This week has seen the so eagerly waited for game sometimes referred to as “el classico” in Spain, confronting the two objectively best teams in Europe (Do we dare say in the world?) : Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
First, we have to acknowledge that the most important event this week on the football planet was the “classico”. On the field, only the current two best teams in Europe, the three players nominated to be the greatest players of 2011, the two players having scored the most this year, accompanied by a dozen recent spanish world champions and other very famous international players. Fears of a brutal game were promptly vanished when Real Madrid decided to play in the same way as Barcelona and was early rewarded of its high pressure on the field by a goal scored by Benzema. But on the other side was Leo Messi. After some tricks only him knows how to do, he passed the ball to Sanchez, scoring twenty minutes after the first goal, putting back on path the team of Barcelona.
After the break, we kind of encountered the same type of game, but the realism of the “barça” team eventually took over when Xavi kicked the ball, that it rebounded on an opponent’s leg and went straight to the pole and goal, taking the goal-keeper up against, as he had already anticipated on the opposite direction. A third goal scored by Fabregas, another product of the training center of Barcelona who came back home at the beginning of the season, concluded the show and proved the remaining distance between the current champion of the national championship and the pretending one. From that point, the game was a little bit polluted by some players of Real Madrid who tend to lose their temper, committing fools, and narrowly avoiding exclusion.
In the inside match between Christiano Ronaldo and Messi, the two players competing for the trophy of player of the year, Ronaldo showed once again that he did not manage to have the same impact during those important games as he may have during others. Twice, he had the opportunity to score a goal which would have been decisive for his team, twice he failed. On the other hand, although as nervous as Ronaldo, Messi managed once again to show how decisive he is for his team. That should secure him the title this year again, which would make three in a row. Although we cannot compare him to previous legendary players (Pelé, Maradona, Platini…) we may conclude by affirming that he is slowly marking his territory between those players.
And we have to keep in mind he is only 24…
In Brief
Another relatively marking event in the football week was the crazy turnaround in Champion’s League, performed by the french team of Lyon which, against all odds, managed to qualify for the next stage after one of the scenario that make football so unique and lovable.
After a first half time where both teams had only scored once, Lyon, believing in its very weak chances to qualify, realized one of the most unique and extraordinary second half time, scoring 6 times and catching up with the Olympiakos team (defeated on its side) on the goal average.
This match was so unusual that criticism and suspicions of cheating were made but quickly disproved. Lyon is qualified for the second part of the competition for the 8th time in a row.
PhoeniXclusivE 