Valencia vs Barcelona Match Report: How good is Messi without Xavi and Iniesta?

When it comes to Lionel Messi there are two schools of thought: one he is the best player in the world and possible the greatest of all time; or he is probably better than Cristiano Ronaldo but it is the players around him that make him so special. Those of the first school cite his magnetic touch, goal scoring record, mazy runs and Ballon d’Ors. Those inclined to believe the second thought point out his lack of success with Argentina and the phenomenal abilities of Xavi and Iniesta.

Last night Barcelona went to the Mestalla to face Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi final, they were without Xavi and Iniesta. How did Barcelona and Messi fare?

Are Real and Barca over reliant on foreign superstars?

Note: football is not played on paper.

The cold dark days of early December bare witness to some of Europe’s key dates. Friday the 2^nd December saw the draw for the European Championships, 6/7^th see the final group games of this year’s Champions League and the 10^th is ‘El Classico’. Spain have been drawn into a challenging group alongside Italy, Croatia and Republic of Ireland. Del Bosque had lots of nice things to say about his opponents:

Madrid take a 6 point lead

One football rule that really irks my dad like no other is the last man red card and penalty rule. He always said that a penalty was sufficient why do you need to send the player off as well, especially if it’s the goal keeper. Why should you be punished twice? The rule works both ways, for instance when Jens Lehman was sent off against Barcelona after 18minutes in the final of the 2006 Champions League final it spoilt the game, Arsenal took off Pires (his last game for the club, a real shame) and were down to 10 men. When Luis Suarez stopped Dominic Adiyiah goal-bound header in the dying embers of the World Cup quater-final with his hand he should have been sent off and a goal should have been awarded, Suarez was plainly cheating. On both occasions my old man was enraged, firstly Barcelona had been given a double advantage and Ghana had been cheated.

Goals, Racism and umbrellas

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

A look at the weekends fixtures.

Eleven games in and the league is really starting to take shape the top two are no surprise but the order might be. Real Madrid since losing to Levente have become unstoppable, after the defeat. Jose Mourinho dropped Sergio Ramos (read a great article by Football Ramble about his recnt form http://www.thefootballramble.com/blog/entry/ramos-enjoying-life-in-the-centre). Interestingly Marca TV before the match against Osasuna were comparing Sergio Ramos to the great Hierro, Mourinho has brought Ramos into the centre of defence and looked like a natural, it’s difficult to see if Carvalho will get back into the starting XI. Upfront Higuain has scored 7 in 7 matches, Kaka is back to his counter-attacking best and CR7 and Benzama are looking electric. Barcelona on the other-hand have yet to get out of the early gears and looked flat away from home. It’s difficult to criticise Pep because he’s effortlessly cool, won nearly everything and a cracking player. However, I think he tried to tinker with his squad too much, obviously in football the saying ‘If it aint broke, don’t fix it’ doesn’t apply you always need to add and improve otherwise teams can get found out, but I think he has just tried to tinker a bit too much trying to perfect things. Football clubs don’t need perfection they need results and Barca have dropped more points than expected. This is the first time Real Madrid under Mourinho are 3 points ahead of Barcelona, Jose has never given up a 3 point lead in a league before. EVER!! This is exciting Real Madrid are going to win the league then surely?

Review of Spain's games

The England vs Spain game was a far from engrossing encounter it did have some real intrigue to it. Spain are noted and praised for their tiki-taka technique just as Barcelona are and the week before the international friendly Barcelona were held by Athletic Bilbao. Loco Bielsa kept his tactics fairly sane and the rain soaked pitch slowed down the movement of Barcelona. Bielsa was a cult figure in charge of the Chilean national team with his adventurous tactics but it was the defensive tactics of Bilbao that sought most of the praise from the media after the match. After the game Pep Guardiaola said that “We’ve never played against a team who were so intense, so aggressive, and has denied us so much space”. Capello apparently showed clips of the game at San Mames to his England squad.  England started with Phil Jones in midfield and his job was to be big and awkward which he did with aplomb.

England vs Spain preview

England vs Spain preview.

International football friendly’s are rarely high profile affairs but this Saturday’s match between England and Spain at Wembley is certainly one to look forward to, although most of the English press has focussed on ‘poppy-gate’. It should be a fantastic match.

England Squad: Hart (Manchester City), Carson (Bursaspor), Stockdale (Ipswich Town); G Johnson (Liverpool), Jones (Man Utd), Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Terry, Cole (both Chelsea), Baines, Jagielka* (both Everton), Lescott (Man City), Walker (Tottenham); Lampard (Chelsea), Rodwell (Everton), Downing (Liverpool), Barry (Man City), A Johnson (Man City), Milner (Man City), Parker (Tottenham), Walcott (Arsenal); Bent (Aston Villa), Sturridge (Chelsea), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Zamora (Fulham), Welbeck (Man Utd).

*John Terry (Chelsea) has been brought into replace the injured Jagielka

Spain Squad: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Reina (Liverpool), Víctor Valdés(Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Valencia), Raúl Albiol (Real Madrid), Nacho Monreal (Málaga); Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets(Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Málaga), Javi Martínez (Athletic Bilbao), Cesc Fábregas (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta  (Barcelona); David Villa(Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Fernando Torres(Chelsea), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Juan Mata (Chelsea),Jesús Navas (Sevilla).