La Liga 2018/19

2-0 last kick, decent run and finish from the angle

 

All. Over

 

* *, just on.

 

Barca are such an average team these days.

 

Ter Stegen one of the best shot stoppers in the world. One of the best ball playing keepers in the world.

but twice at the near post... am I being a bit too harsh?

 

Both of them are really, two teams lack pace badly.

Liverpool, Man City, Bayern, PSG and maybe Dortmund probably do them both home and away, Juventus and Inter probably give them good games.

 

Barca are far, far too slow nowadays. They played this game at walking pace and even then had enough to create chances. £450 odd million on Coutinho, Dembele and Griezmann have utterly * them.

 

Dah dums Lionel

 

Haven't see the 2nd yet, but the 1st one Pique deflected it past him. He had no chance.

 

Barca look so average it's unreal

 

Madrid deserved that for me..

They had a spell about 30/35-45 where they were dominating but Madrid had gilt edge chances in the second..

Two pretty average side's now..

Barca are woeful these day's. Braithwaite had that chance. Pique with the header. Messi when he couldn't get away from Marcelo but when in on goal..

Very poor side now..

 

yeah I did see that but take another look for the first one there is a bit more of a gap than you’d perhaps think.
I get it though it’s splitting hairs he is a monster. And deflection for the first then the second he mishits it.

 

Aye for me..

He made some class stops. That one from Isco was world class..

Both finishes were close in. A deflection and the second a scuffed one that bounced over him..

Mental he went up for the set piece with still 3 minutes to go

 

Both goals, some good fortune coupled with errors but agree it's odd that both scored near post from very narrow angles. Don't think you can fault Mats, he had some great saves in the match

Love Quique but he shat the bed for his first (last?) Clasico, far too conservative from the start in terms of tactics - very odd considering how he normally sets up and having watched Pep live demonstrate how to use width to punish RM. RM were ripe for a knockout and instead took the Valverde approach. Hard to understand.

1st half still managed to be a good performance from them and they largely outplayed RM but the 2nd half was a disaster from the first whistle. The nerves and desperation very uncharacteristic but also clear Messi isn't 100%. RM wanted it more and it's not often you see Barca looking inferior to their eternal rivals but in that 2nd that's what they looked, inferior

Only good outcome now is that hopefully this applies more pressure to call early elections

 

Busquets, Athur and De Jong are qulity but they are all similar in that they just turn pass and move but they cant run, can't beat men and don't get into the box.

Too one paced for a midfield and then in addition to that they have no pace up front.

They need a De Bruyne type in their midfield who can carry a ball forward and get into the box and score or create a goal. Xavi used to do the same job as Arthur and De Jong only he scored and assisted probably 20-25 goals a season, they're lucky to get you 5.

Vidal kind of does the attacking role for them but he's way past his best and also has no pace.

Kovacic from Chelsea would be a decent signing for them, think he's underrated and been doing well at Chelsea, has a bit of energy and skill and tries to get forward a bit like a younger Rakitic. Played for Real Madrid before though so maybe wouldnt go.

 

I love Arthur as a player. Really rate him..

De Jong is class as well but maybe still adapting and young..

Busquets an exceptional deep lying playmaker but is so slow now. Can still split a defence though..

Rakitic is another who is too slow for me to bring on looking for an impact..

Vidal a few year's ago would've been perfect for this Barca team. Still a good player but definitely lost that pace to be the all action man that made him a top class player..

Braithwaite is poor but he showed instantly what a burst of pace can do. They lack and have lacked it big time for year's..

Fati is a kid but he has shown he can be the go to guy and surprised they only gave him a cameo tonight..

Griezmann I've said it over and over. I do not rate him in the slightest..

 

I'm a Barca fan, but that VAR penalty is a * joke. * VAR.