Apologies for the cricket reference, but the four-match series between Barcelona and Real Madrid reminds me of England versus Australia.
National pride is at stake as in no other contest between two clubs from the same country and the Barcelona fans wound it up another notch last night by jeering the national anthem.
Just like a Test series a draw can be as important as a win. Barcelona dominated the opening match and it looked as if they might embarrass Madrid when they went a man down as a well as goal down. Instead Madrid summoned the nerve and strength to come back into the game and equalise, albeit with a lucky penalty.
A draw was all Barcelona needed from the game in terms of the title race. Eight points ahead with 18 to play for all but guarantees the title, plus they have the head-to-head advantage should the teams finish level.
But the way the draw was achieved felt almost like a win for Madrid, and so last night they came out bristling and determined to suck Barcelona into a war of attrition in midfield.
Two stoppers in a three-man midfield, one of them normally a centre back. A bit like catenaccio with the fifth man in front of the defence. Not pretty, but it worked – just.
Barcelona couldn’t quite find the extra gear and in extra time when Madrid ought to have been flagging after their efforts in the previous game they summoned up the energy to score the one decisive goal.
The Cup is usually a sideshow in Spain: not today. It’s the first time Madrid have won it in 18 years, and above all it breaks Barcelona’s stranglehold on success.
Barcelona’s hegemony is over, Marca announced this morning, hailing the triumph of ‘The Mou Team’.
We shall see. The toughest Tests are still to come.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/bkoBzWDE4DU/post.aspx
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