The league was lost a long time ago. Real Madrid were 12 points behind and were about to face Sevilla, a team that has constantly put Madrid through problems in the past.
Barcelona were also facing a tough team in the form of Villarreal but were supposed to cruise against the Submarines (I don’t know if this counts as a pun) given their superior form.
Real Madrid won their game 4-0, the scoreline might suggest complete dominance on Madrid’s behalf, but it was far from that. Barcelona, however, drew their game 2-2.
Now, this doesn’t mean that the Galacticos have a chance to win the league; Barca must press and hold the self-destruct button to lose a 10-point lead. However, if the last match-day showed us anything, it was that even a superhuman Barca team can bleed.
With that in mind, here are five reasons why Real Madrid could take down Barca:
Playing Casemiro
Ever since that game against Atletico Madrid unfolded, Zinedine Zidane has realised the importance of Carlos Henrique Casimiro. Under Rafa Benitez, he was a regular starter and really impressed with his sturdy presence in the middle.
Initially, Zidane didn’t use him. However, since his resurgence, the Blancos have gone on to win all their games with him in midfield.
Ian Holloway was once heavily criticised for using too many defensive players in midfield. Given his outspoken and hilarious nature of speech, he aptly replied saying: “it’s all very well having a great pianist playing but it’s no good if you haven’t got anyone to get the piano on the stage in the first place, otherwise the pianist would be standing there with no bloody piano to play.”
Casemiro is not the best of players with the ball at his feet, but in a team filled with players who are technically astute, there isn’t a need for another one of the same calibre. Indeed, what Real have always needed is someone who could win the ball quickly—get the piano on stage—for the more creative players to do magic.
The former Sao Paulo star might not be the best holding midfielders out there, he might not even be world class just yet—but he is the only one in the Merengues squad who is capable of hustling around the park and bullying Barca players in possession.
Something that is a must in order to ruin their flow.
A fully-fit BBC
Cristiano Ronaldo might be declining, but recent matches have shown that the BBC are getting better as the season progresses. As Barcelona’s South American trident of MSN fly in from long distances, there is a good chance they would be a little fatigued from the jetlag.
The BBC have no such concerns as their international break consisted lesser travelling than their rivals.
They might not be as effective as they were under Carlo Ancelotti, but it would be a mistake to count them out. In terms of raw explosiveness, there isn’t another trio of attackers who are better.
It would be wise of Zidane to play Benzema in a more withdrawn role, almost in the hole, with Gareth Bale on the left and Cristiano up top. Yes, it is true that Cristiano loses the surprise element that he gets from playing on the left, but Bale’s pace and ability to cross on the run benefits every person in the trio.
Playing Karim Benzema as a Trequartista
Karim Benzema is arguably the best playmaking striker in the world. His ability to link up with his team-mates has always favoured Cristiano Ronaldo the most. For the BBC to feature to its best, the Frenchman needs to be at his playmaking best.
The thing with Benzema is that he is the most intelligent player in the team. The elegance with which he plays one-touch passes and the speed with which he executes his mesmerising flicks are a treat to watch.
Even Barca admire his talent and always give the feeling that they are more worried about him than any other Real Madrid player.
With him in the hole, the Barcelona players would be confused about how to deal with him. In a setup such as this, all the three players in the trio will continuously swap positions, putting Barca’s web-like defensive set-up in a state of worry
While all this might sound like a Tolkien-esque high fantasy, Zidane should try these unorthodox methods as a means to surprise the Catalans. Barca have figured out how to stop Madrid and it is only with some out-of-the-box thinking that Zidane’s men could stutter the Blaugranas.
Also the fact that the Whites have nothing to lose makes it all the more compelling a reason to take the risk of trying something like this.
Barca’s defence does bleed goals
As Villarreal showed us in the last match-day, Barca’s defence is anything but unbreakable. The away team were leading comfortably with a two-goal margin and the game was supposed to be set and done.
However, Luis Enrique’s decision to sub Gerard Pique off backfired and Barca conceded two goals, one of which was scored by Pique’s replacement, Jeremy Mathieu.
Los Cules are such a good attacking unit that their defensive flaws go unnoticed. While people drool at MSN’s ruthlessness, Barca’s backline is still their Achilles heel. Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique are the only two defenders who can be labelled as ‘great’.
Apart from them, not one Barcelona defender goes beyond the ‘decent’ tag.
Madrid have at times, been frustratingly impotent against Barca—and this is more mental than anything else. There was a time when Barca played Adriano—a side-midfielder by natural trait—in the center of the defence in a Clasico and still got away with it.
So this just shows the mental barrier that is placed in the minds of the Galacticos. Despite coming out grand victors in some Clasicos of the past years, the barrier is still there—and it seems like it is growing bigger.
However, if Madrid’s attack plays to their potential, there is no doubt that Barca’s defence could be ripped to shreds.
Playing for fun
This is almost an impossible thing as playing for fun in a clash as prestigious as this is like asking a fish to climb a tree. More than anything, pride is at stake here and both teams would lay down their lives to defend that pride.
However, let’s just, for a moment, forget all these sentimental concerns and think with logic. Real Madrid are 10 points behind Barcelona. If history has taught us anything, it is that it is virtually impossible for anyone to beat Barca for the league title from this stage.
Hence, Real Madrid have nothing to lose—except for false pride. With a 4-0 mauling at home in the previous tie against Barcelona, this pride isn’t supposed to be there. And it will be best if it isn’t.
The last thing Real Madrid need is to worry about losing. They should go out there and play to enjoy. Win or loss shouldn’t matter anymore, playing without fear is the only way to go about and a man as wise as Zidane should know this.
