10 thoughts on the first Clasico of the year (plus racist chants)
Posted on January 31, 2013 12:15 am
EDIT: Just learned about the racist chants to Dani Alves. An absolute embarrasment and something that has to be addressed once and for all by the Spanish FA. It’s not the first time that the Madrid ultras do that in a match, and they have never been punished for it. I might write a blog post in the next couple of days with very interesting info I have that links the Ultras Sur with the far-right parties in Spain.
• Before the game, I tweeted that despite the absences, Real Madrid would be able to play as an equal to Barcelona. The reason was simple, if we analyze the two squads, the difference is very big and the merengues have understood that they can beat their archrivals. The facts proved me right. The times of the 5-0 or 2-6 are long gone.
• Barcelona were the better side tonight, and could have won by two or three goals, but Real Madrid’s last twenty minutes were spectacular. Tonight was the first game that Mourinho’s team was not physically overwhelmed by the Blaugranas, and that’s a victory in itself.
• Raphaël Varane is not the future of Real Madrid … is the present. The Frenchman was the man of the match and made clear that one of the positions in the merengues’ central defense belongs to him. The affected party? Pepe who, with the probable departure of Mourinho in the summer, will find himself in the transfer list.
• On the other hand, Carvalho and Callejón should not play one more minute in the team. Just do not have the level and are a drag on more or less important matches.
• Barcelona need David Villa. Or any striker who can put the ball in the net. In what may have been the weakest match of Lionel Messi in the season, the Blaugranas who found no one who could finish a groggy rival. Xavi, Cesc missed two chances each and Pedro wasted the clearest one. Barca could have won by a wide margin, if they had a killer in their ranks.
• Speaking of Messi, he and Ronaldo fell short tonight. You could say that Mourinho and Vilanova/Roura finally found a way to neutralize them, but surely it was an outlier, I have no doubt that in the next two clásicos, the Big Two will go back to their good ways.
• Interestingly, Barcelona’s best player was also a central defender. Gerard Piqué forgot the problems that plagued him last year and returned to the extraordinary level he had shown since arriving to the Camp Nou.
• Despite having conceded a draw in a game they should have won, Barcelona can be satisfied. The truth is that in the last four matches between the two arch-rivals, Real Madrid had been the one who had dictated the pace of the game, in this case the Catalans were the ones who decided the way to go, even if they couldn’t get the edge.
• Nevertheless, the atmosphere of this game was very different from the series of four Clasicos in 2011. Madrid came out to play, with their weapons, but came out to play. Nothing to do with the cheap shots, bad blood and Mourinho’s “trivote” with Pepe in the main stage.
• The second leg of the Cup will not be very different. The Barcelona will take the initiative and Madrid will take their chance in the counter. It wouldn’t surprise me if all ends in a draw again.
What was the score?
stupid and biased post, barca shouldve won by a lot…. what about all the chances madrid missed they dont count
totally agree about Villa. he belongs in the starting 11 or should at least be the first sub to come in when help on the offense is needed. Alexis is totally useless and will most likely get sold in the summer.
Regarding racist chants: our very own yank abroad jozy altidore was the victim of shameful monkey hooting in the last game he played. Really a shame what goes on in certain parts of europe in soccer matches. It’s like people think that being at a stadium gives them carte blanche to act like animals. By the way i’ve often thought the same thing of the shameful YSA chants that happen in our own soccer stadiums.
The beautiful game should remain just that–beautiful.
What does “YSA” mean?
YSA=”You suck a$$hole”
Sorry but racist taunts and YSA aren’t even in the same league of wrong. YSA is dumb and rude. It’s bad for television. Racist taunts are beyond dumb and rude. More like an affront to the concept of human civilzation. Goalkeepers routinely ignore YSA because it’s stupid and juvenile and not very hurtful. Racist taunting is about the most hurtful thing you can say. YSA is about trying to make a goalkeeper mess up a goal kick while racist taunting is about trying to take away someone’s humanity.
It’s why we don’t do that in the U.S. Our own ugly past with that kind of thing and the present hatemongers that we still have among us make it so that no one will put up with it in a sporting event.
…and if you did it in the US the guy you were taunting would club up the stands and beat the livign crap out of you. And then the fans would join in.
Much different in some parts of Europe…sadyly.
Spanish FA do something about racist chants? ROFL…not likely….not freak’n likely.
Martin, creo que te has perdido unos cuantos minutos del partido amigo. Seguro que eres cule desda la cuna… se nota.
A blog post about Ultras? Books have been written on the subject. It’s not an issue that is unique to the Ultras Sur. Do some research and you’ll find Ultras (xenophobes) in your own back yard. I’ve been to the Camp Nou as a madridista – I could tell plenty of stories too.
I’m not culé desde la cuna. In fact I’m Mexican and a Real Sociedad fan. Real Madrid were better in the first 10 minutes and then in the last 20. The thing is that you cannot write anything about either Madrid or Barcelona without someone telling you that you are biased one way or the other. Oh, and I know books have been written on the subject, but probably BigSoccer readers don’t know about them, and I also know about the Boixos Nois, the thing is that the Barça board with all its defaults (and there are plenty) has found a way to take power out of them while the Ultras Sur still run rampant.
It’s very popular/easy to point to the Ultras Sur. Why didn’t Dani Alves say sh*t when his teammate called a madrid player a “mono” ?? He didn’t tweet about that incident, did he?
Racism sucks. But it isn’t a Madrid problem or an Ultras Sur problem. Your “maybe I’ll blog about the Ultras Sur” comment is poorly veiled. The cule ‘holier-than-thou’ act is comical – anyone that’s followed La Liga for more than five minutes knows this. Clearly I am a madridista (a Socio, in fact). The crap I’ve listened to and put up with at the Camp Nou is ridiculous. Maybe the board pushed the Boixos Nois out, but that sure as hell didn’t eliminate the hate in that stadium.
Make sure you add some commentary regarding the post match incidents too.
BTW, you’re right. It’s not easy to author a Madrid – Barca piece. Good luck with your work.
Just want to add that Barcelona is probably the most racist city in spain. alot of ‘sudacas’ get beat for no reason anywhere they go. there is also a alot of catalan peoples that just hate spaniards from other regions. they are stupid.
About Martin del Palacio
My name is Martín del Palacio Langer, I live in Barcelona and I'm a freelance contributor to FIFA.com, World Soccer magazine, Kicker, MedioTiempo.com, PasionSports and some other publications around the world. I love the tactical and statistical side of football but understand that passion is the most important ingredient in the game. Hope you enjoy this blog and feel free to contact me in the comments section or in www.twitter.com/martindelpENG (for English) and www.twitter.com/martindelp (for Spanish)Popular Store Items
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