Carlo Ancelotti

[serghei]

It's all about mentality IMO.

Other teams play v RM with the intent of not losing to them (except maybe Bayern who've attacked them but got bad luck/wrong end of the referee stick)

RM come in versus us with the intent of not losing (seem to have developed this habit since the Pep days). Even players like Roberto play with utmost confidence v them, it's hilarious

It's a combination of:

a) Madrid play a bit higher-tempo in CL

b) Madrid not liking Barca patient possession style, not much pace in games, and also not being apple to press high with enough bite to impede it

c) Madrid having played so many matches with Barca and viceversa, with such close head-to-head, that these teams aren't easily scared of one another, so the fear factor is non-existent unless one has an insane team

In CL, most teams match-up well vs Madrid from Madrid's perspective. City would give them huge problems normally, but City's defense always was their weak spot, and they have a terrible keeper to add to that weak spot. Don't know what they are doing keeping Ederson. Man makes Valdes look elite.

 

[KingLeo10]

In official games, the H2H is 101 wins RM and 100 wins Barca. We got ahead of them during Donverde's 18/19 season but then we had Setien and Koeman...Xavi is gonna make it 101-101 come April

Most evenly matched rivalry out of all the historical clubs, surely?

 

[serghei]

To say Madrid doesn't focus in the clasicos and that's why they lose often is massively idiotic to say the least. There can be no doubt that Barca is a higher level club in general in terms of variety in constructing positional attacks. This is obvious to anyone that knows a bit of football.

Barca have a history of many decades of playing football while keeping the ball and constructing attacks. Most EPL teams are very robotic and basic in how they carry their bussiness on the ball, especially the more traditional clubs like United, Chelsea and Liverpool. It's all pace, crosses, and not much intricate thinking.

City are different for obvious reasons (basically importing Barca style in England) and Arsenal are following suit.

 

[JamDav1982]

Dont think is about Barca being so brilliant on the ball compared to teams in EPL.

Barca played like a Mou team to beat them a few weeks ago and in Bernanbeu game last season destroyed them on the break.

While in others have kept four in 'midfield' and not let them get on ball.

Beat them in a few different ways.

Barca could easily have lost last two games also. Fine margins.

If anything Barca have at times given up more of their passing game and man marked Vini with a physcial player there to do nothing but try to stop him when other teams feel they have been better than Real and not given up much in terms of style of play to beat them.

 

[Birdy]

KL brought up the stats from the first stint, when Barca still were world class, so you get different statistics then.
But it was still better than what Ancelotti has served up in his 2nd stint.

Barca were not WC back then. Far from it.
It was a declining side that were led by a decent but coward coach in EV who exacerbated the flaws of that declined side, with the result being the Amigo team we all know.

If someone was WC back then, was the RM side with the backbone in their prime

 

[Birdy]

It's a combination of:

a) Madrid play a bit higher-tempo in CL

b) Madrid not liking Barca patient possession style, not much pace in games, and also not being apple to press high with enough bite to impede it

c) Madrid having played so many matches with Barca and viceversa, with such close head-to-head, that these teams aren't easily scared of one another, so the fear factor is non-existent unless one has an insane team

In CL, most teams match-up well vs Madrid from Madrid's perspective. City would give them huge problems normally, but City's defense always was their weak spot, and they have a terrible keeper to add to that weak spot. Don't know what they are doing keeping Ederson. Man makes Valdes look elite.

b is valid point.

That's why they always do well against Liverpool, who don't have the players to pass around Madrid's md and are more direct in their game.
Tuchel's Chelsea also outworked their md time and time again the last 2 seasons, City also in 2020 and last season up to a point.

 

[serghei]

b is valid point.

That's why they always do well against Liverpool, who don't have the players to pass around Madrid's md and are more direct in their game.
Tuchel's Chelsea also outworked their md time and time again the last 2 seasons, City also in 2020 and last season up to a point.

It's not enough to outwork their midfield. You also need to have a defense able to withstand some pressure from some elite forwards and midfielders that Madrid undeniably have. Neither Chelsea, nor City, least of all Liverpool, have such reliable defenses. They can't even manage to have a reliable keeper.

 

[JamDav1982]

Over rating Real a lot here.

A lot of these teams making out cant beat them outplayed them for large parts of these games.

Small magins in these games at times.

On balance of games Real will be very fortunate to concede as many goals and chances as last season and go through in similar way.

 

[mc_lovin]

At the end of the day Real won. Either it was dumb luck, voodoo or they simply managed their energy better.

Real>Bayern, PSG and the PL teams.

 

[Birdy]

It's not enough to outwork their midfield. You also need to have a defense able to withstand some pressure from some elite forwards and midfielders that Madrid undeniably have. Neither Chelsea, nor City, least of all Liverpool, have such reliable defenses. They can't even manage to have a reliable keeper.

They did that fine, apart from Liverpool

You are basing a lot on the fluke last season CL of Madrid
They got battered big time in all those games

 

[JamDav1982]

At the end of the day Real won. Either it was dumb luck, voodoo or they simply managed their energy better.

Real>Bayern, PSG and the PL teams.

Lets see.

Frankfurt and Rangers went further than Barca in Europe.. and neither are better sides than Barca.

 

[Morten]

Barca were not WC back then. Far from it.
It was a declining side that were led by a decent but coward coach in EV who exacerbated the flaws of that declined side, with the result being the Amigo team we all know.

If someone was WC back then, was the RM side with the backbone in their prime

Barca were of course world class during Zidanes first stint, you dont have to be the indisputable best side around to be world class.
Declining? Yes, but still a very good side during that time, and that time also included Luchos Barca btw.

You may not rate Zidane, but is it really that difficult to acknowledge he was better at managing these games than Ancelotti?

 

[Birdy]

Barca were of course world class during Zidanes first stint, you dont have to be the indisputable best side around to be world class.
Declining? Yes, but still a very good side during that time, and that time also included Luchos Barca btw.

You may not rate Zidane, but is it really that difficult to acknowledge he was better at managing these games than Ancelotti?

I am not convinced.
Ancelotti won some Classicos including a Copa final in his 1st stint when Barca were WC as you say.
We don't really know if Zidane would have fared any better with THIS RM squad against THIS Barca under Xavi.

 

[KingLeo10]

I am not convinced.
Ancelotti won some Classicos including a Copa final in his 1st stint when Barca were WC as you say.
We don't really know if Zidane would have fared any better with THIS RM squad against THIS Barca under Xavi.

Ancelotti against Barca in his 1st stint:

1-2 L
3-4 L
2-1 W
3-1 W
1-2 L

2 W, 3 L. Pretty much the same as ZZ's 1st stint [MENTION=18429]Morten[/MENTION]

 

[iniestaGOAT]

Got spanked in bernabeu barcas training ground

Got spanked in Arabia

Got spanked in camp Nou


Carlos out. We need a new manager to spank.