Skip to main content

Pep's toughest challenge yet?

Currently sitting seven points behind Real Madrid in the league, Pep Guardiola is experiencing his worse season at Barça since he took the reigns in 2008. Madrid's consistency home and away this season has shone a bright spotlight on Barcelona's fragile away form and Mourinho's men are now favourites to claim the title.

Last season Barcelona only dropped points on eight occasions, those being two defeats and six draws, and earned themselves their 21st La Liga title. Meanwhile this season they have already dropped points on seven occasions with eighteen games left to play. Worryingly for Guardiola, Madrid have dropped points on three times this season compared to last season's nine.

Many have hailed this Barça side as the greatest side in the world, maybe ever. But José's genius may have finally toppled the Champions. To accomplish the impossible and claim back a seven point deficit would surely seal their names in the history books at the best ever.

A seven point lead may not seem such a huge quandary in a normal league, but La Liga is far from normal. In the same way Rangers and Celtic dominate the Scottish league, Barcelona and Real Madrid are expected to run away with the Spanish title. In previous years the gap between the top two and the rest of the year has rarely been below five, with last year's gap finishing at twenty one points.

So it's hard to see where Madrid will slip up and barring a major self-implosion, it would appear plain sailing for Mourinho. But isn't it situations like this where Barça shine the brightest? Where Messi becomes that little bit more amazing? And Guardiola discovers the key to stopping Madrid?

Season after season Barcelona have faced the challenge of Madrid and brushed them aside with grace. Guardiola knows not to rely on other teams to break Madrid but to do it themselves during every Clásico. Madrid are well known as having team unity issues and those issues are amplified around Clásicos.

Barcelona simply outclass Madrid every time, even when Madrid plays dirty they can not stop Lionel Messi and friends. Mourinho can describe his players as "machines" but Guardiola and every Cule knows one strong Clásico win is enough to send Madrid into meltdown.

Having already dumped Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona and Real Madrid are likely to face each other again in the Champions League. So how can Mourinho claim to be managing a team of winners but continue to lose time after time in the game that the whole world watches?

Ronaldo and co. are surely aware of this too. Another league Clásico is to come and Barcelona are favourites to take the three points and by then Guardiola will hope the gap will be smaller then seven points, giving them a clear shot at the title.

Not only do Barcelona beat Madrid on the field they are beating Madrid off the pitch too. Barcelona are showing the world their tiki-taka style and the world is loving every minute of it. Branded as "total football", the phrase "study Xavi" is becoming more and more popular.

This has got to affect the minds of Madrid players, whether they show it or not. It's there. Lying under the surface is the jealously of the fabled club that is Barcelona. The annoyance at their continued defeat at the hands of the Catalans.

This will be Guardiola's main weapon. Barcelona remain mentally strong and every player still believes that they can retain their title because they've see it and done it before. Rising from the depths of defeat to snatch the title from Mourinho's hand.

The season is not over yet by any means. There is still a Champions League to be fought for and Barcelona are strong favourites for the Copa del Rey. Although you can not escape it, this is Guardiola's toughest challenge to date but you can not be daring enough to rule out the "greatest team ever."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Barcelona book their place in the final

Xavi rejoices after sealing the win Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final after beating Valencia 2-0 at the Camp Nou. Barcelona were the better team on the night and if they had taken a few more chances, would've killed the game off very early on. Cesc Fàbregas and Xavi Hernandez were both on the score sheet as Barça ensured Pep Guardiola's twelfth final since he arrived on the Barça bench. Both teams started the game with equal opportunities but neither side could create any real goal scoring chances. Feghouli saw his shot hit the side netting before the deadlock was broken in the 15th minute. Cesc Fàbregas made a well timed run and was picked out by Lionel Messi from inside his own half. The summer signing looked to have overrun the opportunity but you can never rule out an inform player such as Fàbregas from finding the net. From the acutest angle Fàbregas chipped the ball over the Valencia keeper and put Barça ahead. This goal jetted Barça i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Upcoming Opponents: Málaga FC

Team name: Málaga Club de Fútbol Recent form: L-D-L-D-L One to watch: Santi Cazorla Competition: La Liga Fixture date: 22nd January 2012 Stadium: Estadio La Rosaleda Coming from a 2-1 midweek Clásico win, Barcelona next face a reformed Málaga away. The southern Spain side currently sit eighth in the La Liga table and trail Barcelona by 16 points. But their recent form has been poor and that has seen them lose ground in the fight for the European places. Málaga have not won since late November having been on a run of three draws and five defeats. This is a record that looks likely to increase when the Catalans come to town. Barcelona are also in a race but for them it's the title race. Currently five points behind leaders Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola can not afford to concede any more points to José Mourinho's side. Many will be expecting Barcelona to win this game comfortably. Especially with the adrenaline still pumping from that Clásico win. But Barcelona face M...
Post a Comment
Read more

Upcoming Opponents: Villarreal

Team name: Villarreal Club de Fútbol Recent form: W-L-D-L-D One to watch: Marco Rubén Competition: La Liga Fixture date: 28th January 2012 Stadium: El Madrigal After securing progression in the Copa del Rey, Barcelona next face Villarreal. El Submarino Amarillo are half way through a very disappointing season and are currently sitting at 17th in the La Liga table. They desperately need points but will be lucky to finish the weekend out of the drop zone. Barcelona also desperately need points in order to reduce the five point deficit between them and Real Madrid. By the time the game kicks off, Madrid will already have played their game against Real Zaragoza and Pep Guardiola will be hoping the point gap remains at five. Guardiola will be without David Villa, Ibrahim Affelay and Andrés Iniesta, who picked up a muscle tear in Wednesday's game. Leaving a first team spot for rising stars, Thiago and Cuenca. Villarreal's main problem this season has been their leak...
Post a Comment
Read more