It’s not the result that worries us so much as the performance. A draw is okay, even if Madrid don’t lose tonight, because we still maintain a fair point difference, and have the chance to widen it in the coming Classico. But that won’t happen if the boys play then the way they did last night. The match was simply lacking effort.Resting Messi against Sevilla didn’t seem to do much good. He was pretty off for this match, and seemed to think that he could succeed by running into the midst of a thick defense instead of passing the ball. And when Messi’s off form, Xavi is in another universe, and Dani is defending beautifully but lacking offense, there goes our famous rightwing threat.
As for the left wing, Iniesta has been really on a roll these last couple of matches, he’s just all about strength. Keita and Busquets were both playing more defensive positions than offensive ones, and given how mediocre Xavi was, the two had their work cut out for them.
Still, the opening goal managed to come by way of Messi, giving us a temporary lead, which should have been extended but was not. Rather, we went on to concede. And though some may blame our keeper, Victor Valdes for that one, we don’t. It was Puyol’s fault. He had the chance to stop the goal, he could have stopped the attack and won the ball back, but just didn’t. We see it like this: Puyol was and is one yellow card away from suspension, so he was playing cautious last night and mainly just avoiding a booking. That’s why he didn’t dare try a sliding tackle or anything… and we’re not impressed.
He didn’t do his job as a defender, and on top of that, got in Victor’s way when Vic was trying to make the save. Vic haters, don’t begin your bashing, because no blame lies on our keeper’s shoulders here.
And then, Valencia went ahead just before the half, the lead swiftly going from being ours, to theirs. Did the pace pick up after that? Did the boys wake up and start playing like they meant it?
Not really. Not until Pep made his substitutions, and Xavi came off so he could continue his nap on the bench, with Keita also joining him there, and Henry and Gudjohnsen came on. Titi went straight into attacking mode and Guddy was pretty awesome as well, and with Messi-Eto’o-Henry up front and Iniesta backing them up, the offense was looking a little better, and Titi soon scored the lovely equalizer himself.
The match ended at 2-2, a very unsettling result which leaves us badly hoping for Sevilla to beat Madrid tonight. And also, hoping that Pep will be able to whip the players back into shape, and get them to actually give some more effort and not take things so easy, in time for the too-near Champions League semi against Chelsea.
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