A Little Bit More of Crispy Ronaldo & A Little Bit More Mesutosity! Also A Video Interview With BWIN

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

A final note before the game in a few hours: Marca have once again written up the Croezil phenomenon - it seems to be the prevailing way in which both Marca and As, as it happens, are approaching the match.


ÖZIL HAS FIVE ASSISTS IN THE 'CLASICOS', FOUR FOR CR7

Cristiano's Best Buddy

MARCA

There was a time at Real Madrid in which, when it came to Barcelona, Mesut Özil was assigned to the bench. Specifically, that happened during Mourinho's first season with 'Los Blancos', when defence took precedence over attack. Usually, therefore, it was the German who was sacrificed to make way for more manpower in midfield. There is now no doubt that Cristiano and Özil will play against Barcelona, alongside nine others.

The German is a safe bet against Barcelona. He is no longer the player that takes a back seat during big matches. Quite the opposite, he is even more noticeable during derbies and 'Clásicos', something Özil proved in the last clash against Atlético (he scored a goal, his fourth against the 'Rojiblancos') and has been demonstrating in recent matches against Barcelona, above all those played in 2012.

Özil is the best partner for Cristiano Ronaldo in the 'Clásicos', having set him up for four goals. A fifth assist to Benzema should be added to that, plus the goal he scored last season at the Bernabéu in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Özil is one of Real Madrid's greatest hopes to defeat Barcelona.


BWIN Interview with Mesut

It was mentioned in yesterday's post - here is Mesut addressing the camera though. He looks rather sweet! And he's bulked up a little! When he first arrived you could still see his ribs...

Many thanks t i_need_sun31 or finding it for us!

Notes On Mesut's 15th Clásico

I want to add an addendum to Marca (they are playing into the idea, ever-so-slightly, that Mourinho is a defensive coach)  Mesut has played in every single match against Barcelona since he arrived at Madrid. They exaggerate slightly when they say he was "sacrificed" - though it is true that he was twice substituted at half-time. As against every other team: when Madrid is losing or drawing at half-time and they remove Mesut at half-time, they have always gone on to lose the match. The three times he has been substituted on at half-time in a match (that has happened in the cup and the league), Madrid have always gone on to win the game. And in all three matches he supplied the pass for the goal that won the match.

2010-11

1. League match (away) - starter, centre of midfield (removed at half-time)
2. League match (home) - early substitute for Karim Benzema
3. Copa del Rey final - starter, played as a false 9
4. Champions League semi-final first leg - starter, central midfield (removed at half time)
5. Champions League semi-final second leg - substitute, right-winger.

2011-12

6. Spanish Super Cup (home) - starter, central midfield
7. Spanish Super Cup (away) - starter, central midfield
8. League (home) - starter, central midfield
9. League (away) - starter, central midfield
10. Copa del Rey (home) - substitute, right wing
11. Copa del Rey (away) - starter, right wing

2012-13

12. Spanish Super Cup (away) - starter, central midfield
13. Spanish Super Cup (home) - starter, central midfield
14. League (away) - starter, central midfield
15. Copa del Rey (home) ?


It will be Mesut's 15th clasico in 2 and a half years this evening if he plays. There was a time when, unless the teams met in the cup, it would have taken 7 years to reach that total number of games.

He has scored once and assisted 5 times in that time-span. Bizarrely, Marca has it right - he often has his best games against bigger competition. I'm sure we've noticed many times: Mesut can have really poor games against Osasuna or Sporting Gijon, but can then kill it against CL opposition, Barcelona, Bayern, Lyon, Tottenham, Atleti, Athletic Bilbao etc...

For his national team he struggles against Kazakhstan, but plays brilliantly against Portugal, Argentina, England, Holland et al., 

This is just a note, in case you ever heard him described as "inconsistent" or are told he "disappears in big games".

He does not. He disappears against relegation prospects...

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Comments

[debussy.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I love them so much. You don't even know!

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

Oh I know! I share the feeling!

I forgot to add Mesut's BWIN interview to this post. I'll add that in a moment. It's a video and he's sweet as sugar!

[debussy.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks for adding the video ♥

I hope we'll see an amazing performance from both Mesut and Cristiano tonight *crosses fingers*

[kotbegemot3.livejournal.com]

A goal and an assist, please! Doesn't matter who will do what. *crosses fingers - looks at the time - runs away*

[kotbegemot3.livejournal.com]

Sweet Ozil! (It's a pity this doesn't alliterate!)

[debussy.livejournal.com]

Seriously, though, HOW I LOVE THEM LET ME COUNT TE WAYS!

[ladya-sama.livejournal.com]

What with Serzil taking off at record-breaking speed and Samisut still as solid and steady as a mountain, Crözil had been a bit slacking this year, methinks. So glad to see it finally back in the runnings! :D

[musetta-246.livejournal.com]

Thanks Jenny, this was very interesting.

When Madrid is losing or drawing at half-time and they remove Mesut at half-time, they have always gone on to lose the match. The three times he has been substituted on at half-time in a match, Madrid have always gone on to win the game. And in all the three matches he supplied the pass for the goal that won the match Wow, I'm impressed, I didn't know that!

Also this thing that he disappears in big games has to stop (when did it start?), he proved many times that it's not true and he proved it again tonight!

[suzanne410.livejournal.com]

UGH. I know! It drives me nuts! I swear it's like one person makes one comment about one performance, and then it suddenly becomes the player's "thing". I think it was his first clasico where he was pulled at the half, and I'm sure some comm said something about disappearing, and now it's stuck to him like glue, despite proving them wrong over and over again. For me, it's just as annoying as the "He can't last a full 90". Honestly, he can't get subbed without the English comms I listen to bringing this up and it annoys me to death! Did you see him in the final minutes yesterday... after SUCH a vigorous game??? He was sprinting like mad, beating Jordi Alba who is super quick. He looked as fresh as the first half. But nobody talks about that. And it's not just in yesterday's game. I've noticed he's been doing this consistently this season when he does play the full 90 min. It's sometimes the final 10 minutes of the game that he's at his best. Anyways, just my personal little pet peeve. I HATE LABELS! :)

[caitiebug78.livejournal.com]

Yes! Agreed!!!!

[khaleda57.livejournal.com]

Is it just me or does his voice sound deeper in this video than normal? I'm probably imagining things but ever since the photos of him and Mandy surfaced, he just seems so much more mature to me.