Okay, my thoughts of the match, and on the comments here:
Both teams played a great match, as you should in El Clasico.
Ramos really seems to be the right coach for you. Already, he has made a big difference. He played it very smartly tactically, knowing that there is no realistical chance to win us right now ,with our situation and your situation, playing pretty, attacking fooball. In the first half they tried a bit, then moved to counter attacks, and finally pretty much just tried to hold on to the 0-0, to keep it in just 9 points and then in the spring, when the team is fitter, get a new result. Very smart, imo, no matter what anybody says.
I didn't take any of those 5-0 predicitions too seriously, as I figured that even with those injury problems, Real is a much tougher opposition than any "weaker" team, where I rarely see 5-0 predicitions too. It really was a dogfight, until the final whistle. Both teams' fans should be proud, as I'm sure they are.
Drenthe... Why is he playing with you? Ahead of VdV? You stole VdV for like 12mill? And then, he still hits the bench when you have 5 midfielders? Getting subbed in after two juniors? I don't know what's up with that, but wouldn't be surprised if he left next summer.
At first it seemed like Real were trying to solve their injury problem by causing us one too, hunting Messi. But I realize, that it was probably not intentional hurting of a player. In the beginning all the feelings are up, players pumped up, adrenaline running. There is always some overplaying then, and as Messi was trying to control the game, set up attacks, he was the victim. As the game calmed down, so did the challenges.
Eto'o seemed to be in great shape with those two volleys, but I got to say, the penalty was poor - not even near the post, and on perfect height for the keeper to catch. It's still not an easy one for Iker, but he could've made it better. At that point it seemed that Iker could even save you from the loss, against my expections (read my previous post, on this thread, I think).
At this point, you pretty much parked the bus on the penalty box, and it almost worked.
What comes to winning with a crappy goal, as Socrates put it, there's not much more you can do when there are 8 players in front of you. You blocked almost all of our shots, and played your hearts out. Last season, this was the biggest problem - when someone parked the bus in front of the goal, we weren't able to score, it's a different team now. You can't expect much more than a small flick from a corner or a free kick on a match like this. And Samu did what he was supposed to, after our mighty Tarzan's jump to the heights.
Messi's goal was simply cosmetical.
Canna tried to bravely stop it, and it seemed like a rough contact. Another injury, even? Does anyone have any information about this one?
Xavi was also well stopped by you, almost invisible there. In the first half there were a couple of dangerous situations where Yaya and Puyol tryied to run through the whole field, but luckily nothing came of it.
A different kind of Clasico, but just as intense. A great match, can't wait for the next. Hopefully, by then we'll both have our best squad available, to make it even tighter.
And finally, Visca Barca!
