La Liga 2016/17: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: 5 Talking Points

Real Madrid dominated Atletico Madrid for well over 80 minutes on balmy, sunny afternoon at the Santiago Bernabeu – that Pepe goal, from yet another excellent Toni Kroos delivery, being just reward for the amount of pressure they exerted on Atletico – before inexplicably succumbing to an 85th-minute sucker punch from Antoine Griezmann. Here are the key talking points of what was another enthralling edition of what has slowly, but surely, become the most important intra-city derby on the planet.

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1. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are beginning to re-connect. Bale, not-so-much

Cristiano Ronaldo had a rather good game, playing on the wings, taking the ball past players, putting crosses in and in general doing brilliantly to link up with that man Karim Benzema. Carlo Ancelotti had one remarked that the Frenchman is the ideal strike partner, and so it proved once again. Benzema was his usual hard working self, running the channels and drifting across the front third, while Ronaldo’s magnificent back-heel to complete a 1-2 within the box with his partner showed just how much he’s changed recently. A year ago, he would have turned and shot the ball if he had gotten the ball in the box, regardless of the situation. That 1-2, and another moment when Ronaldo opted to send a far post header across the goal, and Benzema stole in behind Godin to smuggle in the knock-down on the volley, were the standout moments of a partnership that seems to be approaching it’s best again. In fact, a little better finishing from Benzema, and the score could well have been a humiliation.

Gareth Bale, on the other hand, was a peripheral figure, and although Zidane kept him out there for as long as he could in the hope that his star Welshman would regain his touch, he was forced to sub him out after seeing his no. 11 reduced to speculative 40-yard punts and soft edge-of-box potshots that merely trickled wide. If he gets his head back in the game, we might yet see the best of ‘BBC’ once again

2. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have rediscovered what it is like to be Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. Sort of.

For the first 80 odd minutes, Diego Simeone’s side looked nothing like a Diego Simeone side. They were sloppy in defence, misplaced simple passes both at the back and in midfield, and were wasteful when the odd opportunity came along at the other end. Real Madrid looked like they could score with every attack they mounted, and it took some exceptional back-to-the-walls awesomeness from Jan Oblak (the no. of saves he made, especially off Ronaldo and Benzema. Phew!), Stevan Savic (that headed clearance off the goalline from Ronaldo’s shot was along worth the entrance fee) and Diego Godin (he threw himself about in the grandest traditions of Carles Puyol and John Terry) to ensure they didn’t.

And then in the last ten minutes, the tide turned – Atletico were relentless, they won tackles, fouls went their way, they won second balls, they passed it accurately, and they took the one clear-cut chance they got with ruthless precision.

The first bit was the Atletico of the early season when at times it looked like they’d finish outside the top 5. The last bit was the one we’ve been seeing in 2017, the one we’ve been seeing in March. With 62 points from 31 games, they sit a fair few points behind their cross-town neighbours and Barcelona, but are a point above Sevilla and look like they’ve mad third spot their own.

3.Despite the numerous positives, the biggest takeaway for Zidane is that he needs to do something about his defence.

There were plenty of positives for Zinedine Zidane to take away from the game – Real Madrid’s high press worked magnificently; their intensity was so high that it successfully managed to intimidate the most relentlessly intense team in the league; and the BBC led from the front in this... all 10 outfielders played as a unit. Real’s attacks showed a degree of fluidity, dynamism, and verve, that had been missing for too long. Real’s midfield generals commanded the field for the vast majority of the game. Real’s set pieces were, as ever, exceptional.

Also, Read – Zinedine Zidane is the hero Real Madrid need, and the one they deserve

And yet, that is not what Zidane will take away from this game. It’s the unbelievable fragility of his defence – especially that central core.Real Madrid need to address this. It wasn’t just the last hurrah that Atletico put together, even before that Atletico appeared like they could score from some slip at the back despite not being in the game at all!

While Sergio Ramos has grabbed the headlines for his immense goalscoring exploits, it has helped cover up a defensive game that has bordered on the atrocious at times. Pepe was much better, and alongside him, Ramos seemed to get better too as the game progressed... but the moment Nacho came on for the injured Pepe... KABOOM! *self-destruction*

And the point is, at the end of the day, Atletico’s goal was just too easy. A simple pass through the middle, a simple run, and a simple finish – Madrid had gone to sleep. You can be rest assured Zidane would have woken them up from their stupor in the dressing room post match

4. Antoine Griezmann firmly announces that he is indeed, the “next big thing”

When Antoine Griezmann was shortlisted amongst the three people for the FIFA BEST Award, alongside those two, quite a few eyebrows had been raised. He’d been good in 2016, but had he been that good? His form in the beginning of the 2016-17 season validated this. Meh! Flash in the pan, that lad. Nothing’s gonna come off him. But then gradually, he got back to his best. In 2017, he’s been unbelievable

His record over the last 12 games read Goal Assist Assist Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal Assist Goal Goal. He’s scored 15 times in La Liga this season. And he’s scored 3 in his last 4 matches at the Bernabeu.

Even more than the goal, the moment of magic that clearly stood out was when Carrasco crossed from the right wing, Griezmann angled his body in such a way as to receive it with a perfect bicycle kick volley that nearly took Navas’ hands off. A foot on either side and it would have been the goal of the season. Period. (Yes, I know he’d already been called offside, but see the replays again - it’s a very contentious call)

Every time he touched the ball, you could sense that something was going to happen – that sense of anticipation that only the very best players in the world command – despite the shambles that was all around him.

Apart from that rather stupid celebration of his, he was near-perfect against Real.

5. Do people on twitter ever watch football?

It’s everyone’s favourite thing, isn’t it? See a result and go online to vent your feelings about the manager, the player, the team doctor, anyone you can get your hands on. I specifically say “see a result” because I honestly don’t think most of those guys would have such strong negative opinions if they actually saw a match. Not watch a match with the pre-determined notion that you need something to tweet about, instead of actually studying the patterns of the game and trying to understand the subtle shifts in strategy that can lead to wholesale changes in terms of momentum.

Sample this:

a) he hasn’t cost Real Madrid La Liga... they have a game in hand, and they do face off with Barcelona at the Bernabeu (something Ronaldo can still very much influence)

b) he didn’t delay his shot because he thought it’d look better on the highlights reel. The ‘delay’ was caused by him rolling his studs over the ball in order to ensure it was kept away from the attentions of a sliding Diego Godin and Jan Oblak. The Savic block was just incredible defending. Period.

c) you’d think Cristiano Ronaldo would know a thing or two more about scoring a goddamn goal

or this:

which is supported by this:

Answering those “criticisms”–

a) terrible tactics? those tactics his team dominated the team that’s no.3 in the league for nearly 85 minutes. Hardly his fault his strikers weren’t in the best of form finishing wise, is it?

b) Subs... Nacho on for Pepe. Forced, can’t really do anything about it. Isco on for Kroos. Toni Kroos had been excellent, but with Atletico overwhelming midfield, Zidane had figured that he’d need a runner as an outlet in central midfield and figured the Iniesta-esque control of Isco, and the incredible thrust he usually gives to counter-attacks, would serve the purpose. Vazquez on for Bale.

This one was the most contested, not because Bale had been taken off, but because Vazquez had been introduced and not James Rodriguez, There are several points in the young Spaniard’s favour including the fact that he’s been in better form (for all of Rodriguez’s numbers this season, his overall play has been poor), he hasn’t punched a dugouts and he hasn’t ignored his coach when getting substituted. Most pertinently, though, Real Madrid were on the back foot, and were looking for an outlet – a man who could run with the ball down the wings, a man who had pace, a man who could serve as an outlet – on all three accounts, Vazquez beats James.

Now, I am not against people voicing their opinions, and in fact firmly believe that it is the diversity of opinions that so enrich the game we all love... but when one absolutely rubbishes things one may not totally understand (how seriously do you think of one of the game’s greatest playmakers doesn’t understand football tactics?) and instead do arm-chair punditry without atleast giving a cursory glance to any evidence there may be on the contrary, it can get a bit grating.