Barcelona fought to a well earned, if not typically stylish 3-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening. Goals from Alexis Sanchez, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas cancelling out Karim Benzema’s first minute opener that stunned the reigning Spanish and European champions.
Madrid had gone into this match as favourites after winning their last 15 games in all competitions but individual performances told on the night as Lionel Messi outshone Ballon D’Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mourinho set his team out with a clear agenda to press, hassle and harass their opposition, epitomized by the first minute closing down of the Barcelona defence, leading to a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Victor Valdes which resulted in Real’s opener. Di Maria’s interception falling to Ozil who eventually set up Benzema (1) for an easy volley; the Catalan giants looked stunned.
This nervous start from Barcelona continued as Real continued to press for the opening 25 minutes, although a lack of chances were created by the home side. The game took some time to settle into a rhythm as Madrid looked to counter any Barcelona attack and both sides found difficulty in retaining possession.
Indeed Madrid had managed to keep Messi very quiet in the opening exchanges with a strong midfield performance from Lass Diarra in particular. It took one moment of brilliance for this to change however with Messi picking the ball up deep in midfield skipping past two players in a darting run, drawing defenders and finding Alexis Sanchez (30) with a pinpoint through-ball; the Chilean forward finishing with aplomb into the bottom corner past Casillas’ outstretched glove.
Barca continued to settle after the equaliser with Messi dropping deep to pick up the ball in midfield and spark creative plays. Madrid’s game plan in the first half had appeared to work and indeed the hosts went into half-time as the better side.
The second-half saw a tactical change from Guardiola as Alves pushed on down the right, the visitors switching to three at the back. Messi adapted his game to the situation as Madrid’s midfield smothered the creative talents of Xavi and Iniesta which in the first-half had stifled Barcelona’s usual tempo.
Madrid continued their high-pressing game but the formation change from Barca allowed Messi more of the ball and Alves heaps of space on the right. This new freedom for Barca resulted in a chance for Xavi (53) 30 yards out, the midfielder’s volley taking a wicked deflection off Marcelo, which cruelly wrong-footed Casillas, and taking the lead for Barcelona.
That goal signalled a difference in the game, Madrid’s pressing slowed and Mourinho appeared to have no response to the failure of his Plan A. Barca started to create more chances with good link-up from Messi and Sanchez leading to a shot saved by Casillas. Madrid looked to revitalise their game with Kaka coming on for Ozil, the Brazilian playmaker looking sharp when he came on.
The 64th minute saw a great opportunity for Ronaldo to get his name on the scoresheet, the Portuguese forward finding yards of space in the Barca penalty-area but heading well wide from Xabi Alonso’s deft cross.
This miss would prove costly to the home side as Barca attacked through the middle, with another piercing run from Messi, eventually finding Alves on the right with no marker, whipping a cross to the far post where Cesc Fabregas (66) beat his man to head into an empty net.
This goal really signalled an end to Madrid’s defiance in the game, Barca continued to retain possession and with the likes of Keita and Villa coming off the bench only consolidating the Catalans’ superiority. Indeed Iniesta spurned a good chance to score a fourth after a good build up. Madrid failed to respond to Barcelona’s lead and looked flat after Fabregas’ goal, it looked as though Guardiola’s tactical nous has out-foxed the Special One.
Madrid looked rather one dimensional in this game and Barca fended off the early pressure to go on to dominate the second half. Strong performances from Barcelona’s less stylish Puyol, Pique and Busquets in particular limited chances for the home side and a good midfield battle was eventually won by Xavi and Iniesta despite strong games from Xabi Alonso and Lass Diarra.
Moments of individual brilliance from Messi in creating two goals were telling but Ronaldo will surely rue that miss when the score was just 1-2.
This result sets up an enticing second half of the La Liga season, but for now Barcelona fly to Japan for the World Club Championship.
Madrid had gone into this match as favourites after winning their last 15 games in all competitions but individual performances told on the night as Lionel Messi outshone Ballon D’Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mourinho set his team out with a clear agenda to press, hassle and harass their opposition, epitomized by the first minute closing down of the Barcelona defence, leading to a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Victor Valdes which resulted in Real’s opener. Di Maria’s interception falling to Ozil who eventually set up Benzema (1) for an easy volley; the Catalan giants looked stunned.
This nervous start from Barcelona continued as Real continued to press for the opening 25 minutes, although a lack of chances were created by the home side. The game took some time to settle into a rhythm as Madrid looked to counter any Barcelona attack and both sides found difficulty in retaining possession.
Indeed Madrid had managed to keep Messi very quiet in the opening exchanges with a strong midfield performance from Lass Diarra in particular. It took one moment of brilliance for this to change however with Messi picking the ball up deep in midfield skipping past two players in a darting run, drawing defenders and finding Alexis Sanchez (30) with a pinpoint through-ball; the Chilean forward finishing with aplomb into the bottom corner past Casillas’ outstretched glove.
Barca continued to settle after the equaliser with Messi dropping deep to pick up the ball in midfield and spark creative plays. Madrid’s game plan in the first half had appeared to work and indeed the hosts went into half-time as the better side.
The second-half saw a tactical change from Guardiola as Alves pushed on down the right, the visitors switching to three at the back. Messi adapted his game to the situation as Madrid’s midfield smothered the creative talents of Xavi and Iniesta which in the first-half had stifled Barcelona’s usual tempo.
Madrid continued their high-pressing game but the formation change from Barca allowed Messi more of the ball and Alves heaps of space on the right. This new freedom for Barca resulted in a chance for Xavi (53) 30 yards out, the midfielder’s volley taking a wicked deflection off Marcelo, which cruelly wrong-footed Casillas, and taking the lead for Barcelona.
That goal signalled a difference in the game, Madrid’s pressing slowed and Mourinho appeared to have no response to the failure of his Plan A. Barca started to create more chances with good link-up from Messi and Sanchez leading to a shot saved by Casillas. Madrid looked to revitalise their game with Kaka coming on for Ozil, the Brazilian playmaker looking sharp when he came on.
The 64th minute saw a great opportunity for Ronaldo to get his name on the scoresheet, the Portuguese forward finding yards of space in the Barca penalty-area but heading well wide from Xabi Alonso’s deft cross.
This miss would prove costly to the home side as Barca attacked through the middle, with another piercing run from Messi, eventually finding Alves on the right with no marker, whipping a cross to the far post where Cesc Fabregas (66) beat his man to head into an empty net.
This goal really signalled an end to Madrid’s defiance in the game, Barca continued to retain possession and with the likes of Keita and Villa coming off the bench only consolidating the Catalans’ superiority. Indeed Iniesta spurned a good chance to score a fourth after a good build up. Madrid failed to respond to Barcelona’s lead and looked flat after Fabregas’ goal, it looked as though Guardiola’s tactical nous has out-foxed the Special One.
Madrid looked rather one dimensional in this game and Barca fended off the early pressure to go on to dominate the second half. Strong performances from Barcelona’s less stylish Puyol, Pique and Busquets in particular limited chances for the home side and a good midfield battle was eventually won by Xavi and Iniesta despite strong games from Xabi Alonso and Lass Diarra.
Moments of individual brilliance from Messi in creating two goals were telling but Ronaldo will surely rue that miss when the score was just 1-2.
This result sets up an enticing second half of the La Liga season, but for now Barcelona fly to Japan for the World Club Championship.
Evan Bartlett 11.12.11
This article can also be found on Tattoed Football http://tattooedfootball.com/?p=899
This article can also be found on Tattoed Football http://tattooedfootball.com/?p=899
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