Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Madrid: Have the Galacticos crashed?

The San Mames Stadium erupted with jubilee as Athletic Bilbao pulled off one of the most unexpected upsets this season, defeating World & European Champions, Real Madrid! After an explosive first half for Real, they were unable to transfer that level of charisma into to the second half, which eventually saw them drop an all-important three points at this stage. The fans are now blaming Carlo Ancelotti, claiming the Italian is a bit too soft on his approach when facing fierce opposition, and this all started back at the Copa Dey Rey clash where Real were hammered 4-0 by derby rivals Atletico Madrid. A lot of fans seemingly have blamed it on the fact that Carlo has always had success handed to him, because after all, he managed a juggernaut AC Milan back in the days, then Chelsea, a heavily invested PSG, and now he's home in Madrid! Needless to say, Ancelotti is a man familiar with the big scene, unlike such managers like David Moyes or even Andre Villas-Boas.

The problem Real Madrid seem to face at this moment are the injuries that have plagued them this season. James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos, and the notorious Luka Modric have been big stars for the club, and undoubtedly a star-studded club such as Real are easily able to replace said players right off the bat in no time, or so we thought! Real's struggles haven't just emerged this Saturday, it's been an ongoing crisis they have faced ever since their unbeaten run was ended just a little after their World Club Cup victory. The momentum has somehow taken a hit, but don't expect that to be the case for too long! Their golden egg, Gareth Bale, has failed to impress the fans and also seemingly, his teammates, as he's had to endure strenuous pressure time and time again, because of expectations that have somehow been wearing him down. Madrid will need to find a solution to their small delay, as now their mega-rivals Barcelona lurk within the shadows, hoping to steal three points in tomorrow's clash at home to 11th place Rayo Vallecano, which seems quite an easy task on paper.

The biggest elephant in the room out of all the other elephants is simply the form of three time FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese has lost his touch shortly after claiming his most recent award, but that's not to say he's down and out for the count! Ronaldo will have to muster up his confidence and help inject it in this team if Real are going to have a successful season similar to last season. Karim Benzema has always been a questionable player, who should be considered lucky that he hasn't already been sold by Real, but his luck may soon run out at a moment's notice. Ancelotti will find it a difficult task to call on the powers of Angel Di Maria, now at Manchester United, who has been tremendously missed for his gift of flamboyant assists and goal-scoring abilities, and in my mind, has not yet been successfully replaced. The laugh of the matter emerged when Barcelona's Assistant Director of Football, Carles Rexach, claimed that Real Madrid only sold Di Maria because he was too ugly! How can that not be considered an audacious claim? Then again, come to think of it, Di Maria was replaced by Colombian playboy James Rodriguez just last summer! The question then begs to be asked, is this club somehow too caught up with the glamour and the glitz of their own prestige that they have forgotten their 'Real' purpose?

It's best said that there's a darkness that now looms over this historical club, as the La Liga title race has now gotten even hotter, the question is, who will take the title? Atletico, Barcelona, or Real Madrid?

The REAL DEAL? #realmadrid #atleticomadrid

photo by Getty Images

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid in the Champions League Final next month! This will be fantastic! The first time a final has been contested between two clubs from the same city?? MADNESS in a good way! Real will have to prove their doubters wrong by sealing a title which has left their grasp since 2002, but easier said than done right? I'm ranting on about the fact that Real are gonna be the REAL DEAL come next month, because simply so, Ronaldo and Bale are on fire, real time fire! They haven't stopped blowing their opposition in pieces simply because they are completely unstoppable at this moment. Atletico however will prove to be their rightful challenge this year as they also are sitting atop the La Liga division as we speak! Showdown in Lisbon 2014 will prove to be one heck of an unfolding, and Diego Costa will look over to Simeone as to what to do next to create more levels of destruction for their rivals!

Off the glorious topic, where did Bayern and Chelsea go wrong?  On paper. you'd perhaps believe these two teams were the favorites to contest the finals instead, but it didn't work out quite as expected.  Mourinho didn't get his tactics wrong for Chelsea, Atletico were simply just better. Torres was the best that Chelsea had up front, a man who oftentimes cuts a dejected figure of a star that once was, and this was one of the reason why Chelsea didn't deserve a finals appearance. If Abramovich is wise, he'd cut his losses and let Torres go as it is, as his value depreciates drastically from season to season. Chelsea also missed Oscar in the heart of the midfield to provide some range creativity alongside Eden Hazard. Simply put, Chelsea lacks creative energy, and they looked a hot mess out there without excuse! Mourinho should take comfort in the fact that they ousted Liverpool on Sunday with their depleted squad, or he would've been widely ridiculed after his shock loss to Atletico at the Bridge.

Bayern Munich were just plain disgraceful! Chelsea gave a fight, Bayern gave up goals after goals, even worse, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the champs league scoring record against them, in their own home turf! Where has Bayern gone wrong? Pep Guardiola is the problem. Make no mistake, this guy has around maybe 16 or so titles as a former Barca manager, and already has the Bundesliga and the UEFA Super Cup, but that just isn't enough. Jupp Heynckes was the mastermind behind Bayern's ruthless domination in club football last season, and it was so great it was ridiculous! He handed Pep a gift, a team of champions, but maybe that was too much pressure on Pep. He didn't adopt well enough to duplicate the success of Bayern in their recent season, thus limiting himself to less achievements. Pep first of all got it all wrong with his methods, his outdated tiki-taka football wasn't what Bayern needed. Why did he even dare change this?? Stupid I must say! Heynckes and Van Gaal developed the winning formula for Munich, it proved to be a bullet for all who opposed them, but now Pep has lessened the effect of the gun. What Guardiola did wasn't a bad thing, after all every manager has his style of play, but to constantly rotate the squad and the formation is simply a call for disaster at this stage. Real Madrid were more than ready and they took Bayern to school, destroying them 5-0 in aaggregate, with 4 of those goals coming from Allianz Arena in Munich! As a Bayern fan, this is distasteful! If losing to Dortmund wasn't bad enough, then imagine this crap?

Pep has earned one more season at the helm, but this will be maybe his last chance, and this may be worse should he lose the German Cup Final. Mourinho may end up trophy-less this season, but he has only re-acquired a mediocre Chelsea side for just under a season, give him time. He has proven his track record once again as a very dangerous man on the touchline, and he is still my pick for world's greatest coach, only perhaps second to Jupp Heynckes...

The final should be a hell of a lot of fun!

Real Madrid Copa del Rey Champions +major Scores across Europe

photo courtesy of BBC Sport

Congratulations to REAL MADRID for winning the Copa del Rey 2014!!

Top European games for 4/16/2014:

Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid


Barclay's Premier League

Everton 2-3 Crystal Palace

Manchester City 2-2 Sunderland


German DFB Pokal Semi Final

Bayern Munich 5-1 Kaiserslautern

Go Bale or Go Home! - (Barcelona vs Real Madrid Copa del Rey Final)

As the clock winds down for today's massive Copa del Rey showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid, all eyes will be on the man with the biggest number on his back, Gareth Bale. And no, I'm not referring to his number 11 print, I'm definitely pointing to the $130 million transfer price tag that's still sticking out of his well pressed Madrid jersey. Bale has taken no prisoners during his illustrious career in England, where the former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker wasted no time setting himself apart from the rest of his competitors during his last 3 seasons at White Hart Lane. Gareth has done the talking with his feet to justify that he's is among the world's best, but is he yet to prove that point at the Santiago Bernabeu?

Bale has so far netted in 14 goals in 25 appearances this season for Real Madrid, with this of course being his first season with the Los Merengues. He has so far enjoyed a pretty decent season with the club, but unfortunately, the 24 year old forward from Wales, has yet to justify his bank-buster price-tag. With the absence of Real Madrid's top  player, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale must now more than ever step up to the plate in tonight's clash with long-time rivals Barcelona if he is to prove that his world record signing was indeed not a bust. Bale will be elated knowing that Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique are most likely among the list of absentees due to injuries, but that won't be enough to cover the fact that standing across the other end of the field will be the magician himself, Leo Messi and his notorious partners in crime which also includes Neymar and Iniesta! Bale will not be without proper reinforcements as the ever improving Luka Modric won't be too far from sight and Angel Di Maria will also offer some comfort as the Argentinian has simply been on fire this season! It's going to be a warfare tonight, as Bale will be the man to lead his team to battle, against a rival that aren't too keen on losing in el clasico!

The factor that will be in Bale and Madrid's favor, no doubt, will be the recent slump in Barca's season so far, as they currently sit third place in the La Liga table, four points behind leaders Atletico, with only four games remaining; also the grueling fact that they were convincingly knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals also by high-flying Atletico! If there is ever a time for Bale to shine, it has to be now! Bale thankfully is far from becoming a Madrid flop like Brazil's Kaka, but he has still yet to justify that title as the World's most expensive player. He has to bring that A-game in tonight's showdown, and this will finally prove to the world that he's either a hit or miss acquisition.

As for this season, Bale's goals have come only when his team have hitherto sealed their victory. He is yet to score a goal that changes the course of the game for Real, with the exception of his debut goal against Villarreal where the match ended 2-2 at the Estadio El Madrigal back in September 2013. He needs to also perform in the big games, where so far he has been all but invisible. Bale was signed to bring more trophies to the club, and stand out from the rest; and while he hasn't been in bad form this year, he has to eventually step it up if he's planning to stick around the Bernabeu for a long time, and most importantly, making the fans happy!

With that being said, I'm predicting a 3-2 Real Madrid victory, and I'm ready to bet my bottom dollar that Bale will unleash in tonight's game to answer his critics, that the price tag on his back is no heavier weight than his coveted number 11.