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Surreal Madrid and equally Surreal Liverpool
Published by Ian John on March 11, 2009
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Last night’s Champions League matches were amusing. Villareal progressed at the expense of a plucky Panathinaikos who put up more of a fight than perhaps would be expected. Chelsea toughed out a rugged night in Turin to go through 3-2 on aggregate and force Juventus to focus on trying to overhaul Inter in Serie A. Bayern Munich deserve plaudits for their incredible 12-1 aggregate victory over a Sporting Lisbon side, who should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and I saw Besiktas beaten 8-0 at Anfield not so long ago. Speaking of Anfield I was a dazed fan watching Liverpool humble the biggest name in Champions League history by five goals to nil on aggregate.
It really was a night to remember at Anfield for many reasons. But it was also a night that raised many questions too. If Liverpool can show this level of intensity and attacking ability against one of Europe’s superpowers in footballing terms, why can’t they raise their game against the likes of Hull City or Stoke City? Do the fans play a part? Have European nights at Anfield have a tradition and intensity that the fans can uphold, whereas a league game against a supposedly lesser side, is an expected win so the fans expect the team to do so without that level of intensity? I’m sure Liverpool fans will be hoping that they continue to get the referee in charge of the game as often as possible. He was the same chap who dismissed Marco Materazzi at Anfield last season for two barely punishable offences and to be honest, I would not have been surprised had he chalked off the first goal as Torres did have contact with Pepe. And any Liverpool fan who states that for the second goal Heinze’s actions deserved a penalty, needs their eyes examining.
So Madrid can count themselves harshly done to on both counts there, but the truth is that well before those incidents, Liverpool were well on top. It was only the incredible Iker Casillas, who I think should now be regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in the world without any doubt, that kept the reds at bay for long periods. Whilst Liverpool’s swagger, attacking verve and stylish passing was a joy to watch at times, not to mention puzzling as to it’s absence in many Premier league games, there was equal confusion on my behalf as to Real Madrid. Two of the worlds finest defenders in Pepe and Cannavaro were left to look foolish at times. Real Madrid’s midfield had no answer to Alonso’s promptings, Mascherano’s infectious tireless workrate and Gerrard’s non stop drive and threat. Torres played like a man possessed. 4-0 barely does justice to the scale of Liverpool’s victory. If anything it was more comprehensive than that.
But I think the game also showed Real’s frailties. Torres pace was too much for Cannavaro and Pepe at times. The full backs seemed to me to be too willing to push on and left their centre backs exposed. Sneijder I don’t think made a meaningful contribution over the two games and Raul and Higuain were often so isolated that they seldom got the ball. When they did get service, it was when Madrid were already 5-0 down, Liverpool had the cigars out and their slippers on and Skrtel and Dossena were combining as a front pairing for the home side. Surreal? You bet it was. I thought I was asleep! The final moment on a night of surrealism that would have had Dali proud, came when Andrea Dossena popped up with the fourth. I knew then it was a crazy night. I was fully expecting Lucas Leiva to crack one home from 25 yards. He almost did too, but perhaps miracles are too much to expect, even on nights like this.
So Liverpool march on. Tonight sees Arsenal and Manchester United’s chance to join them. I can’t see too many problems for Arsenal. I think they will be too strong for Roma. If United play as they did in Italy then I think they will progress comfortably too. My only worry would be the longer the game stays goalless the more chance there is for Inter to steal it. I remember Porto doing that at Old Trafford one time after a goalless first leg and they went on to win the Champions League that season, netting a victory at Old Trafford along the way. Their manager then was one Jose Mourinho, whom not many people had heard of. With a far better squad now, he has a chance to repeat that success. I don’t think Inter will do it however, at the moment United are playing the best football in the world by quite a long way.
Or they were until last night at Anfield, when some of the gulf in class was clawed back in terms of quality.
Saturday lunchtime cannot come soon enough. I’ll settle for the same again please Liverpool!
And it it does happen, I know it will not just be surreal…
It will be unbelievable.
Picture Credit : **P.McGee** on Flickr.com
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Nabyl Charania on Wed, 11th Mar 2009 2:07 pm
Looks like Liverpool is on an uptick in Champs league, too bad their form deserted them in the Premiership…Real’s back 4 looked way too slow to compete with Torres and the Liverpool attack, and Liverpool played at a tempo that Real couldn’t match.
Naheem Charania on Mon, 16th Mar 2009 11:07 pm
Real’s defeat doesn’t astound me. Lyon knocked them out two years in a row and I’m sure they’ll do the same when called upon again! On Lyon’s defeat to Barca, Puel’s decision to leave Bodmer, Kallstrom and Keita on the bench for first half was vomit-inducing at best. Mensah being injured left them without the brute no-nonsense back-to-basics defending that would not have made it so easy for the holy triumvirate to penetrate. Lyon’s Bodmer/Keita acquisiton from Lille after they knocked Manchester Utd out of the Champs League a while back was master-class. However, the inability for Puel to find a way to consistently and effectively use these two horses in the current formation is sickening. To make matters worse, Lyon’s ‘master-class signing’ in the heart of defense happened to be non-other than Jean Boumsong…I can’t even think about that signing without laughing out loud! Highs with the lows I guess. A superb performance in the first leg combined with an average performance in the second leg from Benzema will again probably lead to the best of Europe groping Lyon of their most valued resource. Benzema partnering with Rooney and Ronaldo? I’m tearing up just at the thought of that beautiful possibility. At least Lyon got 6 yellows at the end of that game, shows that they didn’t want to go down with a good fight. It was Barca after all. At least Werder Bremen’s still alive in UEFA.
Nabyl Charania on Tue, 17th Mar 2009 5:10 pm
Real were average at best, and Lyon underachieved. They’ll sell Benzema, make a profit, and go back to being the team that has potential and cannot put it together…