He will be in the middle, but a bit deeper. I think the triangle now has inverted from Messi being the spear to Messi being the thrust. They probably don't have a choice. Both Xavi and Iniesta are losing their legs gradually so they will need Leo to drop deep more.

They should play 4-3-2-1 with Messi and Neymar having free roles, but Neymar starting on the center-left and Messi on the center-right. Iniesta-Rakitic-Busquetes is a very good and solid midfield to back that up.

For me Cristiano needs to play a lot better domestically, whilst Messi wasn't the greatest and it's still a joke he was voted player of the tournament in the World Cup he was FAR more effective than CR7.

I think they will play the same as last year pretty much. Neymar and Suarez playing slightly wide of centre, Messi just behind them centrally as a false 9. Messi has had too much success in the middle for them to move him anywhere else now. If he goes wide, he'll be easier to pick up defensively.

I think Barça want to change. Their winning formula of the past is not working anymore, Xavi is at the end of his career and Messi has been poor for the past 12 months or so. You can't keep playing the same way forever and expect to win.

They've shown this by signing two CBs and a defensive mid like Rakitic. They want to bring stability and a change of style. Obviously they'll rely on their tiki-taka system, but not in the same mold as before. And with Suarez you just have to use him at full potential. Playing him wide would be a waste.

Suarez didn't really play centrally for Liverpool. It was a diamond 4-4-2, but more like a 4-2-3-1 with Suarez playing a bit further right, Coutinho was wider left than a regular diamond midfield position with Henderson and Gerrard more like holding players with Sterling off the front.

Jeez, Madrid are like a goal machine. Five goals per game has become the new standard now.

Shall I say it once more?

Primera, Primera...

From the EPL, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga only Bayern, Chelsea, Man City, Barca and Valencia have scored more goals than Ronaldo.

I remember when scoring 25 goals in the league was a great success a few years back. Ever since Messi and Ronaldo took the scene, 30 goals is like the bare minimum. But then again, Barça and Madrid are so strong and La Liga is so weak, so in a way it makes some sense.

But you don't see those kind of numbers in any other league. So 25 in Serie A, EPL or Bundesliga is still considered a great achievement and will most likely make you the top scorer.

La Liga is just ridiculous and skews numbers by awful margins. If Ronaldo or Messi were to change leagues they wouldn't get those kind of numbers

Exactly. The fact that Barça and Madrid are goals machines per se helps them even more.

They wouldn't get the crazy numbers in the 40s, I agree. Ronaldo did break the 30 mark in the EPL though. But it is considered such a huge accomplishment to do it like when Toni did it in Serie A. Ronaldo was probably disappointed he "only" got 31 in 30 last season.

Barcelona and Madrid have the biggest TV rights in Europe, one of the highest paying sponsors, have a brand that is as universal as "you speak english?", and the classico is a match world-wide audiences anticipate in most cases with more viewers than a CL final.

Let us compare apples to apples, cuz those two teams are a level above the rest of Europe, let alone in their very domicile. Anything they achieve is skewed to the reality or the actual level that La Liga is at.

I think we shouldn't neglect the fact that those two are probably in the two best teams on the planet. To assume they wouldn't score 'anything near' those numbers might be being rash.

Maybe not 30, but a 25 plus return cannot be discounted. Just look at that Madrid firepower with a team being built to service Ronaldo. It's not like either Ronaldo or Messi are not cutting it in Europe where you could argue they are meeting with better opponents than in Primera. I think they are neck and neck to beat Raul's record and become joint top scores in CL.

No. I think we are in a very special period where we are probably looking at two players competing for GOAT status (though I hardly believe such a term exists in any sport which advances through technological inputs/or has rule changes).

It sucks that Milan doesn't and probably will not (for another 10 years) have a player to compete in those stakes but that's that.

Suarez with one of the worst performances I've ever seen. Beyond annonymous.

They spend that kind of money on one of the best strikers around and play him as a winger...

He's playing the same role as the one he did at Liverpool though. Sturridge played centrally, Suarez was always wider to the right.

The blueprint to Madrid's success today was down to Don Carlo, the movement of Madrid today and how they moved the ball from defense to the attack resembled that of Carlo's Milan. Except this team is on steroids

Madrid could very well pin anyone back from a CL title. Game I would like to watch, Chelsea v Madrid and be that a final ohh boy!

Madrid played okay, but ultimately they won because of Barca. Silly penalty to give away, poor marking on corner and then Iniesta giving the ball away to let Madrid break. Barca were at fault for all 3 rather than Madrid's good play IMO. Madrid were pretty wasteful mostly.

Didn't see the game, just saw the goals. Madrid's 3rd goal is such a perfect display of the team's skills and spirit. Quick passes and everyone being altruist.

It was such a beautiful goal, even Iniesta wanted to get involed.

Didn't Liverpool play a diamond last season with Sturridge and Suarez up top? And anyway they played a very fluid front 3 with those 2 plus Sterling, they'd constantly rotate their positions.

Suarez was literally stuck out wide on the right side for most of the game hugging the touch line, I fail to see how that's making good use of him

Still he got the assist in the game which is more than Messi did all game long

On websites it would have them down as a 4-4-2 diamond, but in reality it was more like this.

---------------- Sturridge ---------------
----------------------------- Suarez-----
---------------- Sterling ----------------
------ Coutinho-------------------------
------------------------- Henderson---
--------------- Gerrard-----------------

Was a slightly lob-sided 4-2-3-1 more than it was a 4-4-2 IMO.

He did play wider tonight than he did at Liverpool, but more or less the same kind of role.


Which is why assists are often overrated. Playing a routine ball across the field, then that player cutting inside, beating a man, and scoring from 20 yards isn't really anything to do with the pass.

Yet another shite performance from Messi in a match which matters. Last time I remember him having a significant impact in a big match was the CL final in 09.

He's the most overrated player on earth.

Not that Ron was brilliant tonight but his moments made a difference.

Best player was Carvajal.

PS: Suarez absolutely drowned.

Yeah but he gets 80 penalties a season and scores 40 of them so he must be the best because he scores so much!


Easily. Brilliant performances. Marcelo was good too, which is a rarity.

Just can't fathom why the world loves Messi so much. He keeps on choking when it matters while Ronaldo doesn't.

On the other hand, I can't fathom why the world hates Messi so much.

Possibly due to the kudos he's given without actually deserving it.

Ronaldo's done it for Man Utd, Real Madrid and Portugal. Mainly on his own.

While Messi's star has definitely faded in the past 2+ years as Xavi aged and Iniesta went past his best.

Tonight he had Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Suarez and Neymar for support yet did absolutely nothing.

Ronaldo wasn't sparkling but did things on his own, things Messi seems incapable of. Ronaldo ran absolute riot v Liverpool, while Messi did nothing in Paris v PSG or even against Apoel.

Messi has been over rated for too long, relying on a great Barca team - now that Barca has been found out he's been a hell of a lot less effective. While Ronaldo has been outstanding for 5+ years now.

Not this argument again!

There are really very few people who even criticise him IMO. When you compare the criticism he and Ronaldo get, his is basically none existent.

Whoa, I just realized that Barça had not conceded any goals in eight games until tonight.

Records and streaks only exist for Ronaldo to break them.

@kurt

Obviously the two teams are massive and have proved it over recent years. Madrid were never going to get an easy win, but then again neither were Barcelona.

I was referring to Madrid's defending, haven't seen them defend and pass the ball starting from defense like that. They usually would knock it forward, rather than play it with short passes. That game plan is what I was referring too.

That said, Barcelona have a distinct style of play and can impose it on any team. Madrid played on Barca's weak points and won, let that be corner kicks or intercepting the ball from Iniesta or the likes.

I haven't following Real that much this season. How does Ancelotti play Modric, Kroos and James (when Bale is also available)? Is it Modric in front of the defense with Kroos and James as CM?

I think it's more of a 4-3-2-1, Isco was playing instead of Bale yesterday as one of the 3 behind Benzema

You mean 4-2-3-1?

Yep, slip of the finger

Well, I know I have a bad rep of being a Carlo fanboy, but looking at Madrid- Holy ****. I thought he was a genius for accomodating 3 number 10s in the lineup for Milan, but with Madrid this is insane. I love how the players move the ball forward with so much speed. I think with the exception of Ronaldo and sometimes Kroos/Modric, they rarely keep the ball for more than 1 touch.

That third goal took what? 3 passes!!

The team now attacks and defends in packs...their counter which Mourinho developed has been even more fine tuned, this team is a joy to watch.

Isco is so awesome, I wish we had him.

Just left amazed by how that team is improving. Bayern and Madrid are now carving open a new level of excellence for themselves above the Chelsea's and the PSGs and the Man Citys of the world.

This actually makes us Tier 3!!

I keep hearing a lot of talk about the 3rd goal as if it was some wonder goal. It was a pretty easy goal. Iniesta made a huge error and they broke pretty much free inside the Barca half. The initial pass was quite a poor one by Isco I believe it was, too.

Barça 0-1 Celta

And now Carlo is first.

Only Carlo can throw this away now.

Calm down, he's only one point ahead with 28 games left to be played.

It was said in jest.

Thanks to 2 late goals, Suarez finally wins a game in La Liga. Took him 3 games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yA9YYvcJYQ

This is how Atletico have achieved so much without having any champions in their team. Simeone might be a d*ck, but he knows how to train and motivate his players.

Problem is, such motivation-oriented coaches rarely last long.

Generalization is not the right answer. Simeone has all it takes to make it big.

Super. Can't wait to see him with Inter...