Worrying times for Pep?
Mountain
Real Madrid have now drawn level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga and have actually moved ahead on goal difference. A few weeks ago Real looked as though they had a mountain to climb, but they have done so in some style.
For reasons that I do not understand, whilst Real Madrid have been playing some great football and picking up points, Barcelona seem to be showing signs of falling apart at the seams. Last season they were the best football team on the planet. There is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t keep that title this season, but they are conspiring to throw it away.
Giants
A trip to thirteenth placed Almeria should be a routine ‘walk in the park’ for the Catalan giants. Instead, they twice found themselves behind in an uncomfortable game for them. They had coach Pep Guardiola banished to the stands in the first half, with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic red-carded in the second half.
Two goals from Lionel Messi gave the champions a point, but that may prove not to be enough.
Tough
Whilst Barcelona were struggling at Almeria, Real Madrid were also having a tough time. The difference for them was that they were playing much tougher opposition, they came back from two goals down, and the ultimately took all three points.
Real certainly got their points the hard way against Sevilla. After just ten minutes, Xabi Alonso managed to score at the wrong end and half time came with the visitors leading 1-0. When Casillas made a hash of trying to keep out a free-kick just eight minutes into the second half to allow Sevilla to go two up, things looked pretty bleak for the men in white.
Debut
What followed might just show why Real could take Barcelona’s crown this season. Seven minutes after going 2-0 down Cristiano Ronaldo reduced the deficit with his fourteenth goal of what is turning out to be a successful debut season at the club. Four minutes later Sergio Ramos headed home to bring the scores level.
Real had to wait until two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game before they secured all three points when Van der Vaart finished from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
Mad
The Bernabeu went mad and Real Madrid went to the top of the table.
It might seem that a 2-2 draw away from home and a 3-2 win at home are not particularly different results and do not show anything. The fact is that Barcelona were fractious and should have won their game. They will come away feeling pretty miserable about their ninety minutes work Real Madrid showed great spirit and passion and produced a top class performance that gave them all three points. They will come away from that game absolutely full of confidence.
Turning point
In this topsy-turvy season anything at all could happen, but yesterday could potentially be a turning point. It could be the moment that Real Madrid start to believe and Barcelona start to fear.
What do the fans of the two sides think? Are Real Madrid the real deal? Are there problems at Barcelona, or is it a temporary blip?
Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to 11th April. It really should be a classic.
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