If the last days of the Roman Empire were with us once again, the people would have no need of prized gladiators-they would have Real Madrid and FC Barcelona players instead.
Increasingly the encounters between the two teams have both a tension and brilliance about them that easily surpasses any other encounter on La Liga, and reaches levels of collective and individual skill hard to find in any other league, or indeed sport.
The excitement was there from the opening minutes as Ronaldo led a series of devastating charges down the left wing. The game then developed into a fascinating engagement between two styles and philosophies of football, with individuals or groups of players performing as worthy exemplars of each.
Rafa Varane was the heart and soul of Mourinho’s generally brilliant defensive tactics, neutralising Messi’s final assault on goal, and clinching the equaliser. Varana, not Messi or Ronaldo, emerged as the popular choice for man of the match, with a revelatory performance that mixed extraordinary courage as well as technique.
While Real Madrid’s distinguished itself in the speed of its rapier-like counter-attacks, Barca’s high points were at their best holding and passing the ball, often in tight spaces, with instances of magical choreography involving Busquets,Iniesta, Alba, Xavi, and Cesc- all beneficiaries of the club’s youth training scheme, like Messi.
Varana is of course French, another superstar in the making at a club that under its President Florentino Perez has tended to promote individual foreign galacticos in preference to home-grown talent, and in the process risked the loss of a discernible cultural identity. For all the excitement generated by this nineteen year old former Lens captain, Barca has a generation of home grown young players of similar potential to choose from like Thiago, Cuenca, Deulofeu, Dongou, Montoya, Tello, Sergi Samper, Marc Bartra and Alex Grimaldo.
But last night’s match reminded us in other ways of the extent to which these great sporting rivals inhabit different planets. Despite the absence, through injury and suspension, of Mourinho’s main bruisers, respectively Pepe and Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid was not short of shock troops, as provocative as their manager- fellow Portuguese Carvalho, and the Spaniards Callejon, and Arbeloa.
Finally this was a match in which even replacements excelled. Diego Lopez –my own, disputed, nomination for man of the match-on his return to Real Madrid showed himself a worthy contender for the first team spot for so long monopolised by Iker Casillas. But credit should also go to Jordi Roura, Barca’s assistant manager who is helping guide the team through an emotionally and physically testing season with his intelligence and dignified presence, on and off the bench.
Once again Roura’s discreet touchline antics and open engagement with the media contrasted with Mourinho’s Bernabeu theatrics and post-match stuntish grump after a week in which the alleged disunity in the Real Madrid dressing room took a new twist with Casillas’s TV star girlfriend Sara Carbonero claiming that the players can’t wait to rid themselves of the Special One.
Displaced for up to twelve weeks because of an injury and with Lopez on top form, Casillas must be considering his future, with or without Mourinho who will surely go to back to Chelsea next season. I reckon it would take only the encouragement of Casillas’s friend Xavi , backed by other La Roja colleagues like Iniesta, Pujol, and Cesc to entice him to Barca. I personally would love to see Casillas take over, once Valdes departs, in the steps of the legendary Zamora who put football before politics, and served his time brilliantly both in Real Madrid and Barca, to the joy of many fans, north and south. In times of political turmoil, Casillas like Del Bosque could show the nobility of spirit that Spanish politicians lack- true gladiators.
Varane had a good game but he barely got tested to be honest. Barca rarely got beyond Real’s midfield last night. The way Messi and Iniesta had to drop very deep for most of the 90 minutes meant the only threat Barca had upfront was Pedro who had an absolute shocker. This hype about Varane’s performance is a bit of a knee jerk reaction to the fact that most people expected his lack of experience to be badly exposed, it was not an extraordinary performance by any means in my opinion. Apart from two admittedly excellent tackles Varane didn’t have to defend much. It was a very poor performance by Barca and I would love to see how he fares at the return leg when Barca will no doubt be up for it. For me, the real man of the match was Ozil. He was at the heart of everything Real did and was a constant danger every time he got on the ball. As to Casillas joining Barca that will never happen. He prides himself on being the son of Madrid and he won’t betray the fans like that especially when Mourinho is almost certainly gone in the summer.
Come on Jimmy a bit more objectivity please. Real Madrid were without 5 first team players (Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, y Ángel Di María,), and I wouldn’t describe them all as “main bruisers” – Barça were full strength and were clear favourites to win.
You also missed the best story, and to me a rare event in today’s game: integrity. When a small cigarette lighter landed near the prima dona Pique, he picked it up and rushed over to show it to the ref. Puyol stopped him saying “¡Dame el mechero y juega!” (Give me the lighter and play!). A true gentleman and leader.
However these observations and the fine game pale in to significance when compared to “Qatargate”….
Now Spain has is being rocked by allegations that the present government has received illegal payments over decades, I would not claim too loudly that football is an example, and in particular Barça as you so often do in your blogs. The allegations in this weeks FRANCE FOOTBALL, under the title “Qatargate” that the present Barça sponsors bought the rights to the 2022 World Cup has rocked the football world and is includes devastating revelation about Barcelona Football club. Rosel, the then President of Barça, and under investigation of appropriating the clubs funds, is accused of being instrumental in the whole plot. Pep Guardiola is also involved.
So Jimmy, rather than going on and on about the Barça cantera (yawn), why don’t you put your investigative skills in to play and start unravelling the corruption in football that is blemishing your beloved club.