**EL CLASICO** Lliga | Round 17: Real Madrid - FC Barcelona 0-3

[henias]

The problem with the we have yet to be tested statement is that it keeps getting moved to every next bigger game very conveniently, probably to the point that we end up in the final of CL and winning the final will be the game to win to pass the test. So what is this test? Being Europe's no. 1 team? Where did this expectation come from looking at our current squad?

I am not expecting to win CL this year and that is totally fine. Valverde can't be blamed for that. A doblete during a transitional period is a succesful season for me. It is next season that we can probably raise our expectations. I will dream of a CL win ofcourse. And if some things line up with players being in the right mindset and Dembele integrating well, winning CL might not be such a vague dream.

Lets be honest. We dont have much competition this year. Yes, I'm happy with the win but Madrid looked completely pale in comparison to their form during the supercup. Partly bcos Ronaldo and Benzema are way past it. But their whole team just look lethargic, and Spanish teams dont have superiority in Europe this year. I expected a close win but 3-0 is flattering for a scoreline. Not to mention Carvahal is an idiot for getting himself sent off.

I think the real test would be against one of the english sides, who look very dominant in Europe this year. Like I said, people shouldnt be too lenient with Valverde, he still can bring reinforcements this year and he is still in one of the biggest club in the world, it's not fair to the other managers of the club to say Valverde is not at fault if they lose the CL.

 

[DonAK]

Unfortunately he cannot bring in any reinforcements this season. At best it'll be a CB to replace Mascherano. What we needed last summer and will target next summer are players or a player that can start. Those are next to impossible to bring in next month.

 

[henias]

Unfortunately he cannot bring in any reinforcements this season. At best it'll be a CB to replace Mascherano. What we needed last summer and will target next summer are players or a player that can start. Those are next to impossible to bring in next month.

Any player would be better than Andre the lord Gomes, dont necessarily have to bring in those massive overrated big names. Theres no guarantee they will perform well in Barcelona. We just need a slightly better midfielder thats all. We have minimal defence issue or attacking issues, (with Dembele). This squad is looking strong, apart frm the bench.

 

[DonAK]

Any player would be better than Andre the lord Gomes, dont necessarily have to bring in those massive overrated big names. Theres no guarantee they will perform well in Barcelona. We just need a slightly better midfielder thats all. We have minimal defence issue or attacking issues, (with Dembele). This squad is looking strong, apart frm the bench.

Won't get any such midfielder either.

We either need to go for a super talented player who already have some pedigree like Isco did at Malaga or an established player. Cannot waste these last years of Messi by loading the team with kids that are 2-4 years away from getting to a consistent level we expect of them.

Bring in proper midfield reinforcements is crucial.

 

[Horatio]

Lets be honest. We dont have much competition this year. Yes, I'm happy with the win but Madrid looked completely pale in comparison to their form during the supercup.

They don't. I saw the same Real today as I have seen most of the season. The Copa was lost because of a lack of belief from our players, not because of Real's strength. Even a Real in form shouldn't have been able to dominate us like that. Maybe they would have still beaten us in Copa, but not the way they did in August. Our team was very off those games.

 

[henias]

They don't. I saw the same Real today as I have seen most of the season. The Copa was lost because of a lack of belief from our players, not because of Real's strength. Even a Real in form shouldn't have been able to dominate us like that. Maybe they would have still beaten us in Copa, but not the way they did in August. Our team was very off those games.

Theres a reason why they are 4th this season and couldnt surpass a terrible Atletico or beat Spurs. Spanish teams are absolutely trash this year, especially after Madrid went into a complete slump after winning back to back CLs.

No, it was never the same Madrid. Ronaldo looks a complete shadow of himself, if I were Zidane, I would sub him off and put in Asensio.

Again if people argue our squad isnt good enough for CL, then if Madrid could lose to us by 3-0 proves even more that they are jack shit this season. PSG might probably annihilate them.

 

[Horatio]

Theres a reason why they are 4th this season and couldnt surpass a terrible Atletico or beat Spurs. Spanish teams are absolutely trash this year, especially after Madrid went into a complete slump after winning back to back CLs.

I am not arguing they are strong or not, I am arguing that we didn't win this game because Real dropped form since August and this is basically the same Real bar from an Asensio that had an excellent game.

No, it was never the same Madrid. Ronaldo looks a complete shadow of himself, if I were Zidane, I would sub him off and put in Asensio.

No, Ronaldo didn't. Ronaldo played better this game than he did in the Super Copa game. Almost all threat today came from Ronaldo. I remember in the Copa he was pretty much invisible until the goal. A little while later he got sent off. He was able to cut inside because Pique was sleeping and had a good shot. We had a crisis in defense during those games.

Again if people argue our squad isnt good enough for CL, then if Madrid could lose to us by 3-0 proves even more that they are jack shit this season. PSG might probably annihilate them.

That's not how it works. And PSG won't annihilate Real.

 

[henias]

I am not arguing they are strong or not, I am arguing that we didn't win this game because Real dropped form since August and this is basically the same Real bar from an Asensio that had an excellent game.

It wasnt even the same Real. They were missing Isco who was a huge piece to the puzzle, who had the most dribbles during that game alongside Messi, easily Man of the Match for that game. It was like Barcelona without Messi, when Zidane left out Isco completely. It's idiocy.

No, Ronaldo didn't. Ronaldo played better this game than he did in the Super Copa game. Almost all threat today came from Ronaldo. I remember in the Copa he was pretty much invisible until the goal. He was able to cut inside because Pique was sleeping and had a good shot. We had a crisis in defense during those games.

Ronaldo did not play a better game who had 5 shots only 1 on target, while at the SuperCopa he had 3 shots 1 on target 1 goal, and not to mentioned he came on only at 57 min, only to be sent off after a short while.

That's not how it works. And PSG won't annihilate Real.

Madrid in this form is more likely now unless Zidane gets his shit together or the likes of Ronaldo and Benzema improves in form.

 

[Horatio]

Ronaldo did not play a better game who had 5 shots only 1 on target, while at the SuperCopa he had 3 shots 1 on target 1 goal, and not to mentioned he came on only at 57 min, only to be sent off after a short while.

Had Ronaldo not scored that goal you wouldn't have argued he played better this game. That goal only happened because of shambled defense on our side. Come on we looked clueless. No intensity, the whole Neymar saga going on. Players had a poor game and not adapted to new tactics. Madrid have performed pretty consistently since the beginning of the season. On the other hand we have slowly improved in performance. So it's more likely we won this game because we stepped up than Madrid having two good Copa games beginning of season and then miraculously playing poor from the La Liga kickoff and onwards. Honestly, Madrid wasn't that impressive in La Liga last season either.

Madrid in this form is more likely now unless Zidane gets his shit together or the likes of Ronaldo and Benzema improves in form.

Real in CL is a different beast altogether for reasons yet unexplained. You know it. They might not make it to the finals this year but they won't let PSG beat them without a fight. I hope you are right though....just don't see it happening.

 

[henias]

Had Ronaldo not scored that goal you wouldn't have argued he played better this game. That goal only happened because of shambled defense on our side. Come on we looked clueless. No intensity, the whole Neymar saga going on. Players had a poor game and not adapted to new tactics.

Talking abt intensity look at how slow Madrid was tracking back and leaving Rakitic and Suarez completely unmarked. I could always argue their defence were in shambles as well. Not to mention the buildup to the second goal, Suarez was left completely unmarked again. Very similar to the situation when Ronaldo was left unmarked to a 1v1 situation. Madrid's defence was absolutely sloppy as well if u keep putting it that way.

Real in CL is a different beast altogether for reasons yet unexplained. You know it. They might not make it to the finals this year but they won't let PSG beat them without a fight. I hope you are right though....just don't see it happening.

Getting trashed by Spurs is definitely no beast. Form and dominance changes frm time to time. Madrid can never last that long. PSG still has the edge this season.

 

[Horatio]

Talking abt intensity look at how slow Madrid was tracking back and leaving Rakitic and Suarez completely unmarked. I could always argue their defence were in shambles as well. Not to mention the buildup to the second goal, Suarez was left completely unmarked again. Very similar to the situation when Ronaldo was left unmarked to a 1v1 situation. Madrid's defence was absolutely sloppy as well if u keep putting it that way.

Madrid's defense could be sloppy, I am just saying they weren't much different during the Copa game. So their defense was probably sloppy by that time as well, we just didn't perform well enough to exploit it.

Getting trashed by Spurs is definitely no beast. Form and dominance changes frm time to time. Madrid can never last that long. PSG still has the edge this season.

PSG could have an edge yeah. But again, Real won't get annihilated.

 

[henias]

Madrid's defense could be sloppy, I am just saying they weren't much different during the Copa game. So their defense was probably sloppy by that time as well, we just didn't perform well enough to exploit it.

Lol, very poor excuse. The same thing could be said abt Madrid as well for this game. Madrid in SuperCopa was far frm sloppy, they made 34 successful tackles as compared to 16 tackles frm Barca. They were all over us.

They only made 18 tackles yesterday.

PSG could have an edge yeah. But again, Real won't get annihilated.

I said they might if they played like this in CL games. Nvr said they will.

 

[Giginho75]

OWNERS of bernabeu! again

amazing second half barca and realmadrid destroyed...

and here there is who thought blancos are better than us!!! players, bench, etc...

instead we have been and are again a team that they never will be.

 

[Barcaman]

Needed to win 5-0 without European and Spanish champions creating anything at their home. Then, only then everyone would be satisfied.

 

[barcafan161]

the league is over!!

madrid look horrible and not the team they were last year.

Can't see any way they beat PSG in the CL either