от blueberryjerry » 03 Яну 2017 05:48
In his weekly column, Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague dissects Real Madrids Clasico victory against Barcelona and ponders how the Catalans will react to the defeat. ... Real Madrid came from a goal and a man down to defeat La Liga leaders Barcelona and reignite their season.Real decided to play, as someone wrote on Monday, more Rafa Benitez-like than Benitez with Casemiro in midfield, with two lines close together and Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo even dropping back. It was very impressive the way they stuck to their guns.Some would say it was a small-team mentality but for me its one of the ways to play Barcelona. They force you to do that and everyone worked hard.They obviously smell glory - not so much in the league but in the Champions League - and everyone is switched on. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late winner for Real Madrid at the Nou Camp They are a candidate as much as anyone in the Champions League now.Atletico and Real are six and seven points away and that makes it unlikely that they will win the league unless Barcelona slip up. Now the biggest threat to Barcelona is Barcelona.Gerard Pique said he hoped the result doesnt affect them too much.Obviously there is a game against Atletico Madrid straight away for Barcelona, which helps, but we saw signs, starting in the last half an hour after the Karim Benzema goal to make it 1-1, that the team dropped a level in their intensity. Barcelona forward Luis Suarez (second right) is given a yellow card I asked Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves about that and they said it wasnt physical and that people didnt keep their positions. Well that is a sign of relaxation or a sign of tiredness. I think it was tiredness.The front three werent sharp. Perhaps Lionel Messi felt he wasnt sharp either so thats why he dropped so deep into a position that doesnt demand constant runs or the work that tires you up front. So I think there is a tiredness.If Im not mistaken the front three of Barcelona have played 2,000 minutes more than the front three of Real Madrid so lets see how they react to all that and see if they can recover.Guillem answers your questions…Madrid persist with a Pepe/Ramos pairing, why given how volatile they are? Varane is far more composed. @Dibwe2I think Pepe and Sergio Ramos guarantee aggression; they are fast, they anticipate, they are leaders and they are good at keeping a high line against certain rivals or keeping it deep. But there is a sense of volatility, especially with Ramos who is the most sent-off player in La Liga, but its a risk that Zinedine Zidane seems to be taking.Raphael Varane may be more composed but obviously he was injured, which is one of the reasons why he didnt play. He has been more inconsistent this season. He has mixed good games with regular games while Pepe, with his maturity, and Ramos guarantee more consistent appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo scores the winning goal in Barcelona v Real Madrid Was that Ronaldos last El Clasico ? LukeIve been saying all season both Ronaldo and Real Madrid have been, in different ways, looking for a way out this summer.The problem at the moment is no one seems able to pay all the money that Ronaldo incurs, meaning about £48m (€60m) that Madrid may want plus the wages, which will be £16m-£20m (€20-25m) net.We will have to keep an eye on that because PSG certainly think that they will show some interest. They are after Neymar as well but it will be more difficult to convince Neymar than it will be to convince Ronaldo.Was this the last straw for Isco and James? PeterIf Real Madrid recover the money for both they will sell. They have been put on the market for sure.Was the win for Madrid enough to convince Perez to stick with Zidane next season? StuartZidane has proven he is versatile as a coach, that he is not scared of making decisions, like leaving Isco and James on the bench, and that he is his own man. So, yes, I think he will be there next season. Zinedine Zidane has proven himself a versatile coach, believes Balague Do you think Casemiro has given Madrid the balance to be a great side again and challenge in Europe? @BadGuyInc16He has. My only concern about Casemiro is that he doesnt start the build-up cleverly enough and if he improves on that he will become a top defensive midfielder.That player in that position has to be much more than just putting the tackles in. He has got to improve in offensive ways but defensively he was very good and he has helped get more balance.Are Barcelona likely to offer Arda back to Atletico as he struggles to settle in? Mark What does the future hold for Arda Turan? Not back to Atletico. I think Arda Turan will be looking to go home or go to the Premier League if Barcelona feel he hasnt given what he can give them.We will have to see because Barcelona dont have much money and they want a striker and a centre-back. He is not one of those that Barcelona will be determined to keep with the right offer but at the moment Luis Enrique wants him to stay.Join Guillem Balague for a Twitter Q&A every Friday on skysports.com as well as Sky Sports mobile and iPad apps.Follow Barcelona and Real Madrids Champions League ties against Atletico Madrid and Wolfsburg respectively on Soccer Special on Sky Sports News HQ and via our live blogs. Also See: Bale, Ronaldo key to win Henry on Zidane tactics Real Madrid fixtures Real Madrid stats Bet £5 Get £20 Free . In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6. . When the next inning rolled around Wednesday, though, Nationals manager Matt Williams sent Strasburg to the mound to face the top of the Dodgers order in what would become a 3-2 victory for Washington, the first time this season the No. . Globo TV and other news outlets said early Monday that Scolari will not remain as coach after the national teams failure to win the World Cup at home.Every night of the Stanley Cup playoffs, TSN hockey analyst and former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan breaks down each goalies performance. Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Tuukka Rask, Bruins (3) - Knuckled down after last game struggles, was locked in, had good rebound control, not much chance on the Mike Weaver goal as there was traffic in front and Thomas Vanek goal was a nice redirection. Good saves on Rene Bourque,Vanek and Max Pacioretty in second period. Vaneks second power-play goal another deflection on power play. Lots of Screens in front of him Carey Price, Canadiens (3) - Sharp again this game, big saves on Jarome Iginla, Jordan Caron, Patrice Bergeron, Torrey Krug and two ridiculous saves on Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson. Dan Pailles goal hit Francois Boullion and changed directions. Also had a few posts - Iginla and Krug. Second goal, through a screen, no chance, Third goal is a wicked bounce off the ice in front of him. . On the game-winning goal he was late on the push across. Made at least eight to 10 bell saves in this game and was the only reason it was close at all the first two periods Jonathan Quick, Kings (4) - Put a show on again. His best two saves were on Smith-Pelley, reaction to back door plays. Got help tonight with three posts and an open net save by Alex Martinez. Teemu Selannes goal was through the body, not his best work. Also found a way to fight through traffic on a big save on Corey Perry; got the big win on the road to lead in the series Jonas Hiller, Ducks (4) - Played very well. Big saves on Mike Richards, Tyler Toffoli kept the Ducks in it, especially at 2-1. Not much chance on the Gaboriks goals. Game-tying goal was batted out of air and game-winning goal was a back door tip. Looked a bit rusty early on with rebound control and puck handling, but settled in by the 10-minute mark and made a nice save on Drew Doughty. ' ' '