.

Pepe is a very good player, but it was obvious that both he and Metzelder were not functioning well together. Pepe is kind of the defender who is very aggressive and attacks the ball. He even moves towards the flanks when strikers drift and that is indeed putting major holes in the defense with a seemingly not fit and rather slow Metzelder. Pepe should probably be combined with Cannavaro or Heinze who might actually be able to control the lanky defenders movements. Schuster probably has to instruct Pepe that he cannot defend each and every attacking move from the opponents and rather the defense should be working as a unit. Well for the same reason there were constant chances for Werder against the defensive mistakes. Casillas had to make a brilliant save and also Sergio Ramos was called in to make a save between the posts as well.

The defensive confusions continued and finally luck drained out for Real when Hunt scorched past the defense and beat Casillas with a sweet left foot. 3-1 Werder Bremen.

Rosenborg was really impressive all through the game and he missed a golden chance to finish off the game. But Van Nistelrooy led the game to an interesting climax when he got a pass from Guti, confronted with the keeper, drifted wide to the right of the box and then shot towards goal, Robinho came in to tap in the ball, but it was already in. 3-2 Real Madrid.

Real and Werder both played end to end football trying to kill the game on both the sides but the score was to remain. Now Real have their last game at home against Lazio in the group and a point will ensure Real progressing to the knock out stages, they still lead the group.

Here is a video of full match highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAy72wL1mpw