By El Maestro
The chance to finish Barcelona…………. and its gone. In a span of 24 hours, I went from thinking Real Madrid could actually win the treble to wondering if they could really win the league. They had the opportunity to extend the league lead with Barcelona to seven points and virtually knock them out of the race, but now La Liga is more alive than ever.
Despite 7 goals and four lead changes, I didn’t think the game was a great as it is being blown out to be. Barcelona played their usual and ‘boring’ Tiki-Taka style, while at times I had no idea what Madrid was doing. They did persevere and fight back after Iniesta’s opening goal, but it wasn’t enough to take the three points. Madrid still are a point ahead of Barcelona and are now tied on point with Atletico, but give up the league lead to the ‘Colchoneros’ due to the head to head encounters (Madrid 2-3 Atletico). Either way, this is a big blow, not just for Madrid, but for Ancelotti, who let yet another big game get away.
What I most did not like was how Madrid let Barcelona back in the match after overcoming the early goal. In two minutes, Real Madrid went from being down to being ahead and completely rattling Barcelona. Regardless, Madrid did not take full advantage of this opportunity. Excluding Benzema’s chance that was cleared off the line by Pique, they did not create any dangerous opportunities to extend the lead. Along with this, the defense was very poor and that sloppiness eventually led to Barcelona’s equalizer, something that will reflect well on Ancelotti.
Ancelotti: I don’t want to take anything away from Carletto. He’s done a good job this season and the fact that Madrid are alive in all three competitions backs that up, but (like I said earlier) this was a huge blow for him. Before the game, I thought this was very important for Ancelotti to show that he can win the big games for Madrid. Although he has a great resume, I have questioned his tactics and game management skills. The team is still in great position, but Madrid has struggled this season against direct opponents.
Barcelona: Lost both league matches.
Atletico Madrid: Destroyed them in the Copa del Rey, but lost at home for the first time in the league since 1999 and drew in the Calderon after taking the lead.
Juventus: Won the first fixture, but lost control of the game in the second half to a 10 man Juve. Then drew in Turin after being ahead.
Lets also not kid ourselves, this team is not playing anywhere near the football Ancelotti had promised. Despite the winning streak before the Clasico, Madrid had only shown that full intensity in the 1st leg fixtures against Atletico and Schalke. After that, the rest of the games have mostly been won either by grinding out results or at half speed. In fact, during this streak, they drew in El Sadar, San Mamés, and El Calderon, which are all stadiums where leagues are won. I will say this, the only two games where Real Madrid played at 100%, they were lights out. They can beat any team in Europe with that intensity and way of playing, but that has to be shown week in and week out. If they still want to win trophies this season, they are going to have to get their act together and start showing that form every week. Starting by going to El Sánchez Pizjuán on Wednesday and taking all that frustration out on Sevilla.
Undiano Mallenco: Of course I was not going to end without talking about the referee, but (don’t worry) I’m not going to blame him for the lost. Regardless, I do want to talk about his performance. First, I found it interesting that the same referee who officiated the first encounter in the Camp Nou was the man selected to take charge of the second Clasico of the season. The same ref that missed that clear penalty when Ronaldo was taken down by Mascherano. Like the first match, he made sure to include his part by calling three penalties that were not (RM 1-2 FCB). Ronaldo was taken down by Alves just at the edge of the box and Neymar dove when he felt Ramos’ presence behind him, which concluded in Ramos being sent off.
Despite this, I am not going to bash him because I honestly thought they were penalties in real time. It wasn’t until I saw the replay a few times that I realized they were not, although he sent off Ramos and did not give Alves a yellow for that challenge where he denies an offensive attack.
However, the third penalty was complete BS. Yes there is contact, but that is never called. Ironically, he calls that, but he doesn’t call Ronaldo’s penalty in Barcelona. Not to mention he let Busquets escape without a card after stepping on Pepe’s face; an action he did not even apologize for.
CR7 v Messi: Lets be honestly, neither really showed up for this game. I know people will tell me they scored a combine 4 goals, but both did not do anything on the field. Three of those fours goals came from the penalty spot and Messi’s 2-2 equalizer just fell to him after some bad Madrid defending. They were both clutch from the penalty spot (important for world class players), but neither did anything special.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid should look more at themselves than the referee. We already knew what Villar and the federation were up to when they picked Undiano to officiate both Clasicos, but Madrid should have been able to put Barcelona to bed after taking the lead in both occasions. Now the team needs to refocus and get ready for the match against Sevilla because even the slightest slip up at this point of the season will have big consequences.
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