Adriano at fault for that goal

Tellooooo golazo

Song comes on for Pique

I hope Pique isn't injured. We'd be royally screwed if he's injured

AjanleKoko:

No, haba. Let's be objective.
Madrid were far more effective, and controlled the majority of the possession in the first half.
Let's look at the stats:

Possession: RM 54% - 46% MNC
Shots: RM 29 - 8 MNC
Shots on Target: RM 16 - 5 MNC
Fouls: RM 6 - 9 MNC
Corners: RM 7 - 3 MNC

culled from here.

Madrid controlled the game, especially in the first half. City could not press high up the pitch, but preferred to sit back and soak up the pressure. Which was fine, as City were able to escape without conceding. But City managed a few breaks in the second half, had a decent spell, and were able to get on the scoresheet twice, despite all the pressure from Madrid. The only way they could have neutered a rampant Madrid would have been to consistently break up the play in the middle, stop balls coming out from the back. But they still decided to sit back and defend. All the three Madrid goals were as a result of the scorers having too much time on the ball.

City will have to understand how these continental teams play, if they want to survive in the UCL. Though I think they can muscle Ajax somewhat, but the best way forward for them would be to win all their home games, and try to play for at least a draw in the away fixtures.

A-40:

Few clear cut chances? I can remember Joe Hart making 3-4 point blank saves in that time period! Granted Madrid fizzled out around the half hour mark or so

IMO, Mou complicated things and overrated City by playing Essien in the midfield. He was merely another man in the midfield, not sure of what his role was. Madrid would have been far more dangerous with Ozil in that advanced role could have scored more in the 1st half. They could have killed the game in the 2nd half by playing another CM. What happened was the reverse...Ozil's introduction made them more penetrative and he assisted Marcelo's goal.

Anyway, Mou should thank his stars they won the game. I can't imagine the shit-storm a loss would have caused.

coogar:

who should he have started instead? lassana diarra or move pepe to the midfield. he wasn't being cautious - he played 4-2-3-1.....ronaldo + higuain + di maria + essien as an an attacking midfielder is good enough! why did mancini not start dzeko + tevez + balotelli at the same time? city have spent as much as madrid as well, haven't they?

City set up definsively too but it's understandable. They were away.
Mou's plan was to play on the counter. He expected City to attack. That's why Mou started Essien...He wanted someone that could play in the 'hole' and could also fall into midfield to help with defensive work.
They had more penetration once Ozil came on. They were limited to long range speculative efforts in the 1st half with few clear cut chances.

Mourinho is a coward! Why did he start Essien? He was being cautious. With all the talent at his disposal. SMH

Real Madrid have 4 points in the league after 4 games... Looks like they are taking this new partnership with Spurs seriously

^^Fontas? That ninja still in this team? Totally forgotten he existed.

Looks like oga translator was referring to last season's league when he said "only one". League could be over as early as in week 7. Amazing!

Yeah good performance from Cesc in the false-9 role tonight. Glad to see that we have a good alternative when Messi needs some rest.

Also, when he shifted back to midfield later in the game, he linked up well with Messi and gave a great assist to Villa as well. Also assisted the 1st goal.

Hopefully Song & Bartra are able to step up. It will be needed. Puyol out 4-6 weeks. Pique on 3 yellows already. Difficult situation at CB already.

Line-up vs Getafe:
Valdes - Montoya, Puyol, Pique, Adriano - XavI, Busquets, Thiago - Pedro, Cesc, Tello

Messi rested

Johnpaul88: Why would Messi be rested ? We cannot underestimate Getafe now after what they did to Madrid the other time and us last term. Once Messi is fit and healthy, he must play. He has to play! I saw their game with Peru the other day. He was simply anonymous. I loved it because the Peruvians was almost fighting the Argentines on the pitch under the referre's nose . I reckon he saved enough energy from that game or tug- of- war or whatever you may want to call it. He should be fine to face Getafe. I remember last season away to Real Sociedad, we rested him after internationals and ended up with one point. We cannot afford to drop any point now with the Clasico looming.

Yahoo1: ..u gotta be kidding me,Rest messi? Yes ofcourse,but we are playing away against a team whose confidence is boosted by many facts;beating madrid,beating us last term.

Yes! Messi should be rested. He played 90 mins in both of Argentina's WC qualifiers and must have travelled some awful long distance to be back in Barcelona and there's also CL on Wednesday. I know Alfonso Perez is one of those tough grounds but we can definitely beat Getafe without Messi.

Deulofeu is in the squad for the Getafe match. I hope he gets the chance to steal a few minutes. Thiago is also fit to play and is in the squad.
I'd love to see Messi rested.

My preferred line-up:

---Valdes---

---Alves---Puyol---Pique---Adriano---

----Song----
---Thiago---Cesc---

---Pedro---Villa---Tello---

FT: 2-0

Very mature if not flashy performance from the boys.
Bagnack was MoM for me - rock solid and impressive going forward. I also loved the second goal from Ramirez. He looked so calm and always confident of scoring.
Samper was class as usual, but lost the ball a bit more often than when I usually get to see him.

Goooooal!!!! Ramirez again 2-0

Ondoa; Godswill(Nigerian), Bagnack, Costa, Quintilla; Samper, Quesada, P Calvet; Ebwelle, Adama Traore, Sandro

We drew our first match 1-1 with Anderlecht

NextGen Series: Barca Juvenil A vs Spurs


http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/vipracing6..com.es/2012/06/stream-3.html

We're 1-0 up. Sandro Ramirez with the goal.

I have a feeling losing Lass will hurt Madrid more than a lot of fans seem to think Essien will add

Barca Revenue to Drop

Barca Director Toni Freixa said today that the club expects revenues of 470 million euros and expenditures of 427.9 million euros for the 2012/13 season. Making it 36 million surplus.




Last year, the Club closed out the 2011/12 fiscal year with a record-breaking 48.8 million euro surplus.

Voting on New Stadium


The Board of Directors will present its strategic plan for the upcoming seasons during the Assembly, and delegate members will get the chance to vote, via referendum, on the Camp Nou’s rebuilding project. “We want delegate members to authorize us to hold a referendum. We are not calling for a referendum. In the end, if delegate members give us the authorization, we want all Club members to have a voice in the matter,” said Freixa.

(fcbarcelona.com)

--------------

I understand surplus to drop as they probably make predictions with bonuses we'd have to pay. Last season we saved there as we didn't win La Liga nor CL.

As for the drop in revenue...Well it cant be unconnected with Spain's crippled economy. I don't recall us recording a drop in revenue since the end of the Gaspart era. Last year's revenue was €495m.

.

AjanleKoko:

I don't get Cesc. He seems to not have his head in the games he plays. Very sloppy with passing, almost always taking the wrong decision.
You know, I think Song wasn't bad. Not imposing or anything, but quite decent. He looked a lot like Keita in the midfield exchanges. Though I sensed a hesitation on his part, to tackle. But his positional play was good. What did you think?

He was defensively rock solid and very mature, always covering the defenders. Also you could see that he was way stronger than anybody else on the pitch,
did some good stuff with the ball, but really needs to learn more how to make himself available for a pass and how to get ball faster up the field. Otherwise, a very, very solid performance I would say.

Dreadful performance by Cesc. His confidence seems in pieces. As for Sanchez...I've given up on him

Mcleo007: Yesterday's game only exposed the mediocrity in the EPL as nothing but a mere figment/ovation off the loud British press. How Chelsea got ripped apart calls for pity, albeit sincere dexterity. I hope dose who underrate Laliga and call it a two horse race now know better! Gave me joy to see an expensively assembled squad get thoroughly outclassed by a Sparingly moderate team like Athleti. Gabi truly bossed the midfield. Shame he couldn't break into the team while bk at Barca.

Gabi Fernandez never played for us. I guess you are mistaking him with Gabri Garcia who was actually a 1st team player until he was shipped out to Ajax.

AjanleKoko: ^^
Falcao at 45m Euros is hardly 'sparingly moderate', bros.

But they are a "sparingly moderate" team. Falcao aside, who they didn't fully pay for(partly payed for by Jorge Mendes) and don't fully own, the team is bunch of canterano kids and some bargain signings.

Johnpaul88: I watched yesterday with joy as a lowly and humble Athletico humiliated our 'European Champions' who was supposed to have shipped us out of the way to the crown and supposed to have been the best Europe have to offer for the season.
At least if they maintain some level of consistency, they may yet break the Spanish duopoly. They were simply too good for Chelsea not minding that the later fielded their best XI. They took them apart from the very first minute. Falcao may have grabbed the headlines ,and rightly so, for his superb treble, but the team was indeed very good and well balanced with a lot of quality. It is unfortunate that we'll play them at their home at the tail end of the season when stakes will be too high. It may yet represent our toughest away match.
Not minding that they did not spend anything more than €5M in the just concluded transfer window, they were by far better than a team that spent well over €80. It just goes to show the quality in the Spanish league. Had they got a little more money like the Premier league, it would have been a lot better and a lot more competitive. All La liga fans must have been very proud .

Actually, they spent a total of €1m on transfers this window just shut - Cata Diaz from Getafe. Their other signings were free transfers... Atleti can't spend. Their middle name is Debt.

A really great performance from them last night. They owned Chelsea. That man Falcao was simply imperious. They couldn't touch him.
Arda Turan was equally brilliant and Koke is doing an impressive job in replacing Diego...Gabi and Suarez completely bossed the midfield.

Hopefully, this is the season they finally spank Madrid.

There is no quality in our backline. Every long ball is 100% goalscoring chance...complete disaster. We cant win anything with these CBs.

Bojan is close to joining Milan.

O di ma indeed. You've lost the league already

Real Madrid has announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Tottenham and reached agreement for the transfer of Luka Modric, subject to medical revision.

The Croatia player made 160 appearances for Totteham, scoring 17 goals, and moves for a fee thought to be worth, €35 million, plus another €7m in various add-ons.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez Rodriguez added: "The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longer-term partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric.

"We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years."

Average performance at best, but a very important victory in a traditionally very tough venue. These three points are worth gold, the team showed great resilience and fighting spirit, even though they were not very inspired - it was great to see.

I take the three points here despite the performance.

FT: Real Madrid Castilla 3 - Barcelona B 2

Great performance by Roberto. Deulofeu looked off the pace. Not his best of performances.

Thumbs up Rosell. This what you get for renewing Eusebio's contract.

Gomez red card in additional time. We are really screwed now

Madrid are leading 3-2. Roberto just scored from the spot