- by Matt Narvaez, writing from Florida
The Camp Nou was buzzing from start to finish. As were the players that call it home. Within the first 20 minutes the home side netted their first two goals. The first a work of beauty where a great pass to Xavi led to a brilliant goal. The second while not as mesmerizing was still very much a quality finish. David Villa toyed with Sergio Ramos inside the box finally sending a ball down the line past him. Iker Casillas lunged for the ball but it found its way to a pretty unmarked Pedro and the Spaniard kicked into the back on the net.
For the rest of the half the side in all white seemed to finally find some type of footing. An incident on the sideline where Cristiano Ronaldo pushed Pep Guardiola seemed to spark some type of life in the club. The closest they came to scoring was a Ronaldo free kick that just sailed wide of Valdés and the post. Madrid did well enough to finish the half with no more blood shed . HT whistle blew and the Royal football club of the nation’s capital was down two goals to the kings of Catalonia.
José Mourinho started the second half Lass coming on for Mesut Özil. The German rising star was barely mentioned all of the first half, and his less than positive contribution was noticed by anyone who was watching the match. He was far from the only player whose play was less than noteworthy. Karim Benzema who started in place for an injured Gonzalo Higuaín worked hard in bursts, but was far from the target he needed to be. He has still yet to show the form a true number 9. Marcelo let Pedro go past him that led to the second goal. He was taken off at the 60th minute for former Liverpool defender Álvaro Arbeloa. In a 5 – 0 lashing there is tons of blame to go around. Just providing some of extra low points.
Now to the part I hate; having to describe the total domination of Real Madrid by Barcelona in the second half. It was more than just a 3 goal half. It was one totally outplaying the other side in every aspect for 45 minutes. There seemed to be ages of time pass with Barcelona maintaining possession. They moved the ball freely between each other up and down the pitch while merengue defenders helplessly chased after the ball. The two David Silva goals were pure magic. He didn’t seem like the new signee of the club at all. He was playing as if he played with the side his whole career. The constant control of the ball never seemed to end; at least to this Madridista. The half was as if someone was torturing me for watching the match and not doing my part to save the dolphins or something. The 5th and final goal was just salt in the wound. The sub Jeffrén got behind the tired and extended Real Madrid defense and chipped one passed the GK. It was a perfect bow to go on the present that Barcelona players gave their fans.
The game ended chippy. It always does in a drubbing like the one that occurred. Messi which had shown his star quality the whole match was fouled hard by Sergio Ramos. That lead to his ejection and a pushing match where Ramos palmed his national team comrade’s face and shove him to the ground. It meant nothing to the game and I am sure little to the players once cooler head prevailed.
Most people think of sports classics as great come from behind buzzer beaters, or davids that slay goliaths. This classic was different. It was a classic like fine artistry. Where the composer or painter creates something of beauty few people could reproduce. It pains me to say it, but that’s what happen. Coach Mou summed it up best, “a deserved victory and a deserved defeat.” A true classic.
