Superb Real youngsters, unstoppable Barca and titans no show in Premiership

This past Sunday was in game minutes a really long day for me. Started off at 6 AM when i labored myself out of bed and onto the couch to watch Chelsea V Man U in the early kick off. This was one of many cases in the Premiership of choking each other out. The more i see the top 4 teams play each other i am less impressed with the actual freedom in which they play. Sir Alex used the same system sans Christiano Ronaldo that brought him glory against the same opposition the last time they met in the UEFA Champions league final. Surprising to many he played Park and Hargreaves on the right. I just hate it when teams play with one striker up front and Chelsea at home looked compact but looked never in a position to score for almost 80 minutes. Rio was having a party in the back because he had very few threatening attacks to deal with from Chelsea. He even joined the attack on one occasion and would have scored if not for a superb save by Cech. Chelsea had immediate trouble when Carvalho had to be stretchered off and Alex was introduced. The big Brazilian was superb in the game, i personally have high regard for his abilities.

Scolari took the entire first half to realize that Malouda and Anelka up front are not the right option. Anelka was coming in to the game in good form and got into some good positions but unfortunately was wasteful. In the second half he missed what could be called a sitter. With Evans partnering Rio in the center Scolari should have put on an additional striker from the beginning. I have always felt that Rio is a good defender when he plays with someone who can cover for his mistakes. With no threat from Anelka and Malouda mostly inactive Drogba came in for Malouda. He was indeed creating some trouble for the central defensive partnership of Man United. Bosingwa was reasonably good all through the game but needs to really work on his delivery because after making some impressive runs the final ball was disappointing. It was he who let Evra muscle past him to put in a ball for Berbatov. The Bulgarian who seems still not completely in the Red's system took a shot which was spilled by Cech right into the path of Park, who justified his selection ahead of Nani with a simple tap in goal.


Though the likes of Ronaldo were seen in the latter half of the match there was no real threat from the Portuguese apart from a few counter attacking runs. With Chelsea's unbeaten home record of over 85 games and 4 years under threat it was Kalou who rose highest in a set piece and scored the equalizer with 10 minutes remaining. He was involved in a swift counter attack within minutes as well. Overall it was a decent game, but with 7 yellow cards to Man U players they are probably looking at a fine or sanction from the FA. Some of them really deserved it, players like Scholes who put in such a lot of wrong tackles that the referee was struggling to keep the match going for a minute at a stretch.

Real Madrid made their visit to Racing Santander a historically tough match for Madrid. Racing was missing Munitis to injury and Center back Garay was no playing because he is on loan from Madrid. Schuster on the other hand made some changes which were surprising for sure but worked out in the end. He had his preferred his defensive 4 to call upon. Cannavaro was back from injury which saw him miss the European championships and the early part of this season. Pepe who is not yet in full form, Ramos at RB and Heinze at LB. With news in the press that Schuster would bench Raul and play Higuain did not come true as the German tactician went with a new formation. No winger as Robben was rested, Gago added himself to the injury list mid week in the Champions league win. It was young de la Red, Diarra and Guti in midfield. Raul and Van Nistelrooy as strikers and Higuain in a withdrawn role on the right.

Racing are a tough opposition when it gets to their strike force. Madrid had to dig deep before they could even generate any positive moves. It was Higuain who created the first real chance for Madrid when he dribbled past Christian and almost set up Raul. 10 minutes later Guti too a rather different set piece and saw de la Red shoot from distance but was denied by a finger tip save from the Racing goal keeper. Though Racing got close to the Madrid goal, some last gasp defending ensured that Casillas was not tested till about 37 minutes. Madrid midfield misery continued as Guti was soon stretchered out with a few minutes to half time. Van der vaart was introduced to take up Guti's role. Guti was seemingly looking more and more confident and seeing a lot of ball as he was enjoying the space created by de la Red and Diarra.

Madrid came out in the second half continuing to play the patient waiting game and trying to hit Racing on the counter. Sergio Ramos and Heinze hardly went up the pitch to join in attack. Schuster had his cards well played as Higuain is the best man for a counter attack. The Argentine picked up the ball deep in his half from a Racing set piece and hit a fast counter attack on the right. Raul and de la Red were the only options to pass, the Madrid captain though has been struggling to find his scoring form, pulled the defense with him thus leaving de la Red unmarked, who controlled and made a cool finish to make it 0-1 to Madrid.

Racing hit Madrid with an array of attacking moves, but the always questioned back line held on. Van der vaart fed a long ground ball to Van Nistelrooy who in the Racing box had no one to pass to. With a defender right in front of him, his quick feet enabled just the smallest gap to shoot past him into goal. Such goals are what differentiate between a good striker and a great one.

Robben and Saviola also got a bit of playing time. De la Red had a good game, but could improve on his passing. He has an extremely accurate long shot and is a good finisher. If he does not improve in his ball distribution he will find it difficult to find a starting spot ahead of a very talented Madrid midfield in this department. For me the man of the match though was Higuain. When the likes of Raul and Van Nistelrooy were trying hard to link with the Madrid midfield, the Argentine was always looking to dribble as soon as he got the ball.

Elsewhere a Robinho inspired Man City hit six goals, who scored one and was involved in almost the entire Man City attacking moves. Similarly Messi inspired Barca hit six past Sporting Gijon whom Madrid play on Wednesday.