Casemiro steals the show
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Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti might have said that preparing a game for Messi is impossible. But in Casemiro, Zinedine Zidane found a player who was able to make the impossible possible. Ahead of the game, Ancelotti said: “If you are to prepare for a game against Messi, well, you have to avoid speaking about Messi, about the skill and the ability of Messi.“
But that is certainly something that Zidane would have found difficult to do but after this game, he would have certainly gained some confidence in the Brazilian central midfielder, Casemiro who did the job of stopping Messi, Suarez and Neymar perfectly. In a game that was a filled with superstars, it was the Brazilian, who stole the show.
Alhough the Frenchman had reservations about Casemiro earlier in his managerial stint, he trusted him to win the ball and stop Barcelona’s trio from doing what they do best and the midfielder did not disappoint. He stuck to his task, helped his side maintain shape and laid the platform for their fast breaks.
Although Marcelo was all over the pitch, playing right winger, at times central midfielder and mostly left winger, it was Casemiro’s presence that gave him the freedom to do all of that.
