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Crucial Clásico
Best team doesn't always win, says Guillem
Guillem Balague Posted 28th April 2009 view comments
El Clásico is often the highlight of the Spanish season, but Saturday's clash carries more weight than usual.
Real Madrid sit just four points behind Barcelona in La Liga and a victory for Juande Ramos' men would blow the title race wide open. However, a win for Barca might just clinch the trophy for the Catalan club. Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague runs the rule over where the match will be won and lost...
El Clásico: both teams reaching for the top
STRONG POINTS OF EACH TEAM
Real Madrid's commitment is something that is often taken for granted. Their faith in themselves allows them to win games with 10 men or even when they are losing with two minutes to go, like they were against Getafe. Gonzalo Higuain and Raul have become the big names in important games. You can see how Higuain is the perfect heir to Raul's throne: not a 10 out of 10 in anything, but able to exploit his ability to the maximum potential. Real have faith in a system that divides them into two with six defending and four attacking. That system has given them this season's amazing stats: a record eight consecutive away victories, and 52 out of 54 points since the last match against Barcelona.
Quotes of the week
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Real Madrid v Barcelona
6.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 3
With special studio guest, England coach Fabio Capello
Barcelona have got what will soon become the most prolific trio in the history of La Liga. Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry are one goal away from the total scored by Luis Del Sol, Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo di Stefano in the 1960-61 season. Henry (happy to come off the bench and score like against Valencia - another plus), Messi and Eto'o are this good because the team trusts them, and the team trusts them because of their work when they don't have the ball. Barca's possession game allows them to defend and attack effectively, and nobody has worked out how to beat them (the Espanyol and Atletico Madrid defeats had something of the fluke about them). If you defend with nine they will happily keep the ball until they find the cracks in the opposition defence, and if you pressurise them everywhere they have quality, even at the back, to pass the ball around.
WEAK POINTS
Barcelona's demanding calendar means they might be mentally tired, and that can lead to mistakes. They seemed unable to maintain a high tempo for the entire 90 minutes against Valencia as they have done so far, and that is only logical. In that game they kept the ball for too long in some stages, proof that the team doesn't feel strong enough to run into spaces and keep moving as quickly and dynamically as they were earlier in the season. Pep Guardiola has also taken the decision to rotate the team less at the end of the season. They are still strong, but now they are playing three high-pressure games in a week and they might suffer.
On the other hand, Real Madrid end games stronger than they start them and that is down to having played a game a week since January. Credit must also go to the magnificent work of Marcos Alvarez, the physical trainer who has given Raul, for instance, a second youth.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS
Yaya Toure is now happy to pass the ball, to keep it, and he doesn't lose his position very often anymore. His physical presence is essential in defending set pieces and his defensive midfield role is key.
Marcelo has won the confidence of the manager, and in exchange he has grown in stature. He is finally happy to play on the left of midfield, but even when he is at full-back he appears in offensive positions, making Madrid unpredictable and dangerous.
KEY PLAYERS
Iniesta is the best player in the world. Totally. And I'll stand by that statement until the end of the season. If he was Brazilian we would all be saying that. He can assist (three times against Sevilla) and he now scores too. He is the leader on and off the pitch, and he does that through the work he puts in on the pitch. He told me last season that Barcelona was close to a circus, not a football team. He smells when things away from football take charge of the changing room and he feels allergic to it. He will be next to Messi and maybe Ronaldo as player of the year at the end of 2009.
Raul scored the third league hat-trick of his career at the weekend, and it came when the team needed it most. He had not scored against Sevilla in a decade but appeared to reward the good football that Real Madrid were producing. He has scored 18 league goals, one less than David Villa if you don't count the Valencia striker's penalties. This week he was also the perfect captain by telling off both Marcelo (for ugly gestures to Getafe players) and Pepe (for losing his head in the same game).
GENERAL CONCLUSION
In these games, the best team doesn't always win. It is true that Barcelona have matched Real in commitment and faith in their possibilities, and also in hunger for titles. Both teams work as units and it is clear Barcelona play the better football. Without Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder or Pepe, Real are inferior man by man, but logic goes out of the window in these games. I favour Real Madrid as Barcelona have got this game sandwiched between the two Champions League matches against Chelsea.
It is a little bit of a miracle that Real Madrid find themselves in this position. After all this season their chairman was replaced following their worst institutional crisis ever; they swapped managers; they swapped goalscorers (Huntelaar only arrived in January); they swapped central midfield players (Mahamadou Diarra got injured, Lass arrived); and they are up against the best Barcelona side in history (something that, in a typical Catalan attitude, is making Barcelona fans fear the worst). The faith that Real have in themselves has been growing in the last few weeks even when their best players have been missing or when they have been almost written off. Like now.
Guillem answers your questions...
Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in to here or use the feedback form below.
INIESTA THE BEST
Hi Guillem. I'm a big fan of yours I just wanted your opinion on Iniesta. I feel like he is being very underrated, seeing him score against Sevilla plus give assists to Xavi and Eto'o. People say Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Steven Gerrard are top midfielders and of course Xavi, but I feel that Iniesta should get as much as credit as those guys. Abdi Bare (Barcelona fan)
GUILLEM SAYS: Abdi, I think Iniesta is the best player in the world at the moment. It is time to say it and not be ashamed about it. He has the ability to become a Messi on the wing or in the forward line; he has the versatility to do that or play in the centre of midfield or on either wing. He is intelligent, can assist (three times against Sevilla and once against Valencia) and now he is even getting onto the scoresheet with his goal against Sevilla. He can dribble, can keep the ball, has got a great change of pace, vision, hard work... Don't take my word for it, Eto'o says exactly the same. When Guardiola saw him getting into the first team he told Xavi, "this guy is going to retire us". He was right!
CHE-SING EUROPE
Hey Guillem. What do you think Valencia's chances are of finishing in the Champions League spots, especially as the last six games are really big ones? How do you rate Hernandes Pablo and Ever Banega? Do you think Banega will join Valencia next season or will he continue at Atletico Madrid? Nikhil Raina (Valencia fan)
GUILLEM SAYS: Nikhil, I must apologise about Valencia. I doubted them all season and even said they would be out of the top six, but they are proving me wrong. It is all down to the four forwards of course (Silva, Villa and Mata, but also Joaquin earlier in the season and now Pablo). Unai Emery has tightened up the defence but the midfield is still insufficient to dominate games. Against Barcelona they showed that they are much more comfortable playing counterattacking football, but have a look on Sunday at the game against Espnayol. I bet they will struggle and maybe even lose as they will have to put in practice a different kind of game. They showed more against Barcelona: the intensity; the desire not to lose (missing in many parts of this season); the commitment of the likes of Silva (also missing in some parts) and his ability to work hard with or without the ball; the quality of Villa even when he doesn't score; and of course that Pablo is a better version of Joaquin as he gives much more to the team. So apologies! I think Valencia deserve to be top four if they keep playing like this
Ever Banega will return to Atletico Madrid and he himself has said that he doesn't deserve to be bought by Valencia. There is still lots for him to learn and if he becomes the passing midfielder we all expect and keeps showing the humility he is showing now, he will be very useful at Atletico.
For more news, views and interviews from La Liga, visit www.guillembalague.com
Best team doesn't always win, says Guillem
Guillem Balague Posted 28th April 2009 view comments
El Clásico is often the highlight of the Spanish season, but Saturday's clash carries more weight than usual.
Real Madrid sit just four points behind Barcelona in La Liga and a victory for Juande Ramos' men would blow the title race wide open. However, a win for Barca might just clinch the trophy for the Catalan club. Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague runs the rule over where the match will be won and lost...
El Clásico: both teams reaching for the topSTRONG POINTS OF EACH TEAM
Real Madrid's commitment is something that is often taken for granted. Their faith in themselves allows them to win games with 10 men or even when they are losing with two minutes to go, like they were against Getafe. Gonzalo Higuain and Raul have become the big names in important games. You can see how Higuain is the perfect heir to Raul's throne: not a 10 out of 10 in anything, but able to exploit his ability to the maximum potential. Real have faith in a system that divides them into two with six defending and four attacking. That system has given them this season's amazing stats: a record eight consecutive away victories, and 52 out of 54 points since the last match against Barcelona.I think Iniesta is the best player in the world at the moment. It is time to say it and not be ashamed about it.
Guillem Balague Quotes of the week
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Real Madrid v Barcelona
6.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 3
With special studio guest, England coach Fabio Capello
Barcelona have got what will soon become the most prolific trio in the history of La Liga. Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry are one goal away from the total scored by Luis Del Sol, Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo di Stefano in the 1960-61 season. Henry (happy to come off the bench and score like against Valencia - another plus), Messi and Eto'o are this good because the team trusts them, and the team trusts them because of their work when they don't have the ball. Barca's possession game allows them to defend and attack effectively, and nobody has worked out how to beat them (the Espanyol and Atletico Madrid defeats had something of the fluke about them). If you defend with nine they will happily keep the ball until they find the cracks in the opposition defence, and if you pressurise them everywhere they have quality, even at the back, to pass the ball around.
WEAK POINTS
Barcelona's demanding calendar means they might be mentally tired, and that can lead to mistakes. They seemed unable to maintain a high tempo for the entire 90 minutes against Valencia as they have done so far, and that is only logical. In that game they kept the ball for too long in some stages, proof that the team doesn't feel strong enough to run into spaces and keep moving as quickly and dynamically as they were earlier in the season. Pep Guardiola has also taken the decision to rotate the team less at the end of the season. They are still strong, but now they are playing three high-pressure games in a week and they might suffer. On the other hand, Real Madrid end games stronger than they start them and that is down to having played a game a week since January. Credit must also go to the magnificent work of Marcos Alvarez, the physical trainer who has given Raul, for instance, a second youth.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS
Yaya Toure is now happy to pass the ball, to keep it, and he doesn't lose his position very often anymore. His physical presence is essential in defending set pieces and his defensive midfield role is key.Marcelo has won the confidence of the manager, and in exchange he has grown in stature. He is finally happy to play on the left of midfield, but even when he is at full-back he appears in offensive positions, making Madrid unpredictable and dangerous.
KEY PLAYERS
Iniesta is the best player in the world. Totally. And I'll stand by that statement until the end of the season. If he was Brazilian we would all be saying that. He can assist (three times against Sevilla) and he now scores too. He is the leader on and off the pitch, and he does that through the work he puts in on the pitch. He told me last season that Barcelona was close to a circus, not a football team. He smells when things away from football take charge of the changing room and he feels allergic to it. He will be next to Messi and maybe Ronaldo as player of the year at the end of 2009.Raul scored the third league hat-trick of his career at the weekend, and it came when the team needed it most. He had not scored against Sevilla in a decade but appeared to reward the good football that Real Madrid were producing. He has scored 18 league goals, one less than David Villa if you don't count the Valencia striker's penalties. This week he was also the perfect captain by telling off both Marcelo (for ugly gestures to Getafe players) and Pepe (for losing his head in the same game).
GENERAL CONCLUSION
In these games, the best team doesn't always win. It is true that Barcelona have matched Real in commitment and faith in their possibilities, and also in hunger for titles. Both teams work as units and it is clear Barcelona play the better football. Without Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder or Pepe, Real are inferior man by man, but logic goes out of the window in these games. I favour Real Madrid as Barcelona have got this game sandwiched between the two Champions League matches against Chelsea.It is a little bit of a miracle that Real Madrid find themselves in this position. After all this season their chairman was replaced following their worst institutional crisis ever; they swapped managers; they swapped goalscorers (Huntelaar only arrived in January); they swapped central midfield players (Mahamadou Diarra got injured, Lass arrived); and they are up against the best Barcelona side in history (something that, in a typical Catalan attitude, is making Barcelona fans fear the worst). The faith that Real have in themselves has been growing in the last few weeks even when their best players have been missing or when they have been almost written off. Like now.
Guillem answers your questions...
Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in to here or use the feedback form below.
INIESTA THE BEST
Hi Guillem. I'm a big fan of yours I just wanted your opinion on Iniesta. I feel like he is being very underrated, seeing him score against Sevilla plus give assists to Xavi and Eto'o. People say Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Steven Gerrard are top midfielders and of course Xavi, but I feel that Iniesta should get as much as credit as those guys. Abdi Bare (Barcelona fan)
GUILLEM SAYS: Abdi, I think Iniesta is the best player in the world at the moment. It is time to say it and not be ashamed about it. He has the ability to become a Messi on the wing or in the forward line; he has the versatility to do that or play in the centre of midfield or on either wing. He is intelligent, can assist (three times against Sevilla and once against Valencia) and now he is even getting onto the scoresheet with his goal against Sevilla. He can dribble, can keep the ball, has got a great change of pace, vision, hard work... Don't take my word for it, Eto'o says exactly the same. When Guardiola saw him getting into the first team he told Xavi, "this guy is going to retire us". He was right!
CHE-SING EUROPE
Hey Guillem. What do you think Valencia's chances are of finishing in the Champions League spots, especially as the last six games are really big ones? How do you rate Hernandes Pablo and Ever Banega? Do you think Banega will join Valencia next season or will he continue at Atletico Madrid? Nikhil Raina (Valencia fan)
GUILLEM SAYS: Nikhil, I must apologise about Valencia. I doubted them all season and even said they would be out of the top six, but they are proving me wrong. It is all down to the four forwards of course (Silva, Villa and Mata, but also Joaquin earlier in the season and now Pablo). Unai Emery has tightened up the defence but the midfield is still insufficient to dominate games. Against Barcelona they showed that they are much more comfortable playing counterattacking football, but have a look on Sunday at the game against Espnayol. I bet they will struggle and maybe even lose as they will have to put in practice a different kind of game. They showed more against Barcelona: the intensity; the desire not to lose (missing in many parts of this season); the commitment of the likes of Silva (also missing in some parts) and his ability to work hard with or without the ball; the quality of Villa even when he doesn't score; and of course that Pablo is a better version of Joaquin as he gives much more to the team. So apologies! I think Valencia deserve to be top four if they keep playing like this
Ever Banega will return to Atletico Madrid and he himself has said that he doesn't deserve to be bought by Valencia. There is still lots for him to learn and if he becomes the passing midfielder we all expect and keeps showing the humility he is showing now, he will be very useful at Atletico.
For more news, views and interviews from La Liga, visit www.guillembalague.com