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Xabi or Xavi - Who Shall Come Out On Top: A Look At The Key Battles For El Clasico
As yet another adrenaline rush inducing Clasico is at hand, Goal.com takes an in-depth look at what's right and wrong with a few key players when they will go against each other
18-Jan-2012 1:31:00 PM
By Arkaprabha Chakraborty
El Clasico has taken on more and more of a Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier look as time has progressed especially after Jose Mourinho took over the reins at the Bernebeu. With much bad blood off the pitch, it is up to the players to remind us that there is still a beautiful game to be played on it.
This is the Copa del Rey which doesn't involve a gradual climb to the summit. Just one more leg to redeem any mistakes in. Speaking of winning, a few players whose performances in general and against each other we suspect might have a final say on who does or does not win would be....
Similar in name and similar in basic style, yet the two could not be more different. Where Xabi Alonso is the all-action midfield enforcer, Xavi Hernandez is more of a tactician, needing people to be where he wants them as he pulls the strings from the middle of the park.
Alonso has always played as an anchorman and it is in that position where he is most effective. He has always had a knack for crucial interceptions and pinpoint flighted balls which can spark off fluid counterattacks. Madrid know this and have used it to full advantage ever since he began plying his trade at the Bernabeu.
He is also a lethal finisher from long range and his position just outside the D of the penalty box during set pieces requires that extra bit of attention which could be the difference in a game of such fine margins. He is also a dead ball specialist, if Barcelona want even more bad news.
When you take for granted Lionel Messi is going to win the FIFA Ballon D'Or, just making the top
3 is recognition enough for your achievements. Again, it may be just a popularity contest, but Xavi Hernandez has time and again shown us a mastery of possession that other midfielders can only dream of.
His range of passes, from short one-twos to long crossfield diagonals flavoured with a bit of spin make him quite the unpredictable entity. Always happier with a pass than a goal, Xavi's only predictability may lie in taking advantage of his reluctance to shoot. That does not stop him from having a pretty mean free-kick and a nice finish, though.
Who negates who will surely decide which way the possession percentage will skew.
Hristo Stoichkov, scorer of 117 goals for Barcelona, shakes his head and observes with amazement that the only way one can stop Messi is with a machine gun. Unfortunately for Sergio Ramos this Wednesday, they aren't legal in the Laws of the Game or Spanish law, for that matter. How then, will a not-very-comfortable centre-back cope against You-Know-Who?
Sergio Ramos is one of the world's best wide defenders, take nothing away from him. His pace, athleticism, tackling, jumping and strength (for a full back, at least) has ensured that he is almost impossible to pass in the wide areas. But it is most likely the come Wednesday, he will be forced into the centre-back's shoes once again thanks to an unfortunate combination of injury and suspension.
Hence, his superb crossing ability is unlikely to be in use unless in exceptional circumstances.
In truth, this is likely to be a pretty one-sided competition, as it were. Lionel Messi, is, well,
Lionel Messi. People might complain that his abilites are exaggereated but simple fact is that simply trying to describe his sheer ability seems like unnecessary praise to a neutral. Finishing, pace, technique, curling free-kicks, passing, heading, left foot, right foot, ability to go past his man, dancing feet, vision and so on.
Well, one gets the picture that he is as complete a forward as you will find in today's game. His lack of strength has often been highlighted as a potential weakness. But his speed has ensured that no one has exploited it just yet.
This should be a no-brainer but if, and in football, you can never discount the 'if', he manages to negate Messi from the centre and quite well he may, it may just go down as the biggest coup of his career.
Dani Alves is a unique player, blessed with blistering pace, superb crossing ability and a mean tackle. As an attacking right back, he is possibly unparalleled in world football. But how that will help when he comes face-to-face with the world's fastest footballer? Not much, one suspects. With both players knowing how to take a tumble, it could end up more interesting than it seems.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the biggest thing to come out of Portugal since Luis Figo, a larger-than-life figure who merited a larger-than-life transfer fee, every bit of which he is repaying the club through his performances. But there is the famous complaint of him 'going missing' come the big games. Whatever be the reason for this oddity, Ronaldo's abilites are never in doubt.
The fastest player on the ball, with superb ball control, a lethal finish, unerring free-kicks, pinpoint crosses, goal-poaching abilities, sense of timing and anticipation, love for showboating, inhumanly high jumping, powerful heading and the ability to get past his man, there is no doubt why he is conistently the 'second best player in the world'. Quality enough to see off Alves, one would think? It depends on whether he lets it show.
Dani Alves is a master of the psychological aspect of the game with
an ability to wind up players into making mistakes. Both through his ability and his barbs. But he will need to keep the ball at his feet. His control leaves a bit to be desired, often knocking the ball a bit too far in front when going on a lung bursting run. However, the pace-stamina combination has most definitely helped.
Add to that his ability to bend one over in a dead ball situation just adds fat to his fire. Having already discussed what Alves brings to the field of play, we are aware that while he has a good tackle, his anticipation could be much better and more often than not, he might end up fouling his direct opponent on the night.
Who gets the ball down this side of the field will have a major impact on the goalbound supply line for their respective teams. For the game's sake, let us hope Ronaldo doesn't go AWOL in this one.
But we must all not forget this is but half a tie done, with half the bragging rights earned. Another Clasico awaits at the Camp Nou.
This is the Copa del Rey which doesn't involve a gradual climb to the summit. Just one more leg to redeem any mistakes in. Speaking of winning, a few players whose performances in general and against each other we suspect might have a final say on who does or does not win would be....
| Xabi Alonso |
vs | Xavi Hernandez |
Similar in name and similar in basic style, yet the two could not be more different. Where Xabi Alonso is the all-action midfield enforcer, Xavi Hernandez is more of a tactician, needing people to be where he wants them as he pulls the strings from the middle of the park.Alonso has always played as an anchorman and it is in that position where he is most effective. He has always had a knack for crucial interceptions and pinpoint flighted balls which can spark off fluid counterattacks. Madrid know this and have used it to full advantage ever since he began plying his trade at the Bernabeu.
He is also a lethal finisher from long range and his position just outside the D of the penalty box during set pieces requires that extra bit of attention which could be the difference in a game of such fine margins. He is also a dead ball specialist, if Barcelona want even more bad news.
When you take for granted Lionel Messi is going to win the FIFA Ballon D'Or, just making the top
3 is recognition enough for your achievements. Again, it may be just a popularity contest, but Xavi Hernandez has time and again shown us a mastery of possession that other midfielders can only dream of.His range of passes, from short one-twos to long crossfield diagonals flavoured with a bit of spin make him quite the unpredictable entity. Always happier with a pass than a goal, Xavi's only predictability may lie in taking advantage of his reluctance to shoot. That does not stop him from having a pretty mean free-kick and a nice finish, though.
Who negates who will surely decide which way the possession percentage will skew.
| Sergio Ramos |
vs | Lionel Messi |
Hristo Stoichkov, scorer of 117 goals for Barcelona, shakes his head and observes with amazement that the only way one can stop Messi is with a machine gun. Unfortunately for Sergio Ramos this Wednesday, they aren't legal in the Laws of the Game or Spanish law, for that matter. How then, will a not-very-comfortable centre-back cope against You-Know-Who?Sergio Ramos is one of the world's best wide defenders, take nothing away from him. His pace, athleticism, tackling, jumping and strength (for a full back, at least) has ensured that he is almost impossible to pass in the wide areas. But it is most likely the come Wednesday, he will be forced into the centre-back's shoes once again thanks to an unfortunate combination of injury and suspension.
Hence, his superb crossing ability is unlikely to be in use unless in exceptional circumstances.
In truth, this is likely to be a pretty one-sided competition, as it were. Lionel Messi, is, well,
Lionel Messi. People might complain that his abilites are exaggereated but simple fact is that simply trying to describe his sheer ability seems like unnecessary praise to a neutral. Finishing, pace, technique, curling free-kicks, passing, heading, left foot, right foot, ability to go past his man, dancing feet, vision and so on.Well, one gets the picture that he is as complete a forward as you will find in today's game. His lack of strength has often been highlighted as a potential weakness. But his speed has ensured that no one has exploited it just yet.
This should be a no-brainer but if, and in football, you can never discount the 'if', he manages to negate Messi from the centre and quite well he may, it may just go down as the biggest coup of his career.
| Cristiano Ronaldo |
vs | Dani Alves |
Dani Alves is a unique player, blessed with blistering pace, superb crossing ability and a mean tackle. As an attacking right back, he is possibly unparalleled in world football. But how that will help when he comes face-to-face with the world's fastest footballer? Not much, one suspects. With both players knowing how to take a tumble, it could end up more interesting than it seems.Cristiano Ronaldo was the biggest thing to come out of Portugal since Luis Figo, a larger-than-life figure who merited a larger-than-life transfer fee, every bit of which he is repaying the club through his performances. But there is the famous complaint of him 'going missing' come the big games. Whatever be the reason for this oddity, Ronaldo's abilites are never in doubt.
The fastest player on the ball, with superb ball control, a lethal finish, unerring free-kicks, pinpoint crosses, goal-poaching abilities, sense of timing and anticipation, love for showboating, inhumanly high jumping, powerful heading and the ability to get past his man, there is no doubt why he is conistently the 'second best player in the world'. Quality enough to see off Alves, one would think? It depends on whether he lets it show.
Dani Alves is a master of the psychological aspect of the game with
an ability to wind up players into making mistakes. Both through his ability and his barbs. But he will need to keep the ball at his feet. His control leaves a bit to be desired, often knocking the ball a bit too far in front when going on a lung bursting run. However, the pace-stamina combination has most definitely helped.Add to that his ability to bend one over in a dead ball situation just adds fat to his fire. Having already discussed what Alves brings to the field of play, we are aware that while he has a good tackle, his anticipation could be much better and more often than not, he might end up fouling his direct opponent on the night.
Who gets the ball down this side of the field will have a major impact on the goalbound supply line for their respective teams. For the game's sake, let us hope Ronaldo doesn't go AWOL in this one.
But we must all not forget this is but half a tie done, with half the bragging rights earned. Another Clasico awaits at the Camp Nou.
Which other battles do YOU think might influence this Clasico? Drop in with your thoughts through a comment below
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