Barcelona outclassed Ajax and won by a wide margin 4-0.
The match was very similar to Real Madrid's match yesterday.
Messi scored a beauty from a free kick in the first half but the match didn't open up until the second half. Messi, Neymar, Alexis Sanchez ran riot and darted in and out of the Ajax area with total freedom.
However with all this possession in Ajax's area, Barcelona only managed to score 4 including a Messi hattrick. Pique chipped in with a header and was promptly rewarded by being substituted - maybe he got a niggling injury.
It was sad that Ajax could not convert a penalty. It would have been a little consolation.
This sums up the match. Ajax were not in the same League as Barcelona - not in same class. My opinion is that the Champions League should really be restricted to the top flight teams and not open to mediocre teams who fill in the 16 available slots.
The style of football that Barcelona played to night was not very attractive - so should I say was not the style that we have become used to. In my opinion if they carry on playing this way, it is very likely that good teams will force draws and maybe wins against Barcelona in the Liga this year.
Forget about the quality of Galatasaray. Its all about confidence in themselves, confidence in their much hyped forward line, confidence to do well, confidence that they are destined to be CHAMPIONS.
The first 35 minutes of the match was dominated by Galatasaray and an injury to Casillas which forced Ancelotti to bring on Diego Lopez. We are not really sure what happened, but they bandaged up Casillas around the midrift pretty good.
Galatasaray had most of the play and had two clear chances of goal. One save which Diego pulled off - diving fully extended to his left was a treat to watch. He used his full height to save what was a sure goal. The Turks could have had atleast two goals but let them slip away.
Real Madrid in a counter attack lobbed the ball from their own half, to that little genius - ISCO, who made no mistake and slipped the ball in at the corner of the goal giving the Turkish goalkeeper absolutely no chance.
Having gone down a goal, the Turks run of bad luck continued and Drogba, their Superstar, went down from what appeared to be a relatively innocent challenge. Anyway he too made his way down the tunnel to dressing room. His contribution for the evening done.
The second half began well for Real Madrid and they were made to look good by the numerous errors made by the Turks. Errors in passing, errors in communication and errors in judgement. The second goal - a defensive error that let Benzema in and then the flood gates opened and Madrid put another 4 goals away. Leaving the Turks reeling, wondering what had happened. The Turks scored a consolation goal at the end.
It was night which saw Ronaldo getting frustrated, shooting and missing opportunities and then ending the evening scoring a hat trick!! How lady luck changed his fortune within 30 minutes. His third goal when he latched on to a through ball from Bale, dribbled past three defenders to beat the keeper was a treat to watch.
The little genius - my GALACTICO - Isco was in my opinion the standout player for Madrid. He defended, played midfield, was up in attack, he created chances and scored a beauty. What more can you ask from a player?
Bale came on with about 30 minutes left in the match. His free kick led to a Ronaldo goal and then he slipped in a nice through pass which Ronaldo put away very neatly.
Now it seems that Ronaldo will have to start feeding Bale some passes to repay the generous service that he has been receiving from Gareth!!!
Di Maria was great as usual but his "bad" right foot caused him to miss out on goal scoring chances.
Now that the first Champions League match is out of the way, can you Mr. Carlo Ancelotti, get back to Madrid as soon as possible and start winning matches in the Liga.
A lot is being written about the composition of Real Madrid 2013 - 2014 and I, an ardent supporter of the Club, would like to spell out the names of the players who have played well in the preseason:-
Ronaldo
Di Maria
Ozil
Isco
Jese
Casemiro
Casillas
Certain players were injured or are injured therefore their names have not been included.
But from what I have seen over the last month or so, I think the Real Madrid Team for 2013-2014 should revolve around this group of talented players.
WE NEED and HAVE to win TROPHIES.
WE WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH THE LIGA TITLE.
WE MUST HAVE THE DECIMA - 10th European Championship Title
Anything else will be a huge disappointment.
In the video of Ronaldo vs Inter Milan you will see one of the best passes of the preseason - Ronaldo's goal from a Casemiro's pass.
The three best passes of the preseason which have resulted in goals are all featured in the videos above. They are:-
Isco's pass to Benzema
Isco's pass to Ronaldo
Casemiro's pass to Ronaldo
