Basel vs. Real Madrid: Lessons Learned from Champions League Game
Real Madrid confirmed top spot in Champions League Group B with a relatively comfortable 1-0 win away at Basel.
The reigning European champions did not have things entirely their own way. After a cautious start, Basel grew into the game and threatened throughout. Ultimately, the Swiss outfit did not give goalkeeper Keylor Navas too much too worry about, though.
In the end, Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in the 35th minute proved enough for Real as they won their 15th game in a row in all competitions (a run that began with their previous victory over Basel in September). Read on for a few things we learned from Wednesday's contest.
Bale Could Do with a Big Game Sooner Rather Than Later
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Gareth Bale knew he would not be the main man when he joined Real Madrid and has willingly played a supporting role to star Cristiano Ronaldo since then.
In good company with the likes of Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez, Bale has been influential and is allowed enough spotlight showcases to feel he is not just a marginal contributor. There seems to be a happy understanding between those involved, which is helpfully fuelled by the success they have enjoyed together.
With Ronaldo in especially scintillating form this season—his goal against Basel made it 26 in 19 games this season, as tallied by Squawka—you watch Bale and wonder at times if he has become a little too comfortable.
He livened up late on against Basel. He notably hit the crossbar on the 74th minute after Isco had freed him in space on the left. Three minutes later, he set Ronaldo up for a chance he fired just wide.
Up until then, though, the Welsh international had looked largely lethargic as he meandered in possession. His touch was off, and he showed no great desire to get at the opposition like he can.
Early on this was, in part, a product of Basel defending deep and hounding Real whenever they entered the final third. But while Benzema was threatening (excellently setting up Ronaldo for his goal) and Isco was trying to create, Bale was uninspired.
It is in keeping with a campaign that has not quite caught fire for the 25-year-old. Six goals is not a bad return, and he has certainly had his moments when he has been fit. But with Isco continuing to impress and Rodriguez starting his Real career brightly, Bale could do with a big performance to reaffirm his first-choice credentials.
It will almost certainly come. But he could probably do with conjuring it sooner rather than later if he wants to ensure no one else gets the nod ahead of him, even temporarily.
Embolo Will Be a Handful for Europe's Defences If Basel Progress
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It would have been a heck of a way to equalise against arguably the best team in Europe—and by the boot of a 17-year-old, no less.
Breel Embolo successfully dribbled his way into the Real Madrid box and looked to have got past their goalkeeper too. He shot, but Navas just managed to get his fingertips to it.
The opponents shared a moment of mutual appreciation just before the subsequent corner kick. Navas had every right to be pleased to have made the save. He had maintained his side's lead and stopped arguably Basel's biggest threat in the process.
Embolo had been a thorn in the side of the Real defence throughout the game. Moments before the chance described above, he had picked out Shkelzen Gashi with a cross-field pass that the winger audaciously headed from about 25 yards (and he was not too far off with it either).
In the first four minutes, Embolo twice broke forward dangerously (and on the 16th was almost picked out at the back post by Gashi). He nearly broke clean into the box after Sergio Ramos lost possession 38 minutes in, and he continued to cause problems with his positioning throughout.
Substitute Ahmed Hamoudi wasted some superb holdup play in stoppage time when he curled wide from a position where he should have done better. In fact, as the likes of Gashi and Luca Zuffi consistently missed the target, it was a wonder why Basel did not attempt to involve their young forward more than they did.
With a good two years left of him being a teenager, it would be irresponsible to hype Embolo too much just yet. But the fact is he has shown little evidence of being intimidated by the opponents he is facing in the Champions League.
He scored in Basel's 4-0 win over Ludogorets and looked comfortable in the surroundings of the famous Bernabeu Stadium back in September. If the Swiss Super League leaders progress from the group stage, there might be one or two more defences this season that struggle in the face of this precocious talent.
Liverpool beware.
December's Anfield Showdown Could Be a Thriller
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"Full-time: Ludogorets 2 Liverpool 2. A late equaliser denies the Reds a win, but as it stands they are still in the Champions League.
— B/R Football (@br_football) November 26, 2014"
Liverpool have made hard work of it in the Champions League this season. Their propensity for creating drama—both of the wanted and unwanted kinds—and the confidence of Basel should mean next month's group decider will be a thriller.
The Swiss club beat the Premier League team 1-0 in October (thanks to a late Marco Streller goal). They sit second in the table with six points, two ahead of third-place Liverpool (and with a better goal difference). Ludogorets are only one goal worse off than the Reds, but they are facing a big ask to beat Real Madrid away.
Paulo Sousa's side will happily play to keep an opposition side out if that is the sensible course of action, at least for part of a match (as seen early on in both meetings with Real). But the likelihood of a highly charged Anfield atmosphere—and a desperate Liverpool team—will likely require them to summon some of the adventurousness they displayed against Madrid.
"We are always focused on winning games," Sousa said prior to taking on the Spanish side, via UEFA.com's Pierre-Alexandre Gallois. "We want to progress in the Champions League.
"I believe we can qualify. The aim is to play attacking and courageous football."
Basel will not go down without a fight. Expect a pre-Christmas cracker in Liverpool in two weeks time.
Real Can Now Ease Up Ahead of a Potentially Busy December
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"After today's results, #RealMadrid are the only team to have won all their #UCL matches this season pic.twitter.com/poL8cnScnz
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) November 26, 2014"
The above statistic—and the inability of their group rivals to even run them close—means Real Madrid can safely take the night off against Ludogorets in a fortnight if they so choose. With 15 points to their name, first place in Group B is firmly theirs.
Real are unlikely to do so. They are the holders of the Champions League, and they will want to continue to assert their dominance. They will want to achieve even a small degree of perfection where potential rivals like Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have stumbled.
With the Club World Cup looming, though, Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti would be wise to ease off where he can against Ludogorets.
His side has three more La Liga fixtures and a Copa del Rey match to take in before it faces either Cruz Azul or Western Sydney Wanderers in the semi-final in Morocco on December 16.
Real will desperately want to win the latter competition and achieve the global kudos that Barca and Bayern have in recent years. Even with a winter break to rest in after their commitments in Africa are concluded, the extra games could have negative consequences if they are not careful.
Ancelotti has already lost Luka Modric for the time being because of an injury he suffered on international duty earlier this month. To minimise the potential of anymore key players picking up an injury because of tiredness in this busy period, the manager must prepare for the Ludogorets game accordingly.
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