First off, my post-match note :
" 1) ozil 2)ronaldo not at best 3)coentrao 4) vv 5) nuri sahin 6) one touch 7) fabregas 8) puyol "
Now, onto real point ,
1) Madrid has improved leaps and bounds since that 5-0 drubbing. They pass the ball better. The defender read foot movement better which allows them to tackle more intelligently (of course that won't happen all the time against Messi and co. but still credit is due). The game suits Pepe and Ramos - both mobile CBs- than Carvalho. In this game, one of the central midfielder goes up the field in central space while one stays deeper (often Xabi). This is important to help in ball circulation. In the first half, Lass play this role but after subbed , Marcelo can be found centrally at times while Khedira move right-ish to add body to that side since Coentrao did not overlap and Kaka often moves to the left. Still, this is one area in which Madrid can improve upon. Lass is not creative enough for the job.(see point 10)
2) Madrid fans are stuuuuuuupid.
3)How does Madrid pass the ball better? They avoid Barca's press by playing some one-touch pass. Oezil is particularly adapt at this. I dont think he had a bad game as many pointed out but rather the fact that collectively the band of attacking three is not in the top form. Speaking of Oezil, he won't last 60 minutes, no? Really a shame considering his talent.
4)Yes, Barcelona was not on the 1st gear. So does Madrid.
5)Barca drop deeper than usual which helps to deal with Madrid pressing.
6)Coentrao started because of tactical reason as far as I concern. He can play as DM if needed. It is quite important to start with a versatille player so that you can change the formation without relying on subs - it is even more important against Barca since you are bound to use the sub to take off yellow-carded player(Lass) and the tired one (Oezil). In the end, this backfired as Coentrao was run ragged by Iniesta and Sanchez and was guilty for the third goal. To see an example of how in-game tactical tweak can work however, look no further than their opponent. Without personnel change, Varcelona seamlessly went from 4-3-3 to 4-4-1-1 to 3-5-2....
7)I hate Barcelona but you have to admire Valdes for keep passing the ball from the back after that horror mistake. Meanwhile, Casillas is half-guilty for Barca's first and wasnt lucky for the 2nd (maybe could've tried more).
8)Fabregas is AWOL for most of the match and then...pop he scored. I hate that.
9)Puyol did slipped couple of times when trying to change direction of body. (remember that John Terry slip?) This is something that probably Jose noticed and asked his player to take advantage of but Ronaldo did little. But, it was notable in that Benzema chance near the end.
10) It would be exaggerate to say this but Nuri Sahin could very well be Madrid's saviour. He's just starting to get some game time. There are two ways for Sahin to play. 1) You dropped the attacking pivot, Oezil for the deeper regista, Sahin or 2)Drop Alonso, replace with Sahin. Watch out for him in the next Clasico.
