Futbol Chronicles: Barcelona Still Overtakes Real Madrid

Barcelona's recent success suggests that Real Madrid will have to make up for more than just a few expensive signings in order to replicate the Catalans' success.

Real Madrid may feel now they have the upper hand, but of course, we all know that they won't admit that Barcelona have the upper hand in terms of firepower and football technique.

Compared to Madrid, Barca's season was mired by the fact that their top three forwards, Samuel Eto, Thierry Henry, and Lionel Messi all scored a combined 100+ goals this season in all competitions, a feat that not even the greatest of Real's teams could have achieved.

So why are the papers and pundits predicting a Real revival?

Simply because Barcelona were always the better team—and Florentino Perez would be foolish to think that expensive signings all in the name of re-launching the so-called Golacticos era would help bridge the gap on Barcelona.

Perez couldn't be more wrong.

Madrid will need more than Ronaldo and Kaka, and quite possibly Ribery and Villa to compete with Barcelona and the rest of Europe to regain their place in history.

It would take a perfectly balanced squad, one where the midfield and defense are sound and cohesive, where the forwards actually put the ball in the net rather than focus on their endorsement deals.

It would take a commitment to development and managerial direction, not excessive spending and off-field indiscretions.

It would also mean the Real would have to look at the big picture, and realize that the team should probably focus on producing good football, something of which has been missing since the club's not too recent heydays.

Whether Ronaldo and Kaka and any new potential signings can lead Madrid back to glory remains to be seen, but we all know what Barcelona had to build in order to achieve the sort of phenomenal success they have.