Onion Bag: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Manchester City Wins, Ronaldo Sings the Rolling Stones
By Ty Duffy
Each team fought its perfect opposing force, neither could muster a good enough scoring chance. The two goals came from penalties, slotted home imperiously by Messi and Ronaldo. The matchup was intense, enthralling and thankfully, only the first of four in the coming weeks.
The tangible result was a draw, but the true result is in the interpretation. Barcelona will view this as a win. They played their game. They got the tough result away at the Bernabeu. Effectively, they clinched the league title. For Real Madrid, the exegesis is more complex.
Optimistically, Real Madrid fought back to earn a result with ten men. They ended a string of five-straight Barcelona wins. They should encouraging signs for the coming matches which, with the league largely settled anyway, are the important ones. After a disappointing drought, Mourinho is doing what he does, get important results.
Pessimistically, this is Real Madrid. Nine-time European Cup Winners, the club of Puskas, Di Stefano and Zidane. The club’s ethos is not just winning, but winning in an aristocratic, aesthetically pleasant fashion. Assessing pure talent, this is one of history’s best squads. Kaka can’t even get into the Starting XI. This club is should be content parking the bus for a draw against arch-rival Barcelona at home?
Fabio Capello was let go in 2007 for playing conservative, cynical tactics. He won the league, with a vastly less talented squad. Is slaying Barcelona worth it for Real Madrid to relinquish its own identity? So far, the answer appears to be yes.
Momentary Romance: Whether they’re noisy neighbors or nouveau riche, Manchester City were craftier after both sides traded queens. They emerged victorious beating their crosstown superiors Man United 1-0 at Wembley, advancing to the FA Cup Final. The Red Devils must be content playing for the Premier League and the Champions League.
It’s a historical result for Manchester City. They have their chance to win their first trophy since 1976, first besides the League Cup since the 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup. For Manchester United, it merely ends the treble talk. Such a result could derail a team so dependent on cohesion and mental fortitude. However, the Premier League is won and, on paper, Schalke are a team they should throttle en route to the Champions League Final.
Paul Scholes was sent off for an awful, studs to thigh challenge. The lateness of it suggests to some he’s off the pace now and may retire at the end of this season. That may be true, but that interpretation of his tackle is far too kind. Some of his tackles are lumbering, most are deliberate and savage. Brilliant player, not the most upstanding sportsman.
Done and Dusted: The surrender encapsulated the season. Arsenal dominated an outmanned Liverpool, but could not place a final ball to threaten the opposition. Liverpool gifted them a late penalty. Arsenal conceded a free kick than returned the favor with a penalty on the rebound. The teams drew 1-1. Arsenal dropped a damning six points behind Man United, with six matches remaining.
Arsenal’s bum needed to be squeaky. Said orifice has been anything but. Every league match since March was a must win. The Gunners failed to win four of five, while simultaneously getting themselves dumped from three competitions. This season’s finish will engender questions of the manager, the project and, most damningly, the fortitude of the players.
Centrifugal Force: A.C. Milan streched their lead to six points, beating Sampdoria 3-0 while Napoli lost 2-1 to Udinese after missing a late penalty. Such a lead should be unassailable even though Milan will be without Ibrahimovic for two more games due to suspension and Pato – five goals and two assists in his last seven appearances – potentially for the rest of the season.
The race for fourth is down to two clubs, Lazio and Udinese with Lazio leading by a point. Roma, the other contender, fell seven points behind after falling 3-2 at home to Palermo by conceding two goals to Abel Hernandez in the final six minutes.
Mutual Frustration: Thierry Henry scored his first goal for the Red Bulls this season, snapping a 684-minute scoreless streak. His header was the “Thierry” on top of a 3-0 win over the San Jose earthquakes. It came after a few squandered chances. He purportedly responded to jeering fans with some unkind words, though he returned to the section after the match and gave his jersey to a fan. The outburst should be sign as an encouraging sign. Unlike Beckham, Henry genuinely seems to give a shit.
Oppressive Regime: Journalists remain dispassionate until one of their own is slighted. Filming a report in Qatar, a Radio Television Suisse reporter and cameraman, were detained, fined and had their camera confiscated by police. What’s the more significant issue? The existence of a stifling, oppressive regime or that journalists from a wealthy, Western country weren’t allowed to skirt around it as promised?
Trivial Awards: Tottenham’s Gareth Bale (seven goals and one assist for a fifth-place club) was voted the English Professional Football Association’s Player of the Year. Manchester United’s Nani (nine goals and fourteen assists for the title winners), was not even named a finalist. That tells you everything you must know about the award’s validity.
Satisfaction: Here, via Dirty Tackle, is what appears to be Brazilian-legend Ronaldo singing Rolling Stones songs while partying with members of U2. Glad to see Bono cut loose for once. Being the world’s foremost export on poverty must be draining.
[Photo via Getty]
Goal of the Week: Pa Modou Kah (Roda) vs. VVV Venio (like Rooney’s but he hit it with his foot. Bonus points for the celebration)