After El Clásico the picture is clearer. Real Madrid must chase Barcelona for the rest of the season.
Pressure is on Real Madrid to score goals against tight defences. Real will HAVE to create a lot of chances and hold possession better. This means that Real Madrid will HAVE to play a less direct style and be a lot more patient with the ball.
In short, Real Madrid will need to be more like Barcelona.
Can they do it?
Barcelona are programmed to play a patient, possession game and have Messi, Xavi and Iniesta as their string pullers. Real Madrid, on the other hand, are basing their game on a lot more speed, pace and strength and usually have only Mesut Özil or Luka Modric or Kaka as their playmamker on the field.
But does it have to be that way?
I’m not sure.
Jose Mourinho should be trying harder to fit Modric and Özil/Kaka or even Modric, Kaka and Özil in the same formation.
It will give Real Madrid a hub of thinkers behind a razor sharp player (Ronaldo) that can hold the ball better than Angel Di MarĂa, Karim Benzema/Gonzalo HiguaĂn.
In short, If Chelsea can find the way to play with Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard behind Fernando Torres, Real Madrid can play with Modric, Kaka and Özil behind Ronaldo.
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