gazlfcforeverI think Real should drop Di Maria for this one, playing three central holding players and hitting barca on the break. Using Ronaldo to either force Alves back or to exploit the space.

Benzema will play as a lone forward but will have to cover on the barca's left if Maxwell/Adriano moves forward.

With Ozil tucking in it should be very congested in the middle of the park.

20.04.2011

pandaldinhoMascherano will play in defence as to add pace, Busquets will hold.

Pepe will not be ahead of Alonso let alone Khedira.

It looks like Özil will operate as a false nine, despite Adebayor being the seemingly appropriate striker to play against a defence missing Puyol.

20.04.2011

ThiagoFSR83Cristiano Ronaldo played the false nine in the first half. with Adebayor in the pitch, CR7 was the winger.

HOWEVER, Di Maria played, and he was the best - in my opinion - in the game, very well defensively, and, when he started to atack, in the last few minutes of the regulamentar time, he was the great threat to Barça's right side - just like Nasri in the left in the first leg between Arsenal and BArcelona -.

By the way, playing in the back of Dani was the two great problems for Barcelona, in the first half Özil's center to Pepe's header, and the goal from Ronaldo header after Di Maria's center.

22.04.2011