No Pressure: 20 November 2023

The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!

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The injury crisis at Real Madrid will leave it up to Bellingham and Rodrygo to get the team over the line in the coming months. While the squad depth looks better than its be for some time, the injuries to Vinicius, Camavinga and Tchouameni all at the same time on top of Militao and Courtois being out for the season leaves the team with very few alternatives and will likely lead to more physical strain given the smaller margins for error.

In the Clutch

Real Madrid are not known for a particular style of play. They’re known for entertainment and trophies. The entertainment borders on the storylines of a WWE show with highs and lows coming and going almost as if scripted. Central to the story of Los Blancos has been how great players have performed under pressure

In this edition we look at a some iconic clutch moments over the last two decades

Jose Antonio Reyes( 2007)

A match-winning brace off the bench against Mallorca to seal the title on the last day of the season. For a player who was on loan, Reyes left his mark on one of the more memorable endings to a successful La Liga campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo (2011)

The significance of Ronaldo’s header in the Copa del Rey final of 2011 could easily be lost on many who might not remember the tension of El Clasico during those years. Real Madrid can lose matches but in those days, there were games where the slightest mistakes would ruin the whole night. When that header went in, we knew.. Real Madrid was Real Madrid again.

Sergio Ramos (2014)

El Capitan was about as clutch as they come. A prolific CB who marked one of the greatest moments in the history of the game and undoubtedly the history of Real Madrid with a stunning headed equaliser to break the hearts of Atletico Madrid fans. Atletico Madrid were arguably the most difficult side to beat that season, evidenced by the fact that they pipped Barcelona to La Liga and had a chance to win a CL and La Liga double.

Karim Benzema (2023)

A Nou Camp hatrick is rare feat for Real Madrid players at least in my lifetime. Real Madrid had lost 3 on the bounce against Barcelona and playing away from home, a 4th defeat seemed more likely. Karim would break the streak with a stunning hatrick and a memorable clasico performance to complete a 4-1 demolition of the old enemy.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Carlo, Vinicius and Rodrygo have all claimed that adjusting to the new system has taken some time and affected the form of the Brazilian attackers.. Some MMers believe that the spaces taken up by Bellingham on the pitch limit the freedom and efficacy of the Brazilian duo. I tend to favour the former explanation. The team changes often due to injuries, form etc. I don’t know if one can say definitively that Jude and the Brazilians is not an effective combination

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