La Liga, Round 23: Barcelona And Sporting Gijon Draw, Giving Real Madrid A Small Glimmer Of Hope

How Real Madrid deserved those three points! Having more than matched their opponents, Espanyol, for the first 45 minutes, they then produced a solid defensive display after the break to reduce Espanyol to half chances, with young keeper Adán rarely troubled. Marcelo got what proved to be the winner, racing into the box to recieve Cristianos slide rule pass before firing in a cracker over the otherwise inspired Carlos Kameni and into the roof of the net.

Once again, Jose Mourinho has proved that when it comes to tactics there are few better managers in the game. As soon as Iker Casillas was harshly sent off in only the third minute after brining down Callejon, Madrid reverted to a system that saw them form a 4-5-0 when Espanyol were in possession, before switching to a 4-2-3 when on the attack. Cristiano and Adebayor were inspired in the first half, while Pepe and Carvalho were the heros in the second half, marshalling Callejon and Sergio Garcia with consumate ease.

Slowly but surely Espanyol are beginning to turn the screw at Estadio Cornellá. Real Madrids counters have disappeared and it looks very much like they’re going to be on the defensive for the remaining twenty minutes of this match. There isn’t quite the same intensity as there was in the first half, which has suited Espanyol as they press Madrid deeper and deeper into their own half. Cristiano Ronaldo and Adebayor are currently anonymous.

But even with the lions share of possession, Espanyol are still to really test Adán and I have been more than a little disappointed with their performance so far as they were expected to prove a tough assignment for Mourinhos team. Callejon just had a fantastic chance to work the goalkeeper, but he screwed his shot past the far post when the striker should really have hit the target. Sergio Garcia, who appeared to have picked up an injury, has been replaced by young striker Álvaro.

This is the best I’ve seen Real Madrid play all season, and remarkably they’re doing so in spite of Iker Casillas’ third minute red card. Marcelo has given Real Madrid the lead with a close range bullet that flew in off Kameni, and they could even have had a second when Emmanuel Adebayor saw a chip bounce off the top of the bar.

Madrid are playing with a fluency and purpose seldom seen so far this season, and are carrying out Mourinhos instructions to the letter. With everyone behind the ball when Espanyol are in possession, Real Madrid are breaking on the counter with ruthless efficiency with Cristiano Ronaldo at the fore with his pace causing all sorts of problems.

Whatever people say about Real Madrid lacking a style, an identity, they sure know how to churn out results. You can’t say there’s much difference between the two sides and you certainly don’t notice that Real Madrid are playing with ten men. Without the ball Real Madrid are playing a 4-5-0, with Adebayor tracking back admirably, while in attack the big Togo striker is being ably supported by Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo as they switch to a 4-2-3.

And it was the Portugues superstar who released Marcelo in the box on 23 minutes, the full-back steaming past his marker before unleashing a fierce shot into the roof of the net. Fantastic response from the men in white and no less than they deserve after more than matching their opponents in the opening twenty minutes, reeking havoc as they counter attack with devastating speed.

Extraordinary opening to the match as Real Madrid find themselves reduced to ten men in only the third minute. Callejon, setting off from what seemed an offside position, raced onto a long ball and was brought down by Casillas as he nicked the ball away from the keeper. Was there contact? Yes. Was there enough contact to warrant Callejons subsequent tumble? Debatable. Either way, Casillas was playing a dangerous game racing out like that and he’s paid the ultimate punishment.

Xabi Alonso immediately raced over to Jose Mourinho to receive tactical instructions, while the unfortunate Angel Di Maria has had to make way for young keeper Adán. In the minutes after the sending off, Real Madrid have reacted well, Khedira was two chances to open the scoring, one a header from a corner and the other a long-range strike that deceived Carlos Kameni, although the Cameroon international managed to make the save low down to his left.

David Villa scored an absolutely stunning goal for Barcelona in the 80th minute, but it wasn’t enough to rescue all three points and keep the record winning streak alive for the Blaugranes against Sporting Gijon. While three points would have helped the hosts immensely in their quest to stay in La Liga, the fans and players didn’t appear to be upset with the two points that they dropped, instead much more focused on the famous point that they gained. They will be remembered as the team that snapped Barcelona’s record win streak, and the fans took that very seriously, celebrating their team holding onto a draw as if they had just won the title.

David Barral opened the scoring on the 16th minute and the goal was celebrated just as enthusiastically as the final result was. His goal was worthy of a big celebration, though, as he fought his way through two defenders, cutting in from the left flank before slotting past Victor Valdes.

So much for that whole “parity” thing in La Liga. Barcelona have restored a little bit of order to the world with David Villa’s fantastic 80th minute goal. While the 1-1 scoreline is a little more to Barca’s liking than it was a couple of minutes ago, it’s likely that the Blaugranas still won’t be satisfied unless they get all three points.

The goal was scored on a sublime chip shot by Villa, who showed spectacular instincts on the play. Thinking that Villa was about to take him on one on one, the Sporting Gijon keeper stepped up off of his like to try to close him down. Villa recognized this instantly and chipped the ball up over the keeper before making a move into the box. It was a perfect chip and Gijon’s players had no chance to prevent the ball from going into the back of the net.

Well, this isn’t what anyone expected, is it? Barcelona have come out flat against Sporting Gijon, and the Blaugranas find themselves shockingly trailing at halftime. For those not “in the know,” Barcelona are currently riding a record win streak. Based on their play in the first half, it appears that said streak could be in serious jeopardy.

Both Sergio Busquets and Pedro have been rested by Pep Guardiola, with Ibrahim Afellay and Javier Mascherano taking their places. Both of those players have looked fairly out of their element and as a result, Barcelona do not look like the beautiful, flowing Barcelona that most people are accustomed to watching. With Lionel Messi, David Villa, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta still on the pitch, one might think that Barca would still look like Barca, but it’s been a serious struggle so far. They look, dare I say it, rigid. Yes, Barcelona look rigid.

Whilst it wasnt difficult, you have to say the second half is more exciting than the first. Even so this match is hardly a classic. Bar some moments of quality from Sergio Agüero and Jose Antonio Reyes this really is a borefest. After a bright opening to the second half, Valencia have retreated back into their half, and with Atletico seemingly incapable of conjuring up a second, this match has 1-1 written all over it.

Both managers have made changes, with Quique throwing on new signing Juanfran, and Unai Emery deciding to stick Aduriz into the mix along with Miguel and David Navarro in an attempt to strengthen the backline and add an extra dimension in attack. You can safely say not one of these changes has made an ounce of a difference! Ten minutes remaining in the Vicente Calderon.

Well whatever Quique said to his players at half-time, it hasnt had the desired effect, unless he told his players to crawl into their shells and gift possession to Valencia. Absolutely nobody inside the Vicente Calderon has much confidence in this side and you can begin to hear murmurs of discontent from the stands. Atelti need a goal and quick.

And they should have had one when they were just awarded a penalty after an atrocious piece of defending from Maduro. Having horribly miscontrolled the ball in his own area, Maduro attempted to rectify the situation with an equally disastrous, mis-timed lunge on Jose Antonio Reyes. Diego Forlan stepped up to take the kick (quite why Sergio Agüero wasnt entrusted with the spot kick with the Uruguayan in this frame of mind is beyond me) and smacked his effort against the right-hand post.

The most unlikely of equalisers giving how they were playing, although not entirely surprising when you consider who they’re playing against. Atletico Madrid have an unfortunate tendency when it comes to comical defending and they given us another beauty with two nutmegs that lead to Joaquin getting on the end of Jordi Albas cross to slide in the leveller.

So Atletico have to start all over again, and all of a sudden all the pressure is back on Quique Sanchez Flores. Quite how Valencia have managed to get on level terms with what was pretty much their first serious assault on De Geas goal will alarm Quique, as Valencia have more than enough ammunition in the form of Pablo Hernandez, Joaquin and Soldado. And with the goal, Valencia suddenly find themselves in the ascendency, with Tino Costa getting on the ball and creating danger in and around the Atleti box.

To be honest I find it strange that Sergio Agüero is still at Atletico Madrid. Not really sure if its Agüero showing admirable loyalty to the club, or the Atleti president asking for a ridiculous amount of money, but either way, the striker deserves his chance at a club challenging for domestic and Champions League honours. Today the little Argentine is giving Bruno and Maduro a run-around in attack, with one electric burst into the area that almost brought Atletico their second. Diego Forlan on the other hand, looks low on confidence. How the Uruguayan needs a run of goals.

So far Valencia have been subdued at best, utterly woeful at worst. Can’t remember Roberto Soldado even having touched the ball so far, and the striker looks horribly isolated. How they miss the mercurial talent of Ever Banega in midfield, the Argentine so important to Unai Emerys side when it comes to linking defence and attack. If it stays like this or if Atleti get an early second, Emery will surely have to switch to two up top and stick Aritz Aduriz on the field.

In what is supposed to be Quique Sanchez Flores’ judgement day, Atletico couldnt have got off to a better start. Jose Antonio Reyes beautifully controlled a weighted Diego Forlan pass, before driving into the box and firing a left-footed shot past Guaita in the Valencia goal. A cracking start from the matressmen, a clear indication that the players are behind their coach.

There was also a nice touch from Reyes after the goal, revealing a shirt wishing ex-teammate Sergio Asenjo a speedy recovery from his knee ligament injury. In terms of the lineups, Forlan and Agüero continue upfront for Atleti, while Unai Emery has opted to start with just Roberto Soldado upfront in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a favourite among many teams in La Liga. Young centre back Alvaro Dominguez continues on the bench, with Godin and Perea trusted to keep Soldado quiet.