#3 Real Madrid's style of play :
Real Madrid, whilst lacking a lot of goals, have looked like a team with much more intent and confidence on the ball. Although they lake any real pace on the flanks barring Bale and the fullbacks, their passing play has improved drastically and the players are linking up with each other quite well as part of the new attacking scheme.
When it comes off, as it did against Roma, and tonight (at least till Bale came off) it is quite aesthetically pleasing and much easier on the eye than the cross-cross-cross of Zidane's day.
They are much better at playing through the middle than they were under the previous regime and I feel that the coach should get credit where it's due. It's not his fault if so many of his crucial players are picking up niggling injuries, or the board is being a miser by signing players like Mariano (who could still be a solid goalscorer when given a fair crack) to replace the best player in the World.