Gareth Bale

[Luftstalag14]

No chance? Come on guys how about you believe in your team a bit more. We have a better forward line than they do and a better midfield, our defense may struggle with their pace but their defense will struggle with our skill and imagination. You guys are just way too negative I hope you are not like this day to day in the real world.

We have a while before that game for Tata to improve our tactical discipline that we will need and Real have not looked great so far either particularly in defense.

So it all comes down to whether our forwards will outscore their forwards, I guess, since we are definitely going to concede?

Sigh.

 

[ShandyFFM]

Perhaps the next clasicos will end up like this 5-5 or 6-4 or 7-3 haha^^
What worries me is that our defense including xavi in recent years couldnt handel the pressure from very good offensivelines like they did in the past. It all starts with our offense who need to press more so that our derense will have less to work during the game. But all in all im really worried. Hope tata can surprise everyone.

 

[ebc_99]

So it all comes down to whether our forwards will outscore their forwards, I guess, since we are definitely going to concede?

Sigh.

No it is not definite that we concede, but their defense is as bad as ours so both teams probably will score.

 

[Hamzah]

Their defence is much better than ours.

 

[ebc_99]

Both defenses are rubbish, Madrid just sit back a bit more but are just as likely to concede.

 

[DonAndres]

Both defenses are rubbish, Madrid just sit back a bit more but are just as likely to concede.

Not really, ours is worse and more importantly, more exposed when the two teams meet.

 

[Hamzah]

Sergio Ramos and varane are defenitly not a rubbish partnership. They are one of the best in the world infact.

 

[darthvader7888]

Our only defender who's better than his RM counterpart is Alba, and that's because of his attacking abilities, not his defending. Carvajal-Ramos-Varane-Marcelo is a much better defense than Alves-Pique-Puyol/Masch-Alba.

 

[Garrus]

What kind of stupid Comparesions are those, The way they defend isn't the same we do, And if we can decide which is better by comparing names, Then the galacticos should've won the champions league every single season.

 

[Hamzah]

If we played the same way with thier back four, I can guarantee we would have much less problems defensively. It's not stupid to compare names it's just a fact that thier defence is better. I never said they are guaranteed to win the champions league.

 

[ebc_99]

I think Madrid and Barca have the worst defenses of the top European teams but Madrid play more defensively against us than we do them. If we closed down shop like they do then we would be less likely to concede but equally less likely to score.

When teams play Real like Real play us then their defense falls apart. Madrid do not have as much pride in their style as we have so have no problem resorting to ultra defensive tactics which gives them an advantage when thy play us but Martino is a practical man and will hopefully have a solution for that problem.

 

[big_man]

Our only defender who's better than his RM counterpart is Alba, and that's because of his attacking abilities, not his defending. Carvajal-Ramos-Varane-Marcelo is a much better defense than Alves-Pique-Puyol/Masch-Alba.

There's no way a defence that conceded 42 goals last season( more than Barca's defence at its absolute worst by the way) has a "much better" defence than Barca, that's just nonsense.
The jury is still out on Carvajal by the way, Arbeola might be shit going forward, but he's very solid defensively and he was vital to them defensively.

 

[Hamzah]

Arbeloa solid defensively? Come on. Carvajal is an upgrade on him. Btw the times they have conceded they had pepe at the back. With varane there it's a whole different story. They have one of the best defences in the world.

Our midfield and forwards are superior though. When teams defend against them they are usually clueless.

 

[big_man]

If we played the same way with thier back four, I can guarantee we would have much less problems defensively. It's not stupid to compare names it's just a fact that thier defence is better. I never said they are guaranteed to win the champions league.

Disagree, Madrid are not as adventurous as Barcelona generally and that is a huge factor, in almost every big game(under mourinho at least) they sit back and hit on the break, which means plenty of bodies in their half to help defend.

They also play with 2 Defensively minded midfielders, Barca play with just Busquets.

70% of the time 8 of Barca's outfield players are in the oppositions half, with 2 defenders left to cover a sea of grass, their players will look just as clueless in that setup, but the grass is always greener on the other side eh?

 

[big_man]

Arbeloa solid defensively? Come on. Carvajal is an upgrade on him. Btw the times they have conceded they had pepe at the back. With varane there it's a whole different story. They have one of the best defences in the world.

Our midfield and forwards are superior though. When teams defend against them they are usually clueless.

He gives them balance yes. He's solid, in that he doesn't venture forward aimlessly and will give you a 6 or 7 out of 10 defensively more often than not. Carvajal has a higher ceiling than Arbeola, but all things considered, he isn't a significant upgrade on him at this point, if he is at all.