Thursday, February 28, 2013

Copa Del Rey 2013: True Madrid Should Progress Past El Clasico Semifinal - Bleacher Report

Real Madrid isn't planning to get Barcelona in the Manhunter Liga rankings. This is not a viewpoint, it is basically a fact at this time. After 25 games, Barcelona is 16 points before Real Madrid on the table. With 13 games left on the La Liga schedule, Barca would need to have a disaster of legendary proportions for Real Madrid to get back into the title image. It's not occurring. And that's why Tuesday's El Clasico, the 2nd leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal between both of these Spanish superpowers, is so essential for Real Madrid. For a group like Real Madrid, a domestic cup might be quite a slight consolation prize to the league title, especially in a season when your league competitor is indeed far before you in the standings. But evolving past Barca continues to be a prize by itself, and could signal a potential Champions League function for Los Blancos. Nothing is guaranteed in that respect, needless to say. Real Madrid still gets the 2nd leg against Manchester United to manage, though Los Blancos have to travel to Old Trafford, and the Red Devils previously managed an away-goal 1-1 draw. The situation is the same for Real Madrid against Barcelona at Camp Nou, with the initial leg also ending in a 1-1 draw. It surely won't be easy for Cristiano Ronaldo (39 objectives in 42 appearances) and Co. to advance in either competition. Imagine what a challenging fourteen days Real Madrid could have. After facing Barca in the Copa del Rey, the team returns home for a Liga El Clasico. After that, it's Champions League time against Manchester United. For Madrid, then, the Copa del Rey draw is not just about advancing; it's about starting an arduous three-game stretch with some good momentum. If Madrid is pulled out of the Copa del Rey and Champions League and doesn't close the gap against Barca, the growing season, for many purposes and intents, will undoubtedly be over. And a season shouldn't be over for Real Madrid in early March. Never. Los Blancos have been playing better lately. Game has been lost just one by them since January, winning eight games and drawing four. Despite two hard road tests, I would be prepared to start to see the most readily useful Real Madrid has to offer. Remember, few groups tend to be more dangerous. Barcelona knows exactly about the Los Blancos' counterattack, while Manchester United knows it will have its hands full contrary to the classy selection Real Madrid trots out. But one game at the same time. What must Real Madrid do to gain the Copa del Rey semifinal? Clearly, against Barcelona, playing stout protection and disrupting the midfield may be the first concern. Barcelona is going to generally speaking gain the possession fight, but if you can clog up the midfield and reduce the cracks in your protection that Barca spreads by finding and exploiting, a shot has been got by you. And as always, using the possibilities presented on the counterattack is vital. Few teams in the world, if any, tend to be more dangerous in place than United, in no little part due to Ronaldo, but additionally because the imagination of Mesut Ozil, the pace of Angel di MarAa and the motion of Karim Benzema. Getting an early goal at Camp Nou would be massive, but blocking Barca from owning in the early stages must be the first concern. True Madrid must take the crowd out of the game early, create its ownArhythmAand hit once the opportunity gifts. Los Blancos have fought in La Liga play by its own standards, but there's still equipment out there for the taking. It will not be a simple job, but Real Madrid must go on in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. Failing to take action may induce aAdevastatingAtwo weeks that basically finishes the season way too early for Los Blancos.

Via: Deportivo la Coruna - Rayo Vallecano [Live Football]

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