Managing Madrid - Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona, Copa Del Rey 2013: El Clásico RevisitedDominating European football since March 6th 1902https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50831/mm-fav.png2013-02-25T05:51:14+01:00http://www.managingmadrid.com/rss/stream/36886792013-02-25T05:51:14+01:002013-02-25T05:51:14+01:00Copa del Rey: Scouting FC Barcelona
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<figcaption>David Ramos</figcaption>
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<p>Madrid will play Barcelona twice this week. With selection problems and a Champions League campaign unexpectedly on the brink, Barcelona can be expected to bring David Villa back to the fore.</p> <p>This match is more important than the league fixture for Barcelona. They have a considerable lead in a league they have probably already won and the match will be at home. A win will see them in the final of the Copa del Rey. For that reason, one can expect them to field their best line-up.</p>
<p>The trouble for Barcelona is that the thinking on their "best line-up" may have changed after the midweek shock of losing 2-0 to an inferior and far-from-vintage AC Milan side in the Champions League.</p>
<p>Recently, Barcelona have played essentially a striker-less system, with Messi as a false nine, Alexis Sanchez or Pedro (both having disappointing seasons) up front with him, and sometimes Iniesta when Fabregas is started in midfield. Against Milan, a team that were not even particularly defensive, the flaws of this system were on full display. <span>Cesc Fabregas</span>, the inferior player, pushes the superior Iniesta out of his best position. Neither Pedro nor Alexis Sanchez are scoring. Barcelona had no penetration; Messi had a single touch of the ball in the opposition box and Barcelona had only one shot on goal.</p>
<p>This weekend, Barcelona won against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/sevilla" class="sbn-auto-link">Sevilla</a> after conceding early. They played <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110874/david-villa" class="sbn-auto-link">David Villa</a> upfront. The fixtures against Madrid could see that player returning to the regular line-up.</p>
<p>There has been reluctance to use Villa this season. He was injured for a time, and upon his return was involved in a public spat with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110061/lionel-messi" class="sbn-auto-link">Lionel Messi</a>. Since then he has not featured in an important match and has seen out-of-form players start ahead of him. But he remains the most talented of <a href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Barcelona's</a> strikers and he has an invaluable trait: he's willing to shoot from distance. In a team that can struggle when they are not allowed to have the ball in the area (and Madrid are expected, as usual, to play a high line) Villa gives Barcelona the edge. It would be a surprise if he were not to play.</p>
<p>This is an excellent Barcelona team, well on its way to winning a record-breaking season. But any championship winning team has to have luck on its side and this team still has flaws to exploit that Mourinho's men will be well aware of. Some have already been touched on. There are others.</p>
<p>Barcelona continues to be defensively vulnerable. They also rely on Lionel Messi to get them out of scrapes. So far, particularly over the past several weeks, this has worked. They continue to dominate possession, but as Milan's coach put it mid-week "we simply had to ensure that possession was sterile and make use of ours." The breakdown was 35% to 65% possession - but Milan had better chances, more shots on goal and handily won the game.</p>
<p>Barcelona have the second-leg home-advantage, and the away goal after meeting a considerably weakened Madrid in the first leg. They are an excellent team playing at home, but the tie is finely balanced.</p>
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https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/2/25/4026552/barcelona-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-2013-analysisJ A Marsano2013-02-01T08:26:49+01:002013-02-01T08:26:49+01:00Press Review After El Clásico
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<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
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<p>After a stunning performance in his El Clásico debut, Real Madrid's teenage centre-back is the centre of attention.</p> <p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Raphaël Varane</span>, whose speed, lightening quick reflexes and equalizing goal delighted the home fans, has stolen nearly every headline today – most especially from the delighted newspapers in his homeland.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">L’Equipe</b> is typical: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Varane stopped <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona</a></i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ESPN</b>:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">His pace is frightening, as Messi and his teammates found out a number of times... A quick thinker, a step ahead of his teammates and a step ahead of his opponents too. Not many players can claim to have the world's best, in Messi, in their back pocket. Varane couldn't quite claim that accolade, but he was very close. Messi knew it. <br><br> All this at the tender age of 19 and in his first Clasico match. A match heaped in pressure. All this with a makeshift Madrid defence lining up against arguably the best attack in the world. The experienced <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110857/sergio-ramos">Sergio Ramos</a> suspended and both Pepe and Marcelo out injured -- the latter only fit enough for the bench. A regular midfielder <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110300/michael-essien">Michael Essien</a> plugging the gap at right back (and doing it pretty well), while regular right back Alvaro Arbeloa moved to the left.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The delighted teenager spoke with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a>’s in-house media after this, his first Clásico.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Scoring here is an incredible feeling. It’s a dream come true to have done it at the age of 19...I still can’t believe what I did. The goal means the tie is still open...Mourinho didn’t give me any particular instruction he just said to give it my all...</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In their editorial, <b>As</b> noted that the players expected to star were more subdued than usual. Messi seemed off the pace while Ronaldo picked up an ankle injury in the first ten minutes and couldn’t run it off properly. It was a perfect setting for Varane to show his talent. Alfredo <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Relaño</span> also had words of praise for our newly returned goal keeper:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">It'll be hard to see him [Varane} out of the team when Pepe and Sergio Ramos come back. As for the rest, Diego López provided a crucial save from <span>Jordi Alba</span>, with the score at 1-1, which will support his claims on this return to Madrid.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Other Voices</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">José Mourinho continued his habit of not speaking to the press after a win or draw.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our assistant coach, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Aitor Karanka </b>addressed the press instead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On Varane:</i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He was perfect...</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">López:</i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He conveys calm...<b> </b>He has been playing in the First Division for many years and showed the quality that he has and that the team knows that he has. [On the selection] We had to choose one. The experience and calmness that Diego showed was clear and shows that we did not make a mistake. Antonio is still a great goalkeeper and we have confidence in him and for the remainder of the season we will keep making the best choice for the team. <b><span style="font-family: "></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Xavi Hernández</b><b> </b>continues his project in self-parody:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We were better than them...we had chances to score we would normally score...they only had isolated chances...</p>
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<p>The players have already returned to prepare for their next match, against Granada.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/2/1/3940142/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey-2013-reviewJ A Marsano2013-01-30T23:50:54+01:002013-01-30T23:50:54+01:00Varane Is The Real Deal
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>After a lucky rebound soon in the second half, Barcelona found themselves 0-1 ahead in the scoreboard thanks to a clinical definition by Fàbregas. It was Varane the man who kept Messi out of the game, but the French player also equalized with a brilliant header and allowed Real Madrid to walk away with a positive result considering suspensions and injuries.</p> <p align="justify">Raphäel Varane. This kid needs to retire in this club, Real Madrid's management would be a failure otherwise. Mourinho trusted him and the 19-year old defender realized he had to stop Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona. He succeeded.</p>
<p align="justify">Xabi Alonso's defensive efforts helped him, and it's true that Arbeloa and Essien played a fairly decent game as well, but he had to bare with a subpar performance from Ricardo Carvalho, his partner in the defensive line. He even saved a terrible mistake from the veteran Portuguese when the ball was ready to cross the goal line in what would have been the first goal for Barcelona even before the first half had concluded. It's frankly hard to believe Varane's performance. If this is his true level, he will be the world's greatest defender.</p>
<p align="justify">Diego López made his second debut with the team and enjoyed a fairly comfortable game, but he did stop a good shot by Jordi Alba in injury time. That'd have been the 1-2 goal, so Real Madrid must thank López for his save, because now Mourinho's men will stand a chance of playing the Copa del Rey Final with a good match at the Camp Nou with most of the team available.</p>
<p align="justify">Neither team had very good chances in the first half other than Varane's save noted above. Cristiano Ronaldo shot a dangerous free-kick in the first minutes but Pinto made a good save. Xavi Hernández hit the crossbar some minutes after that, but Diego López seemed ready to stop the shot.</p>
<p align="justify">Karim Benzema never found himself in the game's tempo (which was quite fast, actually). The French player isn't playing as great as last season, but with Higuaín's current situation, he's probably the best option Mourinho has for that spot.</p>
<p align="justify">Callejón left the match soon after Barcelona's first goal to leave room for Luka Modric. That moved Özil to the right wing, where he played better than in the center. Callejón lacks the technique and that's a problem for Real Madrid when the team is trying to counterattack, but his tactical effort is something essential for his team whenever Di María is out. In fact, after Callejón left the game, Barcelona could've sentenced the tie in a couple of counterattacks, but Varane and a bad finish by Pedro stopped them from doing so.</p>
<p align="justify">With Modric on the pitch, Özil improved quite a bit. Even though he kept losing the ball too many times by trying very difficult passes, he allowed Madrid to switch defense to offense. Higuaín joined the game after Mourinho realized that Benzema wasn't having his night. The bad thing is the Argentinian player played bad also. He did press Barcelona's defense and stole some balls, but that's an addition to a good striker, not his main ability.</p>
<p align="justify">Varane's goal came in the 81st minute off a brilliant cross by Özil after a deflection in a previous corner-kick. The kid completed his marvelous performance with a huge goal for Real Madrid, so he will probably remember this game for quite a long time.</p>
<p align="justify">It's hard to recap a Clásico without analyzing Ronaldo and Messi's performances, but the truth is that neither one of them made a big impact in the game. Ronaldo couldn't score a goal in what would've been his seventh consecutive scoring Clásico, but he did have a big chance when Real Madrid was losing 0-1. Messi was rightfully ruled offside after he scored a goal in the last minutes of the second half.</p>
<p align="justify">Real Madrid will now have to win the tie at the Camp Nou with Ramos, Coentrao and Di María available. Marcelo will also be in better shape and Pepe's recovery should be almost ready when the end of February comes. That's the reason why Real Madrid should keep believing.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/30/3934198/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey-scoreLucas Navarrete2013-01-30T20:11:10+01:002013-01-30T20:11:10+01:00Match Thread: The Classic Battle
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>Mourinho and Tito Vilanova have released their official lineups for tonight's (21:00 CET) first leg of the Copa del Rey. Real Madrid will play under Diego López's protection and with Essien, Varane, Carvalho and Arbeloa in the defensive line. Ronaldo, Callejón, Özil and Benzema will try to break Barcelona's defense down and score some goals before the tie heads to the Camp Nou.</p> <p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a> Starting XI</b>:Diego López, Essien, Varane, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Alonso, Khedira, Özil, Callejón, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, Benzema.</p>
<p>FC <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona</a> Starting XI: Pinto; Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Cesc; Pedro, Messi, Iniesta.</p>
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<p>Join us and talk about the game, as long as you do it in a respectful manner.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/30/3933350/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey-2013-liveLucas Navarrete2013-01-30T05:22:52+01:002013-01-30T05:22:52+01:00Visitors & Plenty To Say Before El Clásico
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>Mahamadou Diarra, now of Fulham FC, and club-legend Roberto Carlos visited Madrid today in a busy afternoon for media appearances before the Clásico tomorrow at the Santiago Bernabéu. Karim Benzema gave a press conference and Mesut Özil spoke with the sponsors while finding himself and Ronaldo featured in extensive press commentary in the build-up.</p>
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<p><b>Team Notes</b></p>
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<p>Fábio Coentrão, Ángel Di María and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110857/sergio-ramos">Sergio Ramos</a> are suspended for the match. Marcelo could start but he has played only one half of football since breaking his foot. Pepe is injured and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110845/iker-casillas">Iker Casillas's</a> hand is being held together by two metal inserts after surgery.</p>
<p>With the first-choice and part of the second choice defence gone, and our captain out, it is quite literally anyone's guess who will start in defence. Arbeloa is a certainty. The left and the centre are an open question. Logic would dictate that Raphaël Varane play, but José Mourinho may want to go for experience in the centre of defence and replace him with Carvalho. Varane can also play as a full-back, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110300/michael-essien">Michael Essien</a> could start. He has, of course, a rather impressive record against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona</a>: he has never been beaten by that team. Though one should note that all his outings against them were in midfield.</p>
<p>In di María's place, José Callejón is expected to start. Though Mourinho has gone with two strikers against Barcelona in the past.</p>
<p>Of greatest interest will be who starts in goal.</p>
<p>In general however, the line-up is anyone's guess. It will be lacking 5 regular starters, but that is all we know.</p>
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<p><b><span>Mahamadou Diarra</span></b></p>
<p>Diarra - who was league, Super cup and Copa del Rey winner with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid</a> - had his own memories of the Clásico, and shared them with the club's in-house media:</p>
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<p>The team has to come out onto the pitch with ambition and enthusiasm and show everyone what Real Madrid is made of in front of their supporters. This way we can achieve great things for our fans and go into the second leg with confidence. I hope that Real Madrid wins tomorrow and that it's an exciting game.</p>
<p>You are aware that this is unlike any other match. Inside the dressing room the footballers are under a lot of pressure, but they're also confident about the match and give it their all. The last few minutes before the clash are just spent thinking about what a great opportunity this is to show everyone why you play for Real Madrid.</p>
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<p>Diarra, who left the club for Monaco in January of 2011, attended the training session and spoke with his former teammates.</p>
<p><b>Mesut Özil, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/131262/karim-benzema">Karim Benzema</a> & Notes on Media Coverage of Cristiano Ronaldo</b></p>
<p>The distinction of playing for Madrid was also central to Mesut Özil's comments. Speaking to Madrid sponsor BWIN he expressed his pride at being allowed to play "at the best club in the world" and said the following:</p>
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<p>We will do everything we can to win. It is the best derby in the world and the whole planet will be following it. It is always something special for us. The players want to show what we can do and always play against the best. Obviously, you always want to win this type of match, especially for the fans who support us all year.</p>
<p>I am very grateful to be able to play for such a big club. My first match for Real Madrid was very special for me. But the best moments are when you win trophies with the club. For example, the [Copa del Rey] final against Barcelona, when we beat them in the Super Cup or winning La Liga, those stay in your memory forever.</p>
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<p>Özil (along with Ronaldo) has been a press favourite for the past two weeks, with several features in <i>Marca </i>and <i>As</i> praising his elegance and intelligence and noting the unusual and marked affection the crowd in the Santiago Bernabéu has developed for him.</p>
<p>He was asked to comment on these displays of affection and on the coverage he and Ronaldo have enjoyed this week.</p>
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<p>We know about <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo's</a> potential. He is one of the best players in the world and in recent years has shown how important he is for our team. But at the end of the day this is about the team, not Cristiano or any other player. Naturally we know his strong points, we need him, but we have to work as team to be successful.</p>
<p>My aim is always to offer my all that I can on the pitch. I enjoy playing football. I enjoy being on the pitch and having the ball. I am proud that they say things like that, of course.</p>
<p>Our aim is to win the match and dedicate it to our fans...</p>
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<p>On the subject of Ronaldo, who holds the record for number of consecutive times he has scored in a Clásico (7 times in 6 consecutive games) the greatest speculation is whether he will break his own record.</p>
<p>Karim Benzema also spoke - not to the sponsors but in a press conference. He was asked (as I have noted, it is the dominant theme - one might almost say the only theme - in news coverage this week that has centred on the players) on teammates Ronaldo and Özil.</p>
<p>On Özil:</p>
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<p>He's a great player. He's got a lot of skill, he's really good technically and it's important for us that he's here. I'm really happy with him.</p>
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<p>On Ronaldo:</p>
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<p>For us he's the best player in the world. It's good that he plays for Real Madrid.</p>
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<p>On tomorrow's match:</p>
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<p>A Real Madrid-Barcelona is the best match in the world. We're two amazing teams. It's always a difficult game and the fans are ready to see a good game. The Clásicos are always different matches, but tomorrow we aim to score goals and win. Although we know that it's a two-game round, we're playing at home tomorrow and we want to play well and win. We played really well against them in the second round of the Supercopa and we hope for another victory.</p>
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<p>On the injuries to the squad, Benzema was suitably optimistic:</p>
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<p>It would be better if everyone was available, but we're a good group and a solid squad that's going to try to win tomorrow.</p>
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<p>And he displayed his usual loyalty to the coach. Asked about "tension" in the locker-room:</p>
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<p>We have no idea why they [the press] say things like that.</p>
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<p><b>Roberto Carlos</b></p>
<p>We end with the man who appeared more often in a Madrid shirt than any other foreign player and who won<b> </b>3 Champions Leagues, 4 League titles, 2 Intercontinental cups, 1 European Super cup and 3 Spanish Super cups with the club - the greatest left-back and free-kick taker in history: Roberto Carlos.</p>
<p>Roberto Carlos posed for photographs with former national teammate Kaka and his heir in the left-back position: Marcelo Vieira and had the following to say about the match.</p>
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<p>A Clásico is the best game of the season.</p>
<p>There are two memories which will always remain with me. A game I played for Brazil against China, when I scored my first goal, and the goal I scored from a free-kick against Arnau in a Clásico at the Bernabéu. Those goals defined my career.</p>
<p>When you enter the field, you are so focused on the game that you only hear people shouting and celebrating. Many hours later, you watch the footage on the television and you remember what you experienced. You have to be at your best to win the game.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BXUESous88">Watch Roberto Carlos's goal at this link.</a> It was a beauty.</p>
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<p>Good luck to the boys tomorrow! Hala Madrid!</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/30/3931204/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey-2013-clasicoJ A Marsano2013-01-28T17:05:30+01:002013-01-28T17:05:30+01:00Scouting Barcelona (UPDATED)
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<figcaption>David Ramos</figcaption>
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<p>Quite a few things have changed for FC Barcelona, so we've decided to make another scouting report to the one we offered you a couple of months. Jordi Alba is having a relevant role, and so is Adriano, given Dani Alves' sloppy play this season. Busquets is playing great, and former Arsenal player Alex Song isn't playing much since he showed how bad he is in the center back position.</p> <p align="justify">Is Messi all Real Madrid should worry about? Of course not, but if Mourinho's defense stops the Argentinian star, his team will have a much easier path to the Copa del Rey Final. Neither Alexis Sánchez nor David Villa are helping Messi or their team much, but Iniesta and Pedro are in great shape and Barça's franchise player is certainly making profit out of that.</p>
<p align="justify">Even though technically Vilanova's team is having what almost is a perfect season, there still are some questions about the fragility of the defensive system. Piqué isn't (and never will be) the center back that surprised everyone back in 2009. He single-handedly stopped Cristiano Ronaldo in Pellegrini's only season with Real Madrid, but he now needs the help of Puyol or Mascherano, and neither one of them can keep up with Cristiano Ronaldo's pace.</p>
<p align="justify">Alves isn't as good as he was a couple of years ago neither. It seems that he can only focus on one aspect of the game now. Adriano is the player that is having good minutes. His ability to play in both of Barcelona's wings is very useful for Vilanova, and the Brazilian defender has scored some beautiful and important goals this season.</p>
<p align="justify">It seems that, while Guardiola's Barcelona was all about Xavi and Messi, Tito's own team currently relies more on Busquets and the reigning Ballon D'Or winner. Busquets is both distributing the ball well but also executing Barcelona's pressure brilliantly by being the team's last defender before the opposition faces the defensive line. It seems necessary to find Busquets' back in order to enjoy good counterattacking chances.</p>
<p align="justify">One way or another, Barcelona is indeed having a perfect season. While they don't seem as imposing as they were under Guardiola, they still have Messi. That's a massive wildcard. But, it appears that with Messi and Ronaldo out of the game, Real Madrid would have the edge over this Vilanova's Barcelona.</p>
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https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/28/3924522/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey-scoutingLucas Navarrete