Record breaking Liverpool, and Madrid says "Referees, Referees and Referees

From a perspective of keeping my blog going and find the right state of mind to write is getting difficult by the day. With another big depression hitting all the financial markets, i have been kidding around with a lot of people that when things go bad, i will take to writing full time. Well on the contrary it has been so busy at work that i am finding it difficult to get into the afore mentioned state of mind. It has been an interesting week since i wrote my last post. First the most anticipated match in the first group stage of this year's Champions league was up when Madrid made a visit to Turin to play Juventus.

Madrid continued to show that they will struggle in Europe's premier club championship, it was almost the same as has been the case in some of the previous visits to Italy. In the first 5 minutes Juventus were up a goal, when Cannavaro let Del Piero away from his sight for once and it was a terrific first time shot from outside the box that gave Casillas no chance. I tend to agree with some of what i have been reading that Casillas should have made an attempt. Yes, the shot was well placed, but it was no bullet. Though Madrid showed signs of some good stint in the match, there was a lot of unwanted time in their half with defenders passing the ball amongst themselves. With no wingers and playing 3 strikers up front, there was no connection in midfield and Sneijder did not come into his best self till the second half.

The Dutchman came out like a man possessed and starting taking numerous shots from his comfort zone and also tried some superlative passes. Amauri's goal in the first few minutes of the second half really was almost the last nail in the coffin for Madrid. Cannavaro was booed all night on his return to Italy to play in his former home ground. Once Robben was on the ground, Madrid looked really threatening during this period and Schuster should see this. Well it be an interesting match when Juventus plays Madrid at the Bernabeu next, but for all said and done the group of death is all but resolved with Juve and Madrid almost guaranteed to go through.

Speaking of formations, the big issue in Spain was Real Madrid's young right back Sergio Ramos claiming that he is not enjoying playing right now. The reason is one which almost all can see, that there is no right winger and Ramos has no cover when he goes up attacking. From having an abundance of such wingers like Figo, Beckham to name a few Ramos is left playing a lone role on the right. He also added on saying that he is sick of hearing that whenever things go wrong it is invariably he who is out of position or at fault. Schuster was asked by the press on these comments and he said that he had not read any of these. The result of these outbursts, was being benched by the Manager against Atheltic.

Before i get into that match, this weekend was all about Liverpool's superb start to the season so far and their historic clash with co-league leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Both teams were unbeaten, but there were at least two things against Liverpool, one that star striker Fernando Torres was out with a hamstring injury and two the fact that Stamford Bridge was a fortress for Chelsea for over 4 years that they have seen their team lose at home. I am firm believer from watching EPL over the years that the games which feature the top 4 are always cagey affairs. It was no different on Sunday, with Torres out, Benitez used Keane and the lone striker and had Riera on the left, Kuyt on the right and Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso in the midfield.


I have felt that Liverpool needed a bit more options in defense, but Agger and Carragher certainly did not look anywhere close to being challenged. Carragher had such a superb game that he controlled Anelka without any trouble. I am not one who watches these teams on a weekly basis as i focus more on La liga a few things i noticed. Chelsea newly signed RB, Bosingwa was good attacking but Benitez did well to line up Riera against him who was giving him trouble more than once. John Terry coming back from injury looked unsure of himself and was looking rusty and it was Carvalho who seemed to be the more confident of the lot. I still do not know what Malouda is all about, is he winger or what? Gerrard was all about a hit and miss concept, but he was keeping it going time and time. Mikel played superbly and he looks like Makelele in his prime in Madrid. For all the class Chelsea has, they cannot afford to play the better teams in the EPL with Anelka and Kalou playing like this.

A deflected goal from a shot by Xabi Alonso gave Liverpool a shock victory, well deserved i should say. The big news in the press is that Chelsea's record came down of being unbeaten at Stamford Bridge for over 4 years, but i say it is better to lose this record against Liverpool than maybe Hull city, no offense to the minnows but the way they are playing, i doubt if that is the right word that describes them. I am happy for my friend Spartan and Liverpool in going top of the EPL, but it is just November and too early to say if Liverpool can break their 19 year jinx.

In Spain its almost roles reversed between Barca and Real Madrid. Barca have been just crushing opponents week after week and this weekend was no different when they scored 3 in the first 15 minutes and 5 in the first half against Almeria who were in the top half of the table. Though Barca just faded away in the second half it was 3 points in style. Real Madrid on the other hand did get a last gasp winner against Atletico last weekend and after the loss to Juve mid week, they welcomed Athletic Bilbao to the Bernabeu.

Van Nistelrooy had asked Madrid to appeal to rescind the red card he got last week against Atletico Madrid. Some committee at Madrid decided that it was a 50-50 chance that the appeal could be denied resulting in a lengthier ban. This meant that Madrid would be without the Dutch striker for the game. Schuster rested Cannavaro, brought Heinze in to partner Pepe and Marcelo came in to LB. Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Robben were all lined up in midfield with Salgado, yes my favorite Salgado at RB.

The opening minutes showed that it was going to be an easy night for Madrid, when Sneijder took a 50 meter shot seeing the goal keeper away from his line. It was almost perfect till the last swerve that took it away from the top corner. Then it was Higuain who scored, but it was disallowed for an offside, but this was a howler. Actually these decisions are just making more and more excuses for everyone at Madrid to complaint that there is a conspiracy against them winning the third consecutive title.

The game slowed down or rather Madrid was trying hard to slow down a match seemingly rattled by the disallowed goal, but Heinze was able to connect straight with Sneijder with a long ground ball, if at all there was a question of offside, this was the one, but the flag stayed down and Sneijder took a few quick steps before smashing a powerful left footed cross shot. Sneijder was having a superb game already when he hot the post after some good work by Higuain in getting past defenders and laying it off for him. Llorente was basically the lone striker for Athletico but was being a handful for both Pepe and Heinze. But the second goal was soon scored when Sneijder fed a ball through to Van der Vaart who showed his flair in a side flick into the box, Raul and Higuain staying together ran in different directions leaving the defenders confused and Higuain scored with a cool finish to make it 2-0.


Madrid seemingly cruising to a victory then crumbled, when first Iraola was on the floor, and play stopped, then started and amongst all the distraction, Exteberria scored to make it 2-1. It was not to stop there, Athletico got a penalty from a set piece when the referee thought that llorente was man handled by Pepe and Heinze. The replays showed that the Madrid defenders bumped into each other with some strong pushing from Llorente. Iraola scored the resulting penalty to make it 2-2 at half time. Then it was a period of rough tackles, play acting and pushing and shoving. Marcelo was lucky to escape with a yellow card, where i thought it was not a tackle but a kick.


The second half showed an improved Madrid, with first Higuain going close and a minute later from a corner, Heinze hit the bar. Gago, who for me was the best player on the night fed a terrific pass on to Higuain, who finished off with another cool finish to make it 3-2. From there on it was downhill for Athletico as Amorebieta was sent off with a straight red. Though Schuster did give the returning Diarra and Guti some playing time, but keeping Raul on till the last 3 minutes is like an insult to Saviola.

This is what Real Sporting Director Mijatovic had to say “It seems that there are people who do not want Real Madrid to win their third consecutive La Liga title,” he spat out bluntly, before adding, “We want to believe this is all just coincidence, but too much has happened in the past few games.”