GALACTICOS ARE BACK, BARCA!

By Ashraf Habib

It is very clear that La Liga will be a twosome race between giants, Barcelona and rejuvenated, Real Madrid.

David Silva, Valencia’s exceptional playmaker, echoed the same message earlier in the week.

Silva, called on his team mates at the Mestella not to give up on the chase, despite the indifference in investment during the transfer window activity. Though, Valencia and perhaps, Atletico Madrid were able to scare off Europe’s top vultures from luring their star players, Barcelona and Real Madrid, stand a distance apart to challenge for the top honours in Spain and, even Europe.

Real Madrid, galacticos II showed they have settled their indifferences and are ready to take on La Liga, especially treble champions, Barcelona on all fronts. 

Madrid under Manuel Pellegrini, have fixed the missing rib in last season’s flopped side. In Tuesday Champions League opener against FC Zurich, the Galacticos’ tore apart and outplayed the Swiss in all departments. With a host of big names on the bench; Karim Benzema, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Esteban Granero and Guti, the attacking flair of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Captain Raúl Gonzalez, and Higuain showed Madrid boosts of huge squad, able to cope with the long season demands.

The quartet Ronaldo, Kaka, Raúl and Higuain produced four fantastic goals, with José María Gutiérrez Hernández also known as Guti completing the day’s performance by chipping the goal keeper for the fifth goal. Madrid have the top names in every position to stop Barca running away with the championship. Although the defensive department does have questions to address, Pellegrini has hope in the defensive midfield area. Lassana Diarra in his second season at Santiago Bernabeau is enjoying the partnership of Xabi Alonso, a fantastic buy from Liverpool. I argued that, Alonso is not only Spanish brought up player. His style completely gives Real Madrid the extra mileage they will require when faced with physical English opposition. Barcelona have Yaya Toure in that position, but Real have an extra man in Diarra. A lot has been argued about the defensive and ball retaining abilities of £80 million Ronaldo and £56m Kaka. Pellegrini, watching from the touchlines in Zurich on Tuesday night simply has the weaponry to ambush the world’s best.

Pellegrini might have lost Wesley Sneijder, a dead ball specialist to Inter Milan in the summer; Ronaldo must have forced him to withdraw his doubts. The former Manchester United star produced two stunning goals from the dead ball situation to register his commitment to the club’s ambition this season. Four goals in three games is a recommendable start, and if he stays fit, Madrid stand big chance to rip from his returns. Madrid will perhaps relieve themselves from teams that will want to frustrate play by trying to mark out world footballer of the year, Ronaldo. Kaka presents huge threat with the ball on his feet. He will weigh on the goal tally. In AC Milan, he did finish close to the leading scorers. However, Pellegrini, from the last three competitive matches in his possession, the Chilean is trying to push for collective bargain. He can afford to stay Benzema or Ronaldo on the bench and still go on to win the game. With the loss of Samuel Eto’o, Barca may struggle to find someone to produce over 30 goals a season. Unlike Madrid, Barca, tend to rely so much on individuals like Lionel Messi and André Iniesta. If Pellegrini, as it has been rumoured in the Spanish press, is plotting a move for Manchester United kingpin defender, Rio Ferdinand, Madrid will be the team to beat in the next three seasons.

The Madrid outfit, who splashed out more than £200m, must concentrate on La Liga to restore their pride in Spain before they move out to Europe, where they command so much respect.

However, the club hierarchy, led by Florentino Pérez, must allow Pellegrini time to settle the team to be able to champion the long term cause.

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