Two weeks earlier i wrote an article on how Real Madrid was considerably in a better situation than Liverpool on the eve of their Champions League encounter. Unfortunately the match was not a spectacle by any means and did not live up to the hype of the number of trophies the two teams hold in their showcase. Liverpool from the outset had come to defend in numbers and hit Madrid on the counter and surprise with them with their pace. Sir Alex did comment before this match that Madrid will struggle against the faster Liverpool team and he said that it is not just Madrid but any English team for that matter play far faster football than their counterparts in Europe. It was evident that Juande Ramos had given specific instructions to the team, to take their time and absorb the initial burst of pace by the English team.
Apart from the defenders holding a deep line for Liverpool, Rafa Benitez also used his two defensive mid fielders in Alonso and Mascherano for extra muscle. Both Riera and Benayoun on the wings looked lively, but were mostly kept under control by Sergio Ramos and Heinze. Apart from an initial superb turn and shot by Torres, the Spanish hit man did not have a pleasant return to Madrid and had to be taken off in the second half with an injury to the boos of the Madrid fans. Madrid with the lions share of the possession was facing one major problem, they were not able to get any action going in the last quarter of the Liverpool pitch and the dribbles of Robben was superbly covered by even Riera. Gerrard got a second half taste of playing at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real could have walked away from the match, with a 0-0 draw and could have blamed Liverpool for parking their team bus in front of goal, but unfortunately lack of concentration in a set piece led to the smallest Liverpool player Benayoun scoring a priceless away goal.
After the first week of Champions League football, remarkably its again the 4 English teams who are going into the second leg with an advantage. For Real Madrid there is immense pressure in any circumstance to win every match. This is what cost them their round against Roma last season in the same stage of the Champions League. Tomorrow Madrid will go to Anfield knowing fully well that they have to score. There is not other way to progress, and this will mean that Liverpool have the liberty to defend and look to hit Madrid on the counter in their home turf. Rafa has new injury concerns, which will mean there will be no first round hero Benayoun and though he will be happy to welcome Gerrard to the midfield, Fernando Torres will be a last minute pick.
Juande Ramos will for sure instruct Madrid not to over commit themselves and look at how Liverpool would be playing. The only way Madrid can get past Liverpool would be for Robben to show his magic and get a goal himself and provide one for one of the two strikers in Raul and Higuain. The only problem is, while Raul is a Champions League legend, the young Higuain does not seem to be the one who is going to emerge as the likely hero.
Fortunes changed for Madrid when, after this midweek disappointment Madrid went to Espanyol and won 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Guti and Raul. In an absolutely breath taking encounter in their neighboring ground the Calderon, Athletico Madrid edged past Barcelona 4-3, cutting the lead to just 4 points. With the El Classico Bernabeu edition still to come, most Madrid would never have seen this coming. Needless to say even Guardiola would not have thought that he would be in a situation to answer for this slump.
Fortunes changed again at the wrong time for Madrid when they looked less than convincing against Athletico on Saturday. Forlan and Aguero ran berserk, but as what i have always thought were wasteful. Lass playing at RB, tried really hard to join Robben in attack but, then was left standing by Simao. Athletico looked super fast with two wingers and the two South American Strikers. It was Forlan who made a cool finish on a counter attack. Madrid labored through for most part of the match, not able to get past the Athletico and defense and also some superb saves from the Keeper. Finally they started playing much better when Lass was moved back to the center and Salgado was brought in at RB. Though Salgado struggled, Lass looked his usual comfortable self when he was in midfield. Madrid was given the benefit of the doubt, when Huntelaar seemingly offside when the ball was passed to him, made a superb turn and finished a thunderbolt, the flag stayed down and the goal stood. Athletico had more and more chances to make it a miserable night for Real, but Aguero made too many misses after getting into some good positions.
Barcelona legend, Cryuff says that Real Madrid are throwing everything away and that this week will bring Madrid to the painful realization that they are not competing for both the La Liga and the Champions League anymore. Two weeks ago Real Madrid had turned the tide from the time the Champions League lot was taken, 10 wins in the La Liga on a trot brought them 4 points away from Barca. With just 12 games remaining in the La liga, the slip to Athletico this week could signal the end of Real Madrid's third successive title hopes. Following the great Real Madrid for the past 11 years or so, i am pretty positive that Madrid is not going to hold off tomorrow for a 0-1 scoreline to take it to penalties. If Madrid are to progress this would have to be similar to a match they played when they visited Old Trafford some 5-6 years back. To achieve this someone has to really live up to their name.
I am not good at predictions, though Madrid may have the fire power to beat Liverpool comprehensively, there is a certain element of stage fright that the Spanish team shows many a year in the Champions League. From what i see, the scoreline could be 0-0 or 1-0 in favor of Liverpool. I know this is going to make some of my friends happy, but i would also like to add that I don't see Liverpool winning this years Champions league with the kind of performances they are putting in. The advantage for Real Madrid on the other hand if they progress would be that the Italian giants against whom Real usually struggle, Inter, Roma and Juventus all could be out. If they want to make this their year in the tournament, Real Madrid need to live up to their name and tomorrow, thank God....i can watch the match in HD with English commentary....
After the first week of Champions League football, remarkably its again the 4 English teams who are going into the second leg with an advantage. For Real Madrid there is immense pressure in any circumstance to win every match. This is what cost them their round against Roma last season in the same stage of the Champions League. Tomorrow Madrid will go to Anfield knowing fully well that they have to score. There is not other way to progress, and this will mean that Liverpool have the liberty to defend and look to hit Madrid on the counter in their home turf. Rafa has new injury concerns, which will mean there will be no first round hero Benayoun and though he will be happy to welcome Gerrard to the midfield, Fernando Torres will be a last minute pick.
Juande Ramos will for sure instruct Madrid not to over commit themselves and look at how Liverpool would be playing. The only way Madrid can get past Liverpool would be for Robben to show his magic and get a goal himself and provide one for one of the two strikers in Raul and Higuain. The only problem is, while Raul is a Champions League legend, the young Higuain does not seem to be the one who is going to emerge as the likely hero.
Fortunes changed for Madrid when, after this midweek disappointment Madrid went to Espanyol and won 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Guti and Raul. In an absolutely breath taking encounter in their neighboring ground the Calderon, Athletico Madrid edged past Barcelona 4-3, cutting the lead to just 4 points. With the El Classico Bernabeu edition still to come, most Madrid would never have seen this coming. Needless to say even Guardiola would not have thought that he would be in a situation to answer for this slump.
Fortunes changed again at the wrong time for Madrid when they looked less than convincing against Athletico on Saturday. Forlan and Aguero ran berserk, but as what i have always thought were wasteful. Lass playing at RB, tried really hard to join Robben in attack but, then was left standing by Simao. Athletico looked super fast with two wingers and the two South American Strikers. It was Forlan who made a cool finish on a counter attack. Madrid labored through for most part of the match, not able to get past the Athletico and defense and also some superb saves from the Keeper. Finally they started playing much better when Lass was moved back to the center and Salgado was brought in at RB. Though Salgado struggled, Lass looked his usual comfortable self when he was in midfield. Madrid was given the benefit of the doubt, when Huntelaar seemingly offside when the ball was passed to him, made a superb turn and finished a thunderbolt, the flag stayed down and the goal stood. Athletico had more and more chances to make it a miserable night for Real, but Aguero made too many misses after getting into some good positions.
Barcelona legend, Cryuff says that Real Madrid are throwing everything away and that this week will bring Madrid to the painful realization that they are not competing for both the La Liga and the Champions League anymore. Two weeks ago Real Madrid had turned the tide from the time the Champions League lot was taken, 10 wins in the La Liga on a trot brought them 4 points away from Barca. With just 12 games remaining in the La liga, the slip to Athletico this week could signal the end of Real Madrid's third successive title hopes. Following the great Real Madrid for the past 11 years or so, i am pretty positive that Madrid is not going to hold off tomorrow for a 0-1 scoreline to take it to penalties. If Madrid are to progress this would have to be similar to a match they played when they visited Old Trafford some 5-6 years back. To achieve this someone has to really live up to their name.
I am not good at predictions, though Madrid may have the fire power to beat Liverpool comprehensively, there is a certain element of stage fright that the Spanish team shows many a year in the Champions League. From what i see, the scoreline could be 0-0 or 1-0 in favor of Liverpool. I know this is going to make some of my friends happy, but i would also like to add that I don't see Liverpool winning this years Champions league with the kind of performances they are putting in. The advantage for Real Madrid on the other hand if they progress would be that the Italian giants against whom Real usually struggle, Inter, Roma and Juventus all could be out. If they want to make this their year in the tournament, Real Madrid need to live up to their name and tomorrow, thank God....i can watch the match in HD with English commentary....
