10 Things We Learnt From Last Night's Spanish Cup

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SteemSports Presenter: @rickie

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SteemSports Editor/Writer: @writingamigo

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1. Marco Asensio is the new Bride of European football. From his last 4 shots in competitive games for Real Madrid, he has scored 3 goals. For lack of a better word, he’s simply sensational. OMG! That goal was divine (kindly ask Marc-Andre ter Stegen – he didn’t see it).

2. Both sides missed good goal-scoring chances, struck the posts and bar in a very entertaining game. Real Madrid however, was superb, dominant and incredibly efficient with their game plan on the night and over both legs. Barcelona tried to hit back in the second 45-minutes but had no success, save for some fiery sparks from Messi and Suarez late on.

3. It would take a magical Barcelona to beat this Madrid side this season. In the absence of about 4 key players, Barcelona still couldn’t fashion out a goal.

4. Zidane has birthed the new kings of European football. With a disciplined, effective style of play and approach to games, cautious man-marking, explosive counter-attacking, they would keep tearing their oppositions apart. For lack of a suiting description, I think Real Madrid is now the quintessence of “formidable”.
   

   

5. Barcelona has been clearly rattled by the Neymar’s transfer saga, plain and simple. It is clear they never expected that any team in world football could successfully poach any of their priced players, let alone someone with such huge release clause. Being in the habit of poaching top players from other teams, they are currently struggling to deal with the reality. They would need to act fast in finding a suitable replacement or they risk having a season to forget.

6. It is evident Neymar was a key component is Barca’s system of play. If they can look so dismal without him, I’m sure Barca fans wouldn’t even want to comprehend what their team would look and play like, if Messi were to be out injured.

7. A three-man back line, as was deployed in their 3-5-2 formation last night, would expose Barca a lot this season; Pique is often hopeless and lost on the pitch. Umtiti and Mascherano struggle to position themselves effectively when under counter-attacks. An efficient counter-attacking side would always torture that defense any day.

8. As for Benzema; he is still world-class. 50 goals a season or not, he always contributes with a massive work rate, assists and brilliant goals, like he did last night.

9. Barcelona seems to be struggling with their identity, perhaps due to new Coach Ernesto Valverde’s style. Last night’s game showed they are gambling with occasional longs balls, and a more direct style of play, as against their highly-fluid passing and pressing game, which has been a trademark of theirs for almost a decade.

10. Apart from looking for an immediate replacement for Neymar, Barcelona would be the wiser to start scouting for long term replacements for both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Both members of the famous MSN gang are now in their 30’s, and might not be at the peak of their game for very long.

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What did you think of last night's entertaining game? Do you think Barcelona's era is coming to an end? Drop your comments.