Real Madrid made to suffer at Vallecas as they hang onto 3 points

Suffering and humiliation.

That's what we, the Real Madrid fans, had to go through today to see Real Madrid win.

As I have said time and time again, the Real Madrid midfield and the back four DO NOT inspire any confidence. They are slow and lethargic and roam the pitch for 90 minutes without clearly identifying who they are supposed to mark.

Forget winning any silverware this year Sr. Florentino Perez.

What I am concerned about is just about any team in the Liga has a chance to beat Real Madrid this season.

Luckily in football it is the team that scores most goals wins.

For if it had been for possession, skill, pace, attacking football, Rayo would have won.

Ronaldo's goal was quite nice but I wonder whether he could have done that against a better side. But hey a goal is a goal. 

Gareth Bale again provided some nice crosses from the right - one was headed in by Benzema and another pass to Ronaldo was neatly put away.

After scoring that goal, it seemed as if Benzema went off to sleep.

To all Real Madrid fans I have one question. Where was Alonso? Did he lead the midfield?  Did he organize the plays?  Did he do anything? Simply put - did he play?

Why can't Ancelotti see that he is including players who are past their prime.

Why not give Isco, Morata, Jese and Varane a go. They add a dimension which is lacking.

Finally what is the use of having Gareth Bale in the team when he rarely gets the ball. He has to always come back to collect the ball.

Remember we were playing Rayo Vallecano today.

Not Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.

Not Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund.

God help us.

But we won 3-2.

 

 

 

 

Rayo Vallecano did not test Barcelona

There is no justice in football.

This afternoon at Vallecas, Rayo Vallecano was fast, fighting for every ball, not giving the Barcelona forwards the luxury of time on the ball.

It was a beautiful fast paced game. Initially Barcelona was beginning to exert control, then Rayo reversed the tide and ended the 45 minutes spending more and more time in the Barcelona half.

In the first half, Rayo created one clear chance of goal of where Victor Valdes had to make a tremendous save and then Victor saved a penalty taken by the Rayo Captain - Treshorras.

Messi's skills were on display for a couple of dribbles and on one occasion he laid off a beautiful pass to the right to Pedro who made no mistake in scoring. Barcelona also tried to get Neymar, playing on the left wing, into the game, but today was not Neymar's afternoon. He did not take advantage of any balls passed to him nor did he pose much of a danger.

Barcelona went into the changing room at half time, thanking the Footballing Gods, for retaining their slender one goal lead.

The second half was totally different.

Rayo Vallecano had lost all its fight as soon as Pedro scored his second goal - which may have been offside. But it did not matter. Pedro completed his hattrick and Cesc Fabrigas scored the fourth goal.

Barcelona won 4-0.

Its a pity that Rayo does not have a couple of quality players. I believe that had Rayo Vallecano taken its chances and scored a couple of goals in the first half, the result of the match would had been quite different.

Barcelona is not the same Barcelona of old. They are not playing their attractive football nor are they being tested.

I would like to see how this Barcelona team reacts to a situation when they are behind say 1-0 or even 2-0. It will be a test of their character.