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Way out in front - but Real Madrid have had to come from behind six times in La Liga this season
Jose Mourinho's men have been hit by an early goal at home on five occasions this term, but as against Levante on Sunday, have managed to win them all to lead La Liga by 10 points
13-Feb-2012 5:58:00 PM
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ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
Brilliance and resilience. To win a league title, being brilliant alone is not enough, but add resilience and you have a winning formula.
When Barcelona went two goals down at Osasuna on Saturday night, the stats made grim reading for Blaugrana aficionados: only once in their history had the Catalan club overturned a two-goal deficit in the league after half-time. And they were not able to this time, either.
But Real Madrid are a different breed. Barca, Pep Guardiola has conceded, can only win titles when they are at their best. Play badly, and the Catalans usually end up empty-handed. Madrid, though, he opined, can claim championships when below their best by grinding out results, week after week.
That was last evident under Fabio Capello in 2006-07, when the capital club hauled down Barca through sheer sweat and stamina, without ever convincing completely. And it's apparent again this season as Jose Mourinho's men combine undoubted brilliance with impressive resilience.
Madrid have come from behind six times in La Liga this term to claim wins on each occasion, failing to win only once after conceding first - the 1-0 defeat at Levante back in September.
Up against the Valencia-based side once more on Sunday, Madrid fell behind to Gustavo Cabral's fourth-minute header. The Santiago Bernabeu shrugged off that disappointment, however; they had seen it many times before in 2011-12.
Madrid are notorious slow starters at home and that was the fifth time the visiting side had gone ahead at the Bernabeu in the Primera Division this term. No drama, no problem; Real overcame Levante, just as they had done against Rayo Vallecano, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Zaragoza in the league, as well as Malaga in the Copa del Rey after going 2-0 down in a disastrous opening 45 minutes in early January.
Tellingly, Madrid have gone behind just once on the road this term, at Mallorca in mid-January - and Mourinho's men won that one too as they mounted a late comeback to claim all three points on the island, with Jose Callejon netting an 84th-minute winner.
It is the sort of backs-to-the-wall spirit synonymous with Mourinho's teams and much like many of the Portuguese's past sides, the 49-year-old's current charges now look set to march on to the title this season. They may be 10 points clear of Barca now, but to make it so far out front, they have had to come from behind as well. Brilliance and resilience.
Follow Ben Hayward on
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
Brilliance and resilience. To win a league title, being brilliant alone is not enough, but add resilience and you have a winning formula.
When Barcelona went two goals down at Osasuna on Saturday night, the stats made grim reading for Blaugrana aficionados: only once in their history had the Catalan club overturned a two-goal deficit in the league after half-time. And they were not able to this time, either.
But Real Madrid are a different breed. Barca, Pep Guardiola has conceded, can only win titles when they are at their best. Play badly, and the Catalans usually end up empty-handed. Madrid, though, he opined, can claim championships when below their best by grinding out results, week after week.
That was last evident under Fabio Capello in 2006-07, when the capital club hauled down Barca through sheer sweat and stamina, without ever convincing completely. And it's apparent again this season as Jose Mourinho's men combine undoubted brilliance with impressive resilience.
Madrid have come from behind six times in La Liga this term to claim wins on each occasion, failing to win only once after conceding first - the 1-0 defeat at Levante back in September.
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Up against the Valencia-based side once more on Sunday, Madrid fell behind to Gustavo Cabral's fourth-minute header. The Santiago Bernabeu shrugged off that disappointment, however; they had seen it many times before in 2011-12.
Madrid are notorious slow starters at home and that was the fifth time the visiting side had gone ahead at the Bernabeu in the Primera Division this term. No drama, no problem; Real overcame Levante, just as they had done against Rayo Vallecano, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Zaragoza in the league, as well as Malaga in the Copa del Rey after going 2-0 down in a disastrous opening 45 minutes in early January.
Tellingly, Madrid have gone behind just once on the road this term, at Mallorca in mid-January - and Mourinho's men won that one too as they mounted a late comeback to claim all three points on the island, with Jose Callejon netting an 84th-minute winner.
It is the sort of backs-to-the-wall spirit synonymous with Mourinho's teams and much like many of the Portuguese's past sides, the 49-year-old's current charges now look set to march on to the title this season. They may be 10 points clear of Barca now, but to make it so far out front, they have had to come from behind as well. Brilliance and resilience.
Follow Ben Hayward on
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