A look at the last weeks action; goals, racism and umbrellas.
Valencia vs Real Madrid delivered in everything aspect of
football. Goals, bookings, Mourinho celebrating inanely and controversy. There
were 5 goals the pick of the lot being the first from Karim Benzema, so many
fouls 10 bookings, Mourinho jumped on Callejons back to celebrate Madrid’s goal
to take a 3-1 lead and big penalty appeal by Valencia in the last minute of the
game.
Mourinho being...well Mourinho
Madrid won 3-2 and Mourinho got his tactics stop on in this
one, which he often does. Sami Khaderia started unusually high and played like
a traditional box-to-box midfielder, he’s offensive play was found wanting at
times but his shear intensity really unsettled Valencia. Unai Emery on the
other handed got his initial tactics wrong. Against Barcelona Matthieu and
Jordi Alba right riot down the left as Pep Guardiola decided against playing a
right-back, Jose didn’t make the same mistake Arbeloa started there and had a
solid game, he tired as Valencia progressed in the second half and Raul Albiol
took his place. For me Jonas should have got a start he scored 2 for Brazil
last week and can hold the ball up well, better than Feghouli and Paraje who
started. Valencia improved with their substitutions but they really missed Ever
Banega an all round class act (apart from when he is on his webcam).
Valencia players react to the handball
Madrid were hanging on at 3-2 when deep into stoppage time
Iker Casillas made a phenomenal save and in the mêlée that followed Higuain
appeared to have stopped Adrian shot with his arm, the whole Valencia team
crowded round the referee as he signalled for a corner. In truth it was a tough
decision to make, a huge decision, last minute of the game in which tensions
had ran high, do you dare give a penalty to against the Madristas?
Meanwhile Barcelona scored a lot of goals at home to an
awe-struck side (yawn). Bilbao impressed in an entertaining victory over
Sevilla. Athletic are looking like a real contender for the Champions League
this year Iker Munian who will hopefully be off for to Euro2012 is looking like
a real talent (despite looking like Bart Simpson) was in mesmerising form against
a flat Sevilla side. Perhaps more importantly was the inclusion of Iker’s best
mate Jonas Ramalho who made his debut and became the first ever black player t
play for Bilbao. (Sid Lowe as always provides the goods here http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sid_lowe/11/23/jonas/index.html).
Bart Simpson?
This ‘nicely’ interlinks last weekends games and racism in
Spanish football. When Sepp Blatter said that because the world cup was played
in South Africa any form of racism after is classes as banter and can be
annulled by shaking hands after the game (maybe not a direct quote) the English
media quite rightly went into a frenzy. The next morning I picked up my copies
of AS and Marca to see what they had to say, no mention of it anywhere, Marca
did suggest that Wilshere was going to Madrid for 40million and AS had a
picture from ‘American Curves’ on the back page. This obviously wasn’t a big
issue for the Spanish media. When the Granada match was called off mid way
through the second half because of an umbrella incident (no not Steve McLaren) Quique
Pina suggested that the fan didn’t represent Granada as he was not a season
ticket holder and he was Moroccan. Imagine if this was said by a premier league
owner? Again this statement went unnoticed by the Spanish media and it was down
to the team at www.spanishfootball.info
to bring the controversy to light.
It was a turbulent weekend in La LIga but Real Madrid and
Barcelona increased their lead at the top. The three Spanish teams (Villareal
have yet to turn up) in the Champions League also impressed whilst the English
sides, apart from Arsenal, floundered. Spain scored 16 goals and conceded 4,
with that man Soldado getting a hat-trick in the first half the fastest CL
hat-trick since Alan Shearer vs Leverkusan in February 2003. However, a last
minute goal by Leverkusan means Valencia will need to beat Chelsea at Stamford
Bridge.
A round up of the matches that finished last weekend.
Monday November 21
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Sunday November 20
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Saturday November 19
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