Anyway, I’ve always liked the Europa League better. Ahem.
It has not been a good week for Spanish football in the Champions League. Barcelona draw 0-0 with Benfica. Villarreal and Manchester United did what Villarreal and Manchester United did, and also Cristiano Ronaldo: late(ish) goal ushered in a 2-0 away win at Ceramica, allowing Michael Carrick to step down as caretaker manager to caretaker manager with a 100% record. And Atlético Madrid conceded a goal in the 87th minute against Milan, at the exact moment they decided that what they had to do was not lose.
Of the five La Liga teams in the Champions League, only two have won this week: two teams that could have been distracted and meet this weekend. Not Barcelona and Villareal, who played at Ceramica on Saturday night (although it was a delicious match), but the teams that meet at the Santiago Bernabeu 24 hours later: first place Real Madrid, who beat Sheriff 3-0, against third place Seville. And while Sevilla won 2-0 against Wolfsburg – they had to, as victory wasn’t entirely guaranteed until the 97th minute – it wasn’t over yet. Julen Lopetegui’s team, whose group is not too difficult but they only won one match, still need to go to Salzburg and win on the last day of competition.
In the end, it’s no wonder that the major league with more Champions League teams than anyone won’t have more Champions League teams than anyone. In fact, it can be seen as disturbing that Real Madrid, having reached the knockout stages – get this – 30th time in a row, would be the only Spanish side left.
Look at the list. It’s not just Sevilla that has to receive an away result – all of them. Barcelona must beat Bayern Munich. Atletico have to beat Porto and hope for it AC Milan don’t win Liverpool. Villarreal needs to avoid defeat at home Atalanta. They all raise a question, even if it’s not asked with the insistence you might expect: what’s up with them?
It has been asked before. Type in “why the Spanish teams fail in the Champions League,” and you’ll get answers from years ago. To a degree, it’s no surprise – it’s overdue instead. As the line goes: it’s the economy, stupid.
And then there are the specifics: Villarreal, unlucky against Manchester United again, completely dominated for an hour or more, could be accused of misreading the game. Atletico, certainly can – the subs don’t work, they just make it worse – but in the end their campaign was not good at all and they are in a tough group, justice done When “Messias” (is fine, Junior Messias) appeared before Milan.
Barcelona, well, Barcelona – and there is indeed some hope for a result that puts them on the brink of elimination because this time they played well against Benfica, a glimpse of something good. under Xavi Hernandez.
Sevilla, meanwhile, … not sure what Sevilla is. Their manager has said that they are “up to the task.” Which, most of them have been in, all seasons. But there’s something about them that makes it hard to put your finger in, the feeling that something’s missing, that they’re really good, but not that good. Reliable, powerful and organized – like teams (Lille, FC Salzburg, Wolfsburg) in their Champions League group, that might be part of the explanation – but, what exactly? This season looks like an opportunity, at least domestically, and the fact that Sevilla’s sporting director, Monchi, said a few weeks ago that they will be ambitious in winter shows that they still think so.
They’re third, they’ve been beaten once all season, and they’ve won four and drawn two in the last six. Ivan Rakitic are playing well and the central defenders understand each other with just one look, Diego Carlos speak. Sevilla are just two points behind the top of the table, but if they are going to compete for the title – really compete for it – they may have to beat Madrid on Sunday in what feels like a potentially defining first game. season (yes, even coming after the clasico). They need to win the most to tell themselves that they can do anything else, to avoid feeling yes we can, but – the feeling that when it comes to the biggest opponents, that’s not going to happen.
Madrid shot the Sheriff, but they didn’t shoot Lo-petegui – sorry, that’s all the wrong kind, at least because, famously, Real Madrid do sacked Lopetegui, in 2018. And this weekend, they face his Sevilla side once again – a game without Youssef En-Nesyri, Jesus Navas, and maybe even without Diego Carlos, Jules Kounde and Marcos Acuna. A home win, even as early as this, even though it’s only been a week since Madrid took to the top, it looks like it will make Madrid the clear favorite, one that is starting to find a pair of goals. his feet – the fact is to find their team. If everyone was a match, 10 out of 11 people would start to feel clear by now – Marco Asensio or Rodrygo may be the only doubt – and there is something under construction.
Even if, this week in Transnistria, you wonder if it’s really necessary, Carlo Ancelotti later explains why Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Jr. and Casemiro all played 90 minutes for Real Madrid. It’s not because they are the best or irreplaceable, even though they are. Quietly, Ancelotti put the pieces together, beginning his second spell by, in Dani CarvajalHis words were much more positive on the defensive mission than before. He is calling on the guardians to be “pessimistic”, beware of the worst-case scenario and find in David Alaba not just a replacement for Sergio Ramos, but is an upgrade.
It’s hard to avoid the feeling that if you reduce it to basics and reduce it to talent, no one else has a player as good as Benzema or Kroos or Modric. Or maybe even Vinicius – Ancelotti has given him confidence that others have not, but he says he does nothing but play him. With Kroos and Modric, the discourse is similar: the best you can do with them, he insists, is nothing. Just let them play because they know best. “Relax, I won’t interfere,” he said at the weekend. “When Kroos is like this, the coach is calmer,” he said on Wednesday.
The doubt may be how many seasons they and the others will get as age and injury are not on their side. Indeed, it remains unclear how often Madrid’s best squad can play and how many reserves Madrid actually have.
Another lingering question is whether this recent purple patch is about who Real Madrid have faced, or if it’s something more permanent. Sunday starts a run, in which they play every three days until Christmas, which looks like this: Sevilla, Athletic, Real Sociedad, Athletic again. Oh, and Inter Milan is in the middle of it. Time to see what they’re really made of – it’s getting serious.
For some, “serious” has come to the Spanish teams. Reality is very important. And maybe even too late. This weekend, domestic football is on the throne again, but Europe drags on and this time there is no turning back: defeat is the end. Except it’s not; except there’s still light out there. While no one was eliminated, all four could end up in the Europa League, along with Betis and Real Sociedad (though they also need a win on the final day to not be relegated to the Conference League).
And, you know, that’s not a bad thing – not up to this point. Six teams in a Spanish minor league that some consider below them – certainly in the case of Barcelona – while they shouldn’t be. Six teams in a Spanish minor league, all of whom would have thought they could win – or would have if they hadn’t all entered it together – and a tournament that three of them won won only in the last four years.
Unai Emery returns to Unai Emery cup. Xavi Hernandez, like Johan Cruyff, is trying to win his first European match out of the European Cup. Sevilla chase the trophy they say they made, the trophy they’ve won more than anyone else, ever. And the contest has a final they just conduct and host.
Six Spanish teams. Joaquinlast dance. Clashes can happen. Manuel Pellegrini against Villarreal. Suarez and Griezmann in the match against Barcelona. Betis meets Seville. Betis. Against Seville. In the final. On Sevilla’s pitch, the city was never the same again. See? Better miles.
