Spanish La Liga 2024/2025

Alex de Large

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Yes also depending on the quality of the player, Mbappe definitely needs his speed/agility much more than a defender etc..
 

thatdude

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Mbappe problems aren’t physical they’re mental and probably even technical. He couldn’t even stay onside against Barca. That has nothing to do with his physicality. He’s still extremely pacey.

He doesn’t dribble effectively anymore but that’s more a form of his technique. He seems to have lost his close control.

I think he stayed at PSG too long. No competition for the league, no competition in the squad. Management that bent to his will. He basically just played the matches like a pick up game for 2 years. He’s simply regressed.
 

FCBarca

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He was a nonfactor even in the CL semifinals with PSG last season, his only goal coming with a man advantage and via pk

Someone already accurately summarized it, he peaked at Monaco - too much ego to play the collective game and simply expecting to be fed the ball in scoring positions or allowed to freely outrun his marker. He has it all to be far superior to any version we’ve yet seen from him but feels like a player with too much ego. Worked for CR but not Mbappe who was angry with how he was used under Lucho and now Ancelotti will be similar

Like Neymar before him who got to see the professionalism of Leo day after day up close, the Frenchman learned nothing from him about never being complacent. He’s not the first, won’t be the last. I say similar about Lamine, the world is his oyster at 17 with every bit the tools to be far & away the star of this generation. But if he dials it in, he’ll never reach his potential - you have to work
 
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Il Drago

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Another ACL injury for Militao.
 

Alex de Large

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I wonder if this little squad depth from Madrid is due to Financial fair play or what. They don't get players like Bissek for instance.
 

wera

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They are doing the same mistake as Barcelona about 5, 6 years ago. Too much money spent on attackers, not enough money spent on defence.
 

Kramerica Industries

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Surprised there was no commentary here about semi-automated offside clearly butchering a call from the Barcelona game.


CDN media



Lewandowski's wearing neon green shoes, the defender is wearing white/red shoes. The VAR graphic ended up using the wrong feet to indicate the offside line and which foot was beyond it.

I don't need more reasons to state my opposition to semi-automated offside but, by all means, I'll gladly include "risk of AI error" as an addition to everything else.
 

Glass box

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Maybe people started sucking off this Barcelona team too early. If Real win their two games in hand they're on -1 point.
 

Besnik

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Maybe people started sucking off this Barcelona team too early. If Real win their two games in hand they're on -1 point.

Come on, give credit where it's due. Barca has been a brilliant team so far, no matter of their results or performances most recently. Hansi Flick's impact has been great so far. Of course they were gonna drop points at times. I'm not even going to compare their performances to Real Madrid, way better in every aspect. And I dislike Barca a lot, but I'll give them credit for being really good.

I'd even argue on Real Madrid being favoured by referees in quite a few occasions already this season.
 

Kramerica Industries

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Biggest short-term concern with Barcelona is that it looks like teams are finally figuring out how to attack the defensive high line. Celta cut through them and created chances better than any team I've seen all season, even though they couldn't make it count for anything until that sudden flurry post-red card. My feeling toward Barcelona remains unchanged right now, I still have them pegged as league favorites, but it is something to watch. Sociedad and Celta posted ~4xG in these two games between themselves, they've finally made Barcelona look somewhat vulnerable and it's something they'll have to figure out.
 

Kramerica Industries

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Btw, once again one of those "count our blessings" things when it comes to injuries or the relative lack there-of (and certainly not having significant, months-long injuries), Madrid is absolutely wrecked right now.

Vinicius is out for about a month. Tchouaméni's injured. Camavinga got injured against Liverpool. Rodrygo's been in-and-out of the lineup from injuries. Carvajal and Militão are both out for the rest of the season and Alaba still hasn't played recovering from last year's torn ACL. Bellingham was injured earlier and he's being evaluated for injury today.

(And on top of all of this, Mbappé has been complete and utter dogshit. What a spectacular failure he's been so far.)

I actually have no clue how, between injuries, between awful play, and between Barcelona's excellent start to the season, that they're still within reasonable touching distance of first place. Three of their next four games in La Liga are away from home, including a trip to San Mames, I wouldn't be surprised if Barcelona can start to get some separation again. This just isn't shaping up to be Madrid's season.
 

Glass box

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Barcelona loses 2-1 at home to Las Palmas. If Real wins their two games in hand they're first with +2. Hopefully Atletico wins tonight so they make it more interesting, El Cholo really needs to see opportunity for a title this season and make it a three horse race.
 

Besnik

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Wow, shocking result in Camp Nou today. I haven't seen the match but honestly I didn't expect Barca to drop points today.

They've been sloppy lately in the league. Just goes to show that there is no single team in Europe which is doing perfect. Barca might be going through a difficult moment, but to me they're still most favourite to win the title.

I'm not even sure Real Madrid can take advantage of this.
 

pupivn

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High flying early season doesn’t last long eh? Real Madrid with injuries problem, Mbappe problem can still be top of the league

Liverpool might be next …
 

NimAraya

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1 point in the last 3 games for Barca. Unbelievable
 
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