Barcelona and Real Madrid Prepare for Champions League with Lingering Concerns

Spain’s football elite enjoyed varying fortunes in their final matches ahead of this week's Champions League games, with Real Madrid going into them—if not the most relaxed—certainly the most rested.

Los Blancos enjoyed a quiet day at the office in a routine 3-0 victory against Eibar on Saturday, and just two of the players that finished the match (Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe) are likely to be in the starting 11 against Atletico. More on that later.

Meanwhile, in the electric atmosphere of the fortress that is the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Unai Emery’s Sevilla showed Barcelona just why they haven’t lost a league match there all season with a battling 2-2 draw Saturday night, while Barcelona showed the watching world more of the same strengths—and weaknesses—we have seen all season.

Once again what we saw was a Barcelona of two halves, two faces and, let me repeat yet again, a Barcelona incapable of dominating for 90 minutes.

Two goals ahead following what was unquestionably their finest first-half display of the season—including their match against Manchester City—they then contrived to let their hosts, roared on by the 12th man that is their passionate supporters, back into the game.

Sevilla’s first-half tactics of defending in their own half rather than looking to recover the ball to create their own danger played straight into Barcelona's hands, while a change of approach in the second period resulted in a thrilling box-to-box encounter much more to the liking of the home side.

Angel Fernandez/Associated Press

Luis Enrique tried to stem the turning tide by putting Xavi on in place of Neymar, something I feel goes against all his principles.

The manager looks to prepare a team for quick transitions, a high tempo and a direct approach, and the mere inclusion of Xavi isn’t suddenly going change the side back into one where the name of the game is about possession football, because fundamentally that isn’t what the side has been training for.

I have said it before and I will say it again; to play the type of football that Luis Enrique wants to and be able to beat the biggest sides I don't think he has the players that can do it, at least not for the full 90 minutes.

If he wanted to play that way, then to replace Neymar, who was at long last having an excellent game, was a mistake. That said, Neymar’s histrionics on being substituted do him no favours.

"

VINE - Neymar reaction after being subbed out: https://t.co/NA01O7rgp6

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) April 11, 2015"

He more than any other player is very aware of the amount of attention given by all media and social networks to his every action and reaction. He should perhaps take a leaf out of Luis Suarez’s book, a player who has also in the past expressed discontent when replaced but has quickly learnt that the best thing to do when subbed is to accept his fate.

These shows of dissent are concerning and began when Messi expressed his disapproval way back in the new year, when he was left on the bench at Real Sociedad and decided he wasn’t going to go in for training the next day.

Luis Enrique is a man of few words, who has no closeness or bond to anyone in particular, and as a consequence this is a balancing act that could test him to the limit—because the only real talking he does involves team selection and tactics.

These tactics have kept his side at the top of the table but against Sevilla it cost them two points. Against Paris Saint Germain they could pay a much higher price.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Back to Madrid, and Atletico’s exertions against Malaga in a hard-fought 2-2 box-to-box encounter will not have been seen by coach Diego Simeone as ideal preparation for facing Real.

Psychologically the Rojiblancos are in the box seat following four wins and two draws from their last six encounters against their illustrious neighbours.

Much will depend on what system Simeone employs because everyone—not least Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid—knows that if he goes 4-3-3 then the likelihood is that Real will be exposed in midfield.

If that happens then most eyes will be turning towards Gareth Bale, to see what kind of shift he’s prepared to put in when called upon to act as a fourth midfielder.

I’m sure Atletico feel there are opportunities that can be exploited behind Toni Kroos, while Real will know that Luka Modric, with his change of pace, variation of pass and all-round game, can have a big say in matters.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

What Simeone will almost certainly do, as he has done before, is pack the midfield with at least four players, plus an extra one in the shape of a forward, be it Raul Garcia or Antoine Griezmann.

Up front, Mario Mandzukic will almost certainly start despite a bit of a problem with his ankle, in a match where most neutrals make Real Madrid favourites, if for no other reason than this is the Champions League.

I beg to differ and I think how both teams start the game will have a huge bearing on proceedings. We shall see.