Looks like it is all over, but what if …

And so the dream of an El Clasico final goes up in smoke, ruthlessly blown to pieces by single-minded German machines clearly intent on replacing it with the reality of what I have been told is called ‘Die Klassische’.
Events in midweek were nothing short of surreal, and many literally had to pinch themselves to check that they were wide awake and not deep in slumber-land.

Only last week, I had declared Bayern the strongest, deepest and most likely to foil the Clasico plot, and Dortmund the most fluid and exuberant; but not in my wildest dreams did I envision they would both be this good on either night.

In fact, I had declared Barcelona and Real Madrid slight favourites because of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo; both men were left to look on hopelessly, one because his physical condition couldn’t help against the sheer force of the opposition and the other because his very best efforts paled in comparison to the relentlessness and dogged determination of the competition.

The Germans so outdid the Spaniards at their own game it was like watching two renditions of the Hollywood thriller Inception, in which Leonardo DiCaprio played the thief who infiltrated the subconscious of his victims and stole their dreams.

Almost all of those who tune into the return legs will just be looking to witness the inevitable, but there will be a small number of hopeless romantics secretly hoping for the mother of all comebacks, in one of or both cases. Allow me a minute to hallucinate along with the latter. What if …

Messi
One week on and Messi should be moving with a lot more freedom than he managed at the Allianz Arena, on a turf that responds to his nifty little steps more than any other.

He will certainly be fitter than when he was when he came off the bench to influence matters against PSG in a 2nd leg that was threatening to spiral out of control. And although he will need more than just the one magical moment that was sufficient against the French, Bayern had better not let the little wizard get on top of them as early as he did against AC Milan, because whatever they do after that might be enough.

Ultimately, Tito Vilanova has got to be a lot more proactive and innovative than he was on Tuesday, if he is going to help Messi attempt to pull off Mission Impossible.

Once their greatest strength, the over reliance on Messi under the circumstances is now Barca’s biggest folly, and on occasion next Wednesday they should use him as the dummy instead of the predictable go-to. Even if he was on one leg Bayern would not dare ignore him, so deliberate runs to drag defenders and midfielders out of position should be deployed to free up space for the pass and goal attempt for someone else.

Vilanova ought to play David Villa ahead of Alexis Sanchez for that reason, and at some point chance the risk of throwing on say, goal scoring Cesc Fabregas for the deep-lying Sergio Busquets who has been below his best lately. Never mind the imbalance that might cause, it is evident that maintaining the banal status quo will not get the job done.

Kaka
Real Madrid themselves will need to shake things up if they are to give themselves a chance of a miraculous riposte; Jose Mourinho was at least less entranced than Vilanova and had the presence of mind to throw on Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Kaka in quick succession.

Still though, the introduction of Kaka seemed as late as his involvement in anything Madrid since Mourinho took over. This once, Mourinho might want to change that entirely and start Kaka ahead of Di Maria or Luka Modric.
Dortmund will press and close down spaces as expected, and Kaka’s ability to operate in those suffocating conditions should come in handy as he joins Ozil in the areas ahead of Alonso-Khedira and behind Ronaldo-Benzema/Higuain.

The few times he has pulled on the Madrid shirt this season Kaka has been outstanding. He is fresh because of all the inactivity, still has a great attitude despite being shunned, is great on the counter-attack, plays selflessly and without inhibitions, and always links up well with Ronaldo.

Set pieces
If the unthinkable is to somehow happen however, it is going to take a lot more than individual brilliance or having the right players in the right places at the right time.

By nature of their manpower and dominance, Barcelona and Madrid have depended on free flow in open play to beat teams, but never has the dead ball been as important as it is going to be Tuesday and Wednesday; Barcelona have to defend it better, and Madrid have to deliberately seek it and make it tell.
With only Gerald Pique standing tall against the size of Mario Gomez, Gerald Boateng and especially Dante, Barca were vulnerable from corners and freekicks. He might not be match fit, but Eric Abidal should be risked ahead of the young novice Bartra.

Messi will inevitably be hounded yet again, so he, Andres Iniesta and co will want to draw Bayern into fouls around the area so the little master can have a crack from freekicks; Madrid will have to do the same to allow Ronaldo to have a go, but with them the corners and in-swingers should be a priority so Ronaldo, Ramos, Pepe and Varane use their aerial expertise. Subotic, Hummels, Lewandowski and co defended the set pieces well in Germany, but they still represented Real’s biggest threat. Win enough of them on Wednesday and something is sure to give.

The crowd
A great atmosphere was worked up at the Allianz Arena and Dortmund’s home is always a cauldron; for Barca and Madrid to have the remotest of chances they have to reciprocate.

The Camp Nou is legendary in those stakes, Champions League nights bring out the best in the Bernabeu too, and both are going to need the 12th man to drive their teams, rattle the opposition and, potentially more tellingly, put the referees under pressure.

The bizarre first leg scorelines give Bayern and Dortmund the leverage to win again easily if they show patience and discipline, letting desperation be Barca and Real’s undoing.

The Spanish giants barely awake from those nightmares, but what good will it do if they don’t dare to dream?

mmssali@yahoo.com
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