The match is finally here.
Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two best teams in the world right now, are set to face off in the most anticipated match of the European club season (3pm, GolTV).
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo. Jose Mourinho vs. Pep Guardiola. Xavi and Iniesta vs. Mesut Ozil and Xabi Alonso. You name it and this match will have it.
I will be providing commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today's commentary is after the jump):
Hmm … how about ManU? Chelsea? Alls I’m saying is that running the table in La Liga isn’t really a true test for Real (or Barca). It’s not as competitive of a league as the EPL, for example. And how tough was their CL group really?
I’m not suggesting RM are a poor side, at all. I’m just dubious of claims that “RM are back!” They’ve failed to meet expectations for several years now. I see no evidence to crown them #2 in the world yet. Plus, I’m tired of everyone proclaiming CR as one of the best in the world. Really? Since leaving ManU, his form has been inconsistent. His WC performance only showed how selfish a player he is. Sir Alex has gotten the best out of him thus far. Pellegrini was not a strong enough a personality and he didn’t have the backing of the RM admin.
Give the Special One time. He will turn things around, eventually. He will sort out the various egos and make Los Merengues play like a team (they haven’t done that for a long time). He’s THE perfect man for the job. But I maintain the first ego he has to quell is Florentino Pérez. El Presidente has created a toxic environment. If Kaka can’t settle in Madrid, there are bigger issues to address. The Galactico mentality isn’t working.
Now, if this seems like I’m “being contrarian to bust chops” that’s your decision. You can take it personally if you want to. It’s a free country. As Robin Williams once said, “I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you.”
Real can now use their jerseys as Barca toilet paper now because they gave them a REAL lesson in master class.
From BBC:
But the Argentine’s display was so staggeringly good that Real’s Ronaldo was reduced to a bit part player in the Nou Camp.
Following from Portland, Oregon.
🙂
That is all.
I guess The Special One not so Special today.
Good one!
This Barca team is better than the lineup that beat Man U in the 2009 CL final. You can’t score on a team that possesses the ball as much as Barca. They play a beautiful game and their defense is solid. Can’t wait to see them go far in CL for 2011.
“Bofetón al Real Madrid”
The only difference I can think of? Madrid is damn good in FIFA.
I thought you were going to leave the first time you posted your nonsense?
Oh yeah! Best team in the world baby! WITH OUT A DOUBT! BARCA BARCA BARCA!
How much of a baby can you be? Was it even 30 seconds, even then small price to pay for the commentary.
Is not like you HAVE to pay attention to it
Just ignore it for a the small amount of time and go on about enjoying the game.
Geez, I don’t know who’s worst you or the guy claming Spanish fans should be ashamed to watch this even though it was an amzing match, and somehow La Liga being a 2 team race & Barca being amazing makes La Liga bad?
Damn sorry RK, that was for BarcaMike 🙁
How much of a baby can you be? Was it even 30 seconds, even then small price to pay for the commentary.
Is not like you HAVE to pay attention to it
Just ignore it for a the small amount of time and go on about enjoying the game.
Geez, I don’t know who’s worst you or the guy claming Spanish fans should be ashamed to watch this even though it was an amzing match, and somehow La Liga being a 2 team race & Barca being amazing makes La Liga bad?
I wonder what the Spanish newspaper will say about this game.
Thanks for forcing me into watching a 30 second ad before seeing your commentary Ives. Last time I’ll be visiting.
What a pleasure. Everything from–in the words of Ray Hudson, orgasmic–soccer to international teammates having on-the-field drama (they’ll be hugging again in 5 minutes, we all know how it is). Great stuff.
Barca Clinic! I can’t count on both hands how many touches real got in the second half
Waaaah. He doesn’t control that.
Is there any difference between today’s match and a video game?
Thanks for forcing me into watching a 30 second ad before seeing your commentary Ives. Last time I’ll be visiting.
The play of Barca brings a smile to ones face. Loved seeing CRon doing nothing on the big stage… again (think WC in SA).
T’estimo Blaugrana.
Just today?
5-0…magical scoreline in Spain.
You’re not, serious are you? I understand it’s a rout, but can’t you just enjoy the football? And trading away the players? Get real and get over yourself.
im embarrassed to be a madrid fan today
Sergio Ramos with a red card without time wasting.
Madrid have proven themselves a bunch of talentless hacks. What rubbish.
definitely lost some respect for Ramos after those shenanigans
Barca has made this look easy.
The scary thing is, maybe for them, it was.
I honestly don’t understand how Spainish fans can put up with this pathetic display. Two teams dominating the league and one team dominating the other top performer? This isn’t even a competition, they should force the two teams to trade away some of their players because this is simply a joke, not a competition.
On his goal his head was a bit offside yes. However I do not want the AR to put the flag up unless he is absolutely positive and at live game speed on field level it’s reasonable that he wouldn’t be. Play on give the offense some leeway in those sorts of situations.
Doesn´t matter who the opposition is, Barcas unreal passing is unstoppable.
(SBI-CJ, right now, Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two best teams in the world. Can’t really be argued. Real has shredded all competition, including a tough Champions League group. What happened in years prior is irrelevant to right now. They have Mourinho and a much better team, so just be happy for the match-up and stop with the pointless nitpicking.)
Now, perhaps, it can be argued that Real aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The competition they shredded? Tough CL group? No way. They’re better than before, true, but they won’t hit their stride until next season after Mo has time to mold the squad into his vision with his players. That is, of course, if Perez doesn’t meddle too much. But now, they look pretty pedestrian.
And “pointless nitpicking?” Isn’t that what this site’s all about?
(SBI-CJ, Madrid got shredded by the best team in the world. Doesn’t mean they’re not the second best team in the world. If you want to disagree, go ahead, it’s a free country, but I still don’t hear you offering who your pick is for second best team in the world. Do you have one, or do you just like being contrarian to bust chops?)
Are there any Madrid players without yellow cards? Maybe Casillas.
(SBI-CJ, right now, Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two best teams in the world. Can’t really be argued. Real has shredded all competition, including a tough Champions League group. What happened in years prior is irrelevant to right now. They have Mourinho and a much better team, so just be happy for the match-up and stop with the pointless nitpicking.)
Now, perhaps, it can be argued that Real aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The competition they shredded? Tough CL group? No way. They’re better than before, true, but they won’t hit their stride until next season after Mo has time to mold the squad into his vision with his players. That is, of course, if Perez doesn’t meddle too much. But now, they look pretty pedestrian.
And “pointless nitpicking?” Isn’t that what this site’s all about?
Barcelona passing and movement is breathtaking. Truly a “symphony of football”
What an embarrassment for Madrid. They shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence They cannot even get the ball from Barcelona.
Madrid look shellshocked
Following from Gulfport, MS
This is just a slaughter.
wow messi with another perfect pass, he’s a surgeon
Barca is collecting scalps!
Congratulations, John. Nothing beats being a father. 🙂