Hello!!!
Yes, this is it everyone. The second half of a 4 game play-off between one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) club rivalries in soccer to date, will take place today at 2:45PM EST.
The war on the pitch has extended off the pitch into the conference rooms with some verbal jousting between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
So let's look at what's happened so far.....
First Match - hard fought battle in the mid-field, Mo knows that if they're going to have ANY advantage against a team that starves you of possesion and can generate plays at anytime with Xavi and Iniesta's laser guided passes,tiki-taka 1,2 triangulation that can catch you off guard in a split second and the world greatest player (according to FIFA) in their arsenal to boot... he would have to stifle and disrupt the midfield plethora of passes.
He did this to a certain degree of success when he deployed Pepe in to a Defensive Midfield role who's only mission was to be the designated "destroyer" in the center of the park. Yellow cards, professional fouls and some pushing with a tad bit of shoving..... It doesn't matter as long as the trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi worried about the "bald-headed wonder" from pushing up behind them sending them face down to the grass.
Barca were able to penetrate (as expected) but Casillas was prepared each and every time. The man within the posts had made up his mind that day to not concede..... UNTIL...... a penalty call ruined all his heroics up to then and the point scored by no other than the acclaimed Messi(as) himself.
Real Madrid didn't let up, their blood was drawn first so they came back with a fury. This time a penalty called against the Catalan side. Slotted calmly by no other than Ronaldo himself.
end verdict. 1-1.
A TIE.
This was it. The Barca side that struck fear into every opponents hearts now were matched. Not in posession, passing percentage or shots on goal.....but in equal determination to win. Teams that contain Barcelona torrential downpour of attacks have a hope and figure they're still in it as long as "THEY" don't score but the inevitable occurs and the drop of morale to the damaged side is evident as the fervent closing and determination to contain the all powerful Spanish Conquistadors goes out the window.
Second Match: But not Real Madrid. This tie was said to be flukey as calls for questionable calls and referreeing were shouted and in particular the penalty conceded to Los Merengues. Yet in GAME 2 of these play-offs, Real Madrid went to enact a man for man 4-3-3 (matching that of peps favorite formation) and not only holding out a Barcelona side to a scoreless night but to bring it to them and score and end a 13 yr. drought of silverware to the capital side.
NOW..... we head into GAME 3: Barca supporters claim Barcelona didn't care about the Copa Del Rey to put a winning effort into the Final. That the only real cup match that mattered was the Champions League. Real Madrid meanwhile cared so much.....that they let the Cup drop 12 ft. from the Madrid-mobile and get squashed by it. While the fans celebrated the victory as if the World Cup was won once more. Casillas finally gets the only trophy that eluded him through-out his 13 yr tenure with the club. While Ronaldo gets temporary bragging rights.
So what changes today? how do the 2 sides go into these matches?
for one..... Barcelona depth will be tested to new lengths today. With the confirmed abscence of Andres Iniesta and the BIG question mark hovering over the head of Carles Puyol, it is clear Pep Guardiola is going to have to prove the his squad's dominance does not solely rely on his starting 11 or even his 1st choice subs. With Adriano, Bojan, Maxwell all injured... It is clear that Pep is gonna have to pull something out of that hat of his today if he hopes to contain a FULL-STRENGTH Real Madrid side.
Meanwhile....... Los Blancos will be firing on all cylinders. Having the return of the confident Gonzalo Higuain, plus having the likes of Karim Benzema and Kaka as back-up (though it's absurd to me to have such a player like Kaka as back-up) with the only down of Carvalho and Khedira who are both comfortably replaceable with not much of a difference within the subs. Real Madrid HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO keep a clean sheet today. That is both vital and crucial to completely have success within these 2 legs.
Today will be just as important as next week but I believe that whatever is the outcome today will defeinitely set the tone for what happens next week.
PREDICTION:
Barcelona: Today they will show what Champions are made of, if they keep posession calmly and not let the rough/power gameplay of Real get to them, then they will succeed in frustrating the other side. With one man in particular who absolutely HATES not having the ball (CR7).
Real Madrid: These folks have to take advantage of the fact the left side will be weak. Sergio Ramos needs to return to his old self and take charge of that right side. Marcelo needs to pressure Dani Alves and pin him to just defensive runs. Ronaldo needs to be selfish when needed and less greedy when the opportunity appears to pass the ball. Gonzalo, Benzema, Adebayor, Kaka. Whoever is chosen to partner Ronaldo need to make smart off the ball runs as much as with it.
FINAL VERDICT - Real Madrid edge Barcelona with a 2-1 scoreline.
Next week will be a different beast.
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