The startling discovery of Eric Abidal’s liver tumour and the scandalous doping allegations targeted at the Barcelona team were the focus of attention in a week were football took a backseat, while the sincerity of human affection shone on one hand, and mucky, unsporting, unfounded rumours fanned the flames of disrepute on the other.
Yes indeed, just as any good democratic election campaign enters its last leg and the respective parties work tirelessly to dig up dirt on their opponents in a final ditch attempt to engineer any valuable public discontent, and help them gain an upper hand. Such has been the rumour mill which went into over-drive last week and in all fairness how much blame can be levelled at the accusers, in fact I would even go so far as to say I sympathies with them. Please allow me to explain... The insinuation that Barca and some other teams including Madrid have been taking performance enhancing drugs statistically has a leg to stand on. Just take a look at the performances of the other European teams leading in their respective leagues. Manchester UTD has 63 points from 30 games played, AC Milan has 62 from 30 games played, Lille has 55 from 28 played. So, it doesn't take a degree in applied mathematics to see that there is a clear correlation in respect to games played and points scored by these 3 league leaders. And then you have the anomaly the irregularity the discrepancy the divergence from this neat and tidy correlation.
First things first, it has to be recognised, (if only to make Barca’s achievements even more astonishing) that Real Madrid have been playing sensational football from the start of the 2009-2010 season right up till now and their points tally last season would have seen them finish some way ahead had they been in any of the above mentioned leagues. The only problem they have is that they play in the same league as Barcelona.
After finishing second on 96 points last season, an incredible 25 points ahead of third place Valencia Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini sighed, “people don’t realise how good a season we had. But to win this league you have to beat this Barcelona team at least once and drop virtually no points”. Which brings us back to the anomalous fact, even this season Madrid and Barca are setting themselves apart from the rest of Europe on 73 and 78 points from 29 games apiece. And the reason behind this stems from the football culture in Spain where characteristics like skill, technique, endurance is preferred over physical size, ruggedness and the long ball which ultimately gives rise to players who are able to defy the status quo and perform at a different level inevitably making them the target of malicious rumours.
After all the English game sold its soul to anyone who came along with a briefcase full of cash and the Italians have had their own internal problems which continue to cast a shadow over what was once the most exciting league in Europe. In conclusion, the sneaky hate mongers would be better advised to refrain from such talk which brings our beautiful game into disrepute, if they have evidence so present it and give credence to their allegation if not. Then please shut up!
Fortunately, there was a brighter side to the revelations from last week and that was the way in which people came together in support of Abidal. Madrid in particular should be commended for their show of solidarity as the squad paraded the pitch with t-shirts reading ‘Amino Abidal’ (courage Abidal). I shall refrain from wasting any time on expressing my opinions about the so called authorities which tried to ‘forbid’ the gesture. Let’s face it most of them have probably never kicked a ball in their lives.
This evening’s match was inevitably going to be dedicated to Abidal and it was evident by the numerous flags and banners covering the stadium in solidarity with the likeable Frenchman. Barca also had the consul general of Japan in attendance and his presence was marked by an impeccably observed minute of silence in respect of the victims of last week’s natural disaster. Most clubs are welcomed to observe such solemn occasions in the case of Barca however the world expects it.
5 points clear of Madrid, Barca were in a position to go 8 points clear before Atletico entertained their neighbors in the late kick off. And they started as well as they normally do at home despite the absence of Puyol, Maxwell and of course Abidal from the squad the back-line consisted of Pique and Milito in the middle with Adriano and Alves flying down the wings. And it wasn’t long before Alves sent the ball flying into the back of the net in typically Brazilian fashion to make up for his earlier yellow card. Messi had a chance with a smart overhead kick, only for Cordina to block with his body. But when the ball fell to Alves on the edge of the box a stunning half volley sent the ball screaming into the net with the keeper left bewildered after 16 minutes.
After the break through Barca began to take even more control of the game with Valdes merely a spectator, but for David Villa it wasn’t to be his night after some good chances went begging. Messi managed to skip past the Getafe defence and shoot across goal in what was another good chance. Getafe for their part tried to counter and Casquero brought a great save out of the ever alert Valdes, and as the 22nd minute of the game drew in, a roar of cheers and applause echoed out of the Camp Nou for their number 22 – Abi.
The second half started well with no changes at half-time, Pep preferring to stick with his starting 11 and it wasn't long into the second half that Barca doubled their lead as Bojan marked his 100th league appearance with a goal deflecting in off Cata Diaz, shortly after Guardiola opted to reinforce with midfield by bringing on Keita for Bojan.
With the 2 goal cushion Barca looked to be cruising but to Getafe’s credit they continued to push and finally pulled a goal back on the 87thminute as Manu struck the ball in. Getafe then almost drew level in the final seconds but some good defending by the Barca back line brought an end to what was the last real attack of the game.
Finally, with Barca getting a favourable draw in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and 9 time European cup winning Madrid up against a Tottenham side on a maiden journey into Europe’s premier competition one would seriously consider putting the house on a Barca vs Madrid semi-final, that would mean 4 classico’s in just over a month.
Imagine that it would be like Christmas, Eid, New Years Eve and your birthday all rolled into one!
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