Sunday, January 30, 2011

Osasuna!

The Spanish league has become a general bore: week after week one has to watch Barcelona play like the Harlem Globetrotters and destroy other teams, and Real Madrid trying to keep up. Although these two teams have always dominated in Spain, the difference has never been so marked as now: there are the two teams and all the rest.
So it is very refreshing indeed when one of the teams lose, like happened today to Real Madrid in Pamplona against the small team of Osasuna, who is looking to fight relegation, but is usually very strong at home. It was an intense match, mostly towards the end when Real Madrid's superstars, including their new Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor, tried to put pressure on the fighting Osasuna side. However, Real Madrid were poor today, and José Mourinho seemed only to react late with changes. Pressure is growing on the Portuguese super-coach, who could be out if Real Madrid does not take a title for another season (note the average time of Real Madrid coaches since 2002, 9 months!).
It was only Real Madrid's second defeat this season, but there are now seven points up to Barcelona, who at the time looks undefeatable.
Congratulations and thank you to Osasuna! I hope they defeat Barcelona as well!

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