The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[Vesper 27,313]

world class play by Messi and Griezmann

1 3 Barca

amazing little chip by Antoine

first time in ages Barca looks like Barca versus a decent team

[Magic Lamps 11,450]

lol the ref disposessed the Villareal player there with an attempted McGeady spin

[Vesper 27,313]

why are all the presenters for the past few weeks saying that Messi is going to be the first player in big 5 history with 20 league goals and 20 league assist in one season?

hello

Thierry Henry

2002/3

24 league goals, 20 league assists

I am sure there have been others

 

[Vesper 27,313]

Reconsidered: Just how good was Xavi in Barcelona’s 6-2 win at Real Madrid?

https://theathletic.com/1908016/2020/07/05/xavi-barcelona-real-madrid-6-2/

This is a series re-assessing the most famous individual performances of the modern era. Some will be legendary displays by established world-class players, others will be once-in-a-lifetime cameos that have nevertheless gone down in history.

It’s easy to look back on historic displays through rose-tinted spectacles, or to revise our memories of particular performances based upon what came afterwards. A second look at these games from a greater distance can be revealing.

This week, we’re looking at a fixture from 2009 — Xavi’s performance as Barcelona won 6-2 against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

---

Why this performance?

This is generally considered to be Xavi’s most dominant performance during this incredible era of dominance for Barcelona and Spain, although realistically you could also choose the 2-0 at the Bernabeu the next season, Spain’s 1-0 victory over Germany at World Cup 2010, or almost any big Champions League knockout match during this period.

Nevertheless, four assists in the biggest fixture in European club football does elevate it to a different level.

What was the context?

Pep Guardiola was in his first season as Barcelona coach and had created something truly special. Before the campaign was over, people were talking about this Barca side as among the greatest of the modern era, with the front three of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry attracting most attention.

But the midfield wasn’t bad either. Xavi and Andres Iniesta had starred in Spain’s Euro 2008 victory and while that duo would come to be regarded almost as one, it was Xavi who exerted more influence upon matches that summer. He’d deservedly been named UEFA’s Player of the Tournament, and then arrived back at the Nou Camp to find that his idol and former team-mate Guardiola was now in charge.

Strange though it might seem, Xavi hadn’t proven himself as a truly world-class performer at club level. In his early days he had suffered from being at the same club as Guardiola, a similar type of player, and he was often deployed in the deepest midfield role, which didn’t entirely suit him. He wasn’t in the starting XI for Barcelona’s European Cup final victory in 2006, partly because of fitness concerns, while the next two campaigns had been underwhelming. When Xavi was named in the top five of the Ballon d’Or for 2008, one British newspaper famously captioned a photo of him, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Fernando Torres and Kaka with “the best players in the world — and Xavi”, which was a curious decision at the time, and looked all the sillier over the next four years, during Barcelona and Spain’s period of dominance.

It’s also worth pointing out that Xavi was 29 by the time of this contest — his peak, like that of other deep playmaker of this era, came very late.

This match felt like a proper title decider. With five games to go, Barcelona were four points clear, had trickier remaining fixtures, a Champions League semi-final away to Chelsea in midweek, and the Copa del Rey final on the horizon too. A victory would clinch the title. A defeat could prompt a Bayer Leverkusen-style collapse on all fronts.

Was he as good as we remember?

Probably better, considering this game is largely remembered for one of the most decisive tactical innovations of the modern era — Guardiola deploying Messi as a false nine in a big match. He had briefly played there at the start of the campaign, but Guardiola then saved this particular move for Barca’s run-in — and matches against Real, Chelsea and Manchester United.

While everyone was focusing upon Messi, the real star of the show was Xavi.

Starting in his usual right-of-centre midfield role, he drops back to become Barcelona’s deepest midfielder when Yaya Toure pushes on, from where he receives time to conduct play.

Equally, Xavi also pops up in more advanced positions than you would expect. Indeed, for all the focus upon Messi pulling Real’s centre-backs up the pitch — because Barca’s coaching staff had specifically highlighted the fact Fabio Cannavaro and Christoph Metzelder got dragged around too easily — it’s Xavi who summarises Real’s weakness best. On two occasions he receives the ball between the lines, and the heartbreakingly hapless Cannavaro finds himself miles out of position trying to close him down, without ever getting close to the ball.

The greatest victim of Xavi’s brilliance, though, is Real’s left central midfielder Fernando Gago, who is outplayed to the point of embarrassment. Xavi repeatedly acts like the Argentine simply isn’t there — easing past him after receiving the ball without bothering to control it, performing pirouettes in midfield by constantly shifting the ball away from Gago, who is left looking like a dog chasing its tail.

In an era when pressing wasn’t a fundamental part of top-level football compared to today, the midfield battle is slow and patient, and Xavi is by far the game’s most influential player. He barely attempts a spectacular pass, aside from one wayward ball in behind intended for Henry, and simply keeps things simple in midfield. His passes are laced with information about what the recipient should do next — slow passes when the player has time, quicker balls when they have an opponent on them. Xavi plays the ball into a player’s path when they can drive forward, or plays it behind them when they need to distribute it backwards. It all sounds simple, but Xavi’s team-mates have complete trust in the nature of these passes because he gets them right so consistently — it’s not simply that Xavi never misplaces a pass so it doesn’t reach a team-mate, it’s that he never misplaced a pass so the team-mate does the wrong thing with it.

The first assist is for a Carles Puyol header at a set-piece, a goal that would provide inspiration for a similar Puyol header in the following year’s World Cup semi-final.

The second assist is a tackle — Xavi pushes high up, dispossesses Lassana Diarra as Real are trying to play out, and slips in Messi. In truth, Xavi probably expected a return pass, but Messi scores anyway.

The third is a pass in behind for Henry, so perfectly weighed that it tempts Iker Casillas miles out of his goal to close down the angle — he doesn’t get there, and Henry easily slips it past him. There’s also a brilliant reverse pass to Messi midway through the first half, that should have created a one-on-one but for Messi’s poor touch. Instead, Messi collects the ball near the byline and nearly chips it into the far corner.

What was the highlight?

Xavi’s fourth and final assist is outrageous. On one hand, it’s what you might reasonably consider a playmaker in his position to do — receiving the ball between the lines, in an inside-right position, and slipping it through the defence for Messi to finish. Nothing unusual about that.

On the other hand, it’s a great bit of centre-forward hold-up play from perhaps the smallest man on the pitch. Messi knocks the ball into his feet, and Xavi lets it run across his body on the turn, then spins away from Messi’s run, which takes both Gago and Cannavaro with him, then he touches the ball a second time to bring himself back around into the right direction.

And then Xavi does exactly the right thing: playing the “easy” pass into the feet of Messi — rather than inside Gabriel Heinze, which would become Barca’s default pass in these situations. Playmakers are often tempted to play that difficult through-ball — it feels better; it looks better — but Xavi was the master of playing the simple pass at the right time.

What might we have forgotten?

Xavi was a top-class player because of his brains rather than his body, but his physical qualities shouldn’t be overlooked.

While certainly not the quickest over 20 yards or so, Xavi’s speed off the mark in tight midfield situations constantly allows him extra time to pick a pass. Yes, this is partly because of his anticipation skills and his ability to read the game intelligently, but he’s also quick-footed and can change direction swiftly.

Similarly, his ability to shield the ball effectively constantly buys him extra time — he knows how to protect the ball, and how to use his body to hold off opponents. This feels particularly useful for Xavi, as players are generally shielding the ball with their back to goal. While other great playmakers of this era were determined to play forward passes, and therefore don’t want to be in situations where they’re being forced into deeper positions, no one used backwards and sideways passes as effectively as Xavi.

What happened next?

Barca defeated Chelsea in midweek to progress to the European Cup final, where they beat Manchester United 2-0. After a nervy start to the game, Barca were comfortable in the final stages, killing the game easily by dominating the midfield zone after United had effectively gone 4-2-4 and left themselves overrun in the centre. Xavi was the key man.

Xavi had a similarly strong influence upon Barcelona the next season, was outstanding at the 2010 World Cup despite being used in a No 10 position which didn’t really suit him, continued his good form at club level for another couple of seasons and then played a starring role in Spain’s Euro 2012 triumph.

That marked the end of Xavi’s dominance, and Spain’s of international football. Xavi was still around for Barcelona’s treble in 2015, before leaving for Qatar, where he has started his managerial career. Barcelona approached him about taking charge at the Nou Camp midway through this season — and while that offer came too early, you suspect Xavi will be back one day, to continue the legacy of Johan Cruyff and Guardiola, in the dugout as well as on the pitch.

[Jase 43,479]

Said it the other day, the pandemic has really fucked up Lazio. Just lost to struggling Lecce earlier.

At this rate, Atalanta could well finish 2nd ahead of Lazio and Inter!

[Vesper 27,313]

8 minutes ago, Jason said:

Said it the other day, the pandemic has really fucked up Lazio. Just lost to struggling Lecce earlier.

At this rate, Atalanta could well finish 2nd ahead of Lazio and Inter!

Atalanta is a really fun team to watch

so many really solid players

[Vesper 27,313]

Pierluigi Gollini

solid big GK

[Jase 43,479]

Juventus went from 2-0 up to 3-2 down in the space of 6 minutes.  

[Vesper 27,313]

15 minutes ago, Jason said:

Juventus went from 2-0 up to 3-2 down in the space of 6 minutes.  

sarriball!

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Vesper said:

sarriball!

Milan's 4th goal was hilarious.  

[Vesper 27,313]

lol

4 2 now

[Atomiswave 6,072]

They got what they deserved Juve

[killer1257 3,282]

@Vesper Romagnoli did not look well when Ronaldo scored. I am 100% sure that Zouma would have won that crucial header

 

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[Vesper 27,313]

outrageous no call

clear handball on Vidal in the 90th minute during a 1 nil lead by Barca over Espanyol

smdh

I would be going bonkers if we had lost a draw like that

 

[Puliiszola 519]

18 minutes ago, Vesper said:

outrageous no call

clear handball on Vidal in the 90th minute during a 1 nil lead by Barca over Espanyol

smdh

I would be going bonkers if we had lost a draw like that

 

Clear handball? Are you serious?

It hit his upper arm or infact shoulder with his hand right by his hand. I mean football would be in danger if that is a "clear handball". And just to be clear, I don't like barca at all. Was just watching the game due to boredom.

[Vesper 27,313]

1 hour ago, Puliiszola said:

Clear handball? Are you serious?

It hit his upper arm or infact shoulder with his hand right by his hand. I mean football would be in danger if that is a "clear handball". And just to be clear, I don't like barca at all. Was just watching the game due to boredom.

it hit his upper arm and he made basically no effort to get out of the way

he was not right up on the shooter, there was distance

[Puliiszola 519]

3 hours ago, Vesper said:

it hit his upper arm and he made basically no effort to get out of the way

he was not right up on the shooter, there was distance

Why would he got out of the way when the ball is coming right at him. Look at this hand positioning, by his side.

There was literally 0 case for it to be giving as a penalty. And calling it a clear handball is just weird imo unless you are a Madrid fan (are you? 😂)

 

Around 9:38. Like I said, hand right by his side, with no extension. Ball hit right at him, with no arm movement towards the ball. And the ball hits more of his shoulder or if we are being very harsh then "upper arm". Literally 0 case for penalty and clear handball

[Vesper 27,313]

20 minutes ago, Puliiszola said:

Why would he got out of the way when the ball is coming right at him. Look at this hand positioning, by his side.

There was literally 0 case for it to be giving as a penalty. And calling it a clear handball is just weird imo unless you are a Madrid fan (are you? 😂)

 

Around 9:38. Like I said, hand right by his side, with no extension. Ball hit right at him, with no arm movement towards the ball. And the ball hits more of his shoulder or if we are being very harsh then "upper arm". Literally 0 case for penalty and clear handball

you are just flat out wrong

deffo handball

even Barca asslick Hudson said so after the game

I will not back down on this one micrometre

nope