NP, Stoffel, I hate such insinuations.
Well,, for me it was a "round" evening: No injuries, two teams trying to exhibit soccer as it should be, a fairly decent ref (was his first classic, so some of his nervous reactions had to be assumed, but no grave eror), and, for the first time officially, I won my bet in the bar (116 Euros richer now), Barca won 1:3...
After a totally stupid 1:0 after 30 seconds (Valdez, the goalie, simply passed the ball to a Madrid player was how it started) Barca had a hard time to find its place and confront a Madrid very much more physical and pressing (DiMaria and Marcelo were - apart from super goalie Casillas - the best Madrid players for me).
But, Pep Guardiolas bet to set on the only recently aquired Alexis on the left instead of Villa paid off big time when he did what he can do best (and Barca as team not) and marked the equalizer from 20 meters with a volley with his heart in the hand (min. 30 or so).
After this moment the tide changed and Barca found back to its style, the ball started circulating (statistic says they today had the 220th match consecutively with more possesion of the ball than their opponent) and it was only a question of time when the 2nd would fall. At this time Madrid still gave a same level opponent, but after the 2nd goal broke in completely: Looks they spent their physical attributes and strength too graciously, in the end they again did not see the ball anymore, and with the third their morale went down the drain as well.
This is what I mentioned in my earlier post when I said Barca is always very much Barca, they can oonly play one style, and once the knot is opened there is nobody who can stop them (remember that this is the first maatch Madrid lost this year, that is why they are ahead in points and still might make the league, though I doubt it: Morale is a big issue in the consistency test that describes 38 league matches).
Best players of BVarca - and quite unexpectedly for me so - were the returning (after long injuriy: 6+ month) Puyol and the wizzard gnoe Iniesta who really whirled the whole Madrid defense around all by himself in the 2nd half and assisted all three goals even if he was not able to score himself.
No vids yet (and if they appear they get deleted), but will add in a few days when the news has gotten old.
Rattler
