Comparing the Liverpool vs ManCity game to Real Sociedad vs. FC Barcelona match

Comparing the Liverpool vs ManCity game to Real Sociedad vs. FC Barcelona match

I cannot realistically compare the two matches mentioned because EPL and Laliga are totally different when it comes to playing style, quality and individual brilliance.

In the English Premier League almost all the teams are capable of causing an upset. Their top teams lack consistency. But this season Manchester City had been an exception. They are the runaway leaders because of their attitude, finishing ability, the coming off age of Kevin De Bruyne - their biggest asset and of course the fantastic tactics of Pep Guardiola in forging a strong team.

Liverpool, along with Arsenal, are the two big EPL teams who are totally unpredictable. On a given day, you cannot foretell which Liverpool was coming out to play. On a bad day they would be listless, frozen to their positions, watching the opposition, along with the crowd. On a good day, the Reds were the most disruptive team with almost all their 10 players trying to harpoon the opposition with sudden outbursts of aggression. If the ploy clicked, they attacked mercilessly. But this diabolic team was also capable of mixing up the good and the bad in one match.

With super Salah upfront, Mane, Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, tracking back and forth, Liverpool had fantastic goal scoring prospects and relentless attack was their best option. That’s exactly what they did to Manchester City last week - blitzing City with their constant, high pressing game. The biggest loophole of this tactic was that, if a sudden move failed, then the opposition had every chance to attack and score because their back line was so far up. That’s why from being 4–1 up , Liverpool almost ended up conceding a draw. Fortunately for them, Aguero missed an easy header in the final minute of play and the Reds and Klopp heaved a sigh of relief at the narrow 4–3 win.

The Spanish League is much more predictable because of the strategic understanding within the top teams who also boast of some of the best players in the world, at present. Upsets are very rare. I dont think any biggies in La Liga would be hassled after going 4–1 up. There would always be constant attacks to add to their tally instead of sitting back apart from disciplined defending. They generally would break the opposition’s rhythm and keep the ball as much as possible.

Yes- Real Sociedad came out with 100% aggression at the Anoeta, knowing very well, the negative attitude with which FC Barcelona approached these games. They were also well rewarded for their effective game plan as they went up 2–0. But a defiant Barcelona did manage to pull back one before half time. In the 2nd half, despite the high pressing of Sociedad, Barca settled down and their smart play resulted in goals. Once they were on equal terms, there was no stopping them because they had their ‘A’ game in place. The entire Barcelona team complimented each other perfectly.

In the EPL game, both City and Liverpool were on equal terms when it came to star power, ability and recent form. The only thing that separated them was consistency. But for the goals scored, there was nothing that stood out in the game. Both Liverpool and City were extremely poor in midfield and defense. Most of the goals were due to avoidable defensive errors from both ends. City were totally chaotic and clueless for about 70 minutes, letting Liverpool lord over them. When they found their groove, they were able to strike back quite easily.

When they were up against the wall, most of Manchester City’s so called top stars almost disappeared. Apart from a few good passes from De Bruyne, I dont recall a single player making even the slightest impact in the game in the midfield or defense. Sane had a forgettable match, except for that moment when he scored. It was the same story with Bernardo Silva and Gundogan who popped up to score the 2nd and 3rd goal.

For Liverpool except for the goals scored by Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane and Salah, no other player had a great day. The two players who were at their worst were the 2 goalkeepers - Ederson and Karius.

Talking of strategy, Pep, the master tactician, usually has a strategy when it comes to facing any team and I am sure he must have had one in place for Liverpool too. But the moment Oxlade-Chamberlain scored, the City players panicked and all the strategy flew out of the window. Surprisingly it was no different in the 2nd half. As for Klopp, aggression was always the only strategy and Liverpool were fantastic when they attacked. But when City started to score, all Klopp could do was cross his fingers and hope for the opposition to miss.

The Liverpool-Manchester City game was a compelling and entertaining encounter. But, apart from the finishing, overall it was pathetic stuff. In the first half City lost the plot completely, while in the second half, Liverpool almost gifted a draw to City with their casual, laid back approach. Though it was total fun, in reality, it just lacked quality.

In the La Liga match both the teams were miles apart when it came to league standings, top players and abilities. But Real Sociedad put up a fantastic fight. The teams were not only looking to take advantage of the enemy’s weaknesses, they were also playing to their strengths. Strategically Barcelona managed to outplay their opponent and the abilities of their consistent stars proved a bit too much for their worthy opponents. Definitely the brilliance of stars like Messi and Luis Suarez have a huge impact in crunch games for FC Barcelona and this was no exception.

In this game, Vermaelen and Ter Stegen were rock solid throughout the pathetic 1st half, for Barca. The work rate and determination of players like Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Rakitic, Pique were commendable and they started ticking as the game progressed. Paulinho may not be the most skillful of the lot, but he was there to score the important 1st goal which turned the tide. Luis Suarez was like a powering bull who refused to give in despite the bad start. Apart from passing beautifully, Messi tried, tried and tried and finally scored that stunning free kick which shut the game off. Every one of them, made a positive impact which led to the turnaround.

Similarly for Sociedad, a number players were outstanding. Llorente was successful in keeping a check on Suarez most of the game. The brilliance of Ordiozola was evident throughout the game. His ominous form had forced Valverde to opt for Andre Gomes (which I dont think worked). Prieto was very effective in the midfield. The imposing Willian Jose was a constant threat in attack. Illarramendi was a major reason for the ineffective Barca midfield in the 1st half.

It was an enthralling game which also showcased the enormous abilities of the players. Both the coaches had good strategies in place. A number of players stood out with their impact in the game. FC Barcelona were the winners because of their discipline, their ability to absorb pressure and their regrouping to dig deep during tough situations. A wonderful game which brought out the best of both teams.

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