If you missed last Sunday’s El Clasico – that much hyped clash between European champions Barcelona and moneybags Real Madrid – then you missed something quite special. Okay, it wasn’t on the same level as last year’s eight-goal barnstormer at Madrid’s Stadio Bernabeu but this game certainly lived up to the hype. Real’s big names carved the best openings and worked hard to stifle Barca’s intricate play, but the blaugranas’ teamwork and finishing triumphed in the end, a spectacular goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic separating the two sides after ninety minutes.
For me, three things came to mind:
First, while a lot has been made of Barcelona’s attacking play – with good reason too – a big part of their success has to be an often overlooked yet equally resilient defence. Carles Puyol yet again proved a barrier too solid to breach for Real, and two last ditch blocks – on shots by Marcelo and Karim Benzema – helped maintain Barca’s clean sheet. A bigger part of their success for me is the poise and sterling team play of Gerard Pique, the ex-Man U reserve who has thrived superbly - he’s now a starter for Spain - since returning home last season. This guy is fast becoming one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the game – kind of like Rio Ferdinand used to be before injuries and age took their toll. Take Barca’s winning goal on Sunday. The move actually started with Pique smoothly taking the ball off Ronaldo in the Barca box, then rather than hoof it upfield, he strode to the centre line before passing it off to Messi deep in Real territory. The little Argentinian then found Dani Alvez wide on the right and his pin-point cross was smartly finished by Ibra. From one box to the other, just three passes, and all started by the solid defending and smart ball-playing of Pique.
Second, the brilliance and impact of Lionel Messi was again to the fore in another high profile game. To think some bozo on a BBC chatroom – don’t know why I bother - had actually stated a few months ago that Messi is over-rated! Sure, this was on the strength of Argentina’s struggles to qualify for the World Cup, but I daresay that can only be down to other factors – management, tactics, teammates – rather than any failing on the part of the little magician. For all the close attention he gets and the knocks he takes, Messi never hides, always looks for the ball, never shies away from taking on defenders – no matter how tight the space – and always carves chances for himself and others. Of course, having great teammates always helps and playing alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta – experts in finding space where there seems to be none – only brings out the best in Messi’s game. But that can’t be the whole story. After all, Real Madrid’s Marcelo, rather than look good with all the stars around him, only sticks out like a sore thumb. Messi’s the real deal. If his U-20 World Cup exploits in 2005 didn’t convince you; or last year’s Champions League Final left you with doubts; or Barca’s 6-2 win at the Bernabeu last season still didn’t do the trick, then last week’s El Clasico should be more than enough.
Third, the interesting contrast between Barcelona and Real Madrid was again clear to see on Sunday. And not just with regards to their style of play either. Granted, the Madridistas are still a work in progress following the high profile arrivals of Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema, Alonso, Albiol and Diarra in the last 12 months, but their quick counter-attacking game, relying largely on individual skills - the passing of Alonso, and the speed and craft of Kaka and Ronaldo - was a stark contrast to Barcelona’s team-focused, patient, possession-based passing game. Beyond that though, is the different philosophies adopted by both teams; while Real Madrid is clearly a side built by buying the best players money can buy, Barca’s focus is more on building from within. Of the eleven starters for Real on Sunday, only two – goalkeeper Iker Casillas and the recently-returned Alvaro Arbeloa – are home-grown. Indeed, only five of that team were even at the Madrid club just 12 months ago. Barcelona on the other hand, started with seven homebred players, all well-steeped in the club’s traditions and playing style. Of course, that is not to suggest that Barcelona do not buy big name players. Far from it; they currently have Ibrahimovic, one of the most expensive players in world football, and Dani Alvez, the most expensive full back in history, and their past his littered with names like Cruyff, Laudrup, Stoichkov, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
Yet the core of this current team – ably managed by another home-grown former star, Pep Guardiola – is very clearly home-bred. It sure helps if those players are named Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, but it is Barcelona that has nurtured them to these heights and with the likes of Pedro and Sergio Busquets also coming through, there is definitely much to praise about the club’s grooming traditions.
Indeed, if Barcelona needed any further commendation, it came this week when the results of the Ballon d’Or poll – for European player of the year – was published. Messi, as expected, took the prize with a record number of points, while teammates Xavi and Iniesta finished 3rd and 4th.
One more thing: the next El Clasico is scheduled for Madrid on April 11 2010.
Make it a date.
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