1. This game was all about Iker Casillas; El Capitan had a fantastic game and saved Madrid on several occasions. Madrid also had stand-out performances by Di Maria and Ozil but it was really about Iker's brave performance and why he is the best GK in the world. Period!
2. This was a good and relatively fair game between the two teams and the refereeing was better. The first half belonged to Madrid, whereas the second belonged to Barcelona when FCB finally broke down a stingy Madrid back four and tested the very reliable Iker. With the extra time, it came down to who would score first... (frankly the then concurrent game between other bitter rivals Arsenal and Tottenham was more entertaining).
3. I would have brought in two fresh legs in the extra-time first half when both teams were tired. But's that's just the Armchair Manager in me expressing my thoughts.
4. Personally, as you may have read on my earlier posts regarding the Copa, I would have opted to play Team B and save the players for the CL matches, giving the Big Mouth a false victory because I really don't see the Copa as anything but a testing ground for younger players. Unfortunately, FCB is now without Adriano which leaves us with a patchy back four.
5. There are no volcanic activity forecasts to help the Big Mouth, so I expect the game in Madrid to see the same attacking/counter attacking style of the Copa clasico with everything to play. Should Madrid win, the Big Mouth will revert back to his anti-football tactics.
Personally, I'm OK with the loss of the Copa del Rey to Madrid. The truth is the boys became complacent and this loss is a cold slap in the face to wake them up. They now go back to the lion's den with a desire to redeem themselves.
