By Lee Roden (@LeeRoden89 ) | Monday, September 2, 2013
Unless you've somehow avoided transfer deadline day in its all-engulfing glory , you will be well aware that Gareth Bale is now a Real Madrid player .While excitement currently reigns in the Spanish capital, the arrival of the Welshman could create a minor problem for manager Carlo Ancelotti , who will be pressed to accommodate him in the Madrid starting line-up as soon as possible, creating a risk of deraling the gradual build of momentum in his Los Blancos side.
Barcelona also lack the finesse of a finished product, experiencing a similar process of transition, and as a result there is potential for a curious few weeks in Spain, with both sides needing plenty of work before they become the all-conquering machines of Madrid and Barca sides past. talkSPORT's La Liga Low-down looks at the weekend action...
In the first half of their 3-2 victory over Valencia this weekend, Barcelona were beginning to display some of the swagger they carried during Pep Guardiola's heyday. Most notably, the front three of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Pedro were showing off the kind of intelligent movement that has been hugely lacking at the Camp Nou side over the last year or so. Interchanging, fluid, and alternating between dropping deep and bursting forward, the trio gave Valencia a torrid time, and even before Messi put them ahead after latching on to an exquisite pass from Cesc Fabregas , Neymar had already seen a similar strike ruled out for offside.
The young Brazilian in particular looks like he is developing a real understanding with his midfield and attacking team-mates, and so far the only way opponents can stop him is by fouling him. According to Opta, he is the La Liga player who has received the most fouls-per-minute on the pitch this season, and it shows.
The suggestion following Neymar's signing was that his presence would relieve the pressure on Messi's shoulders, and in the first half at the Mestalla, it worked.With Neymar to focus on, Valencia couldn't concentrate solely on Messi, and before the half-time whistle had blown, the Argentina international had netted a hat-trick. It was his first since his treble against Osasuna in January. Evidently, something was going right.
It didn't last for long, however, as Barcelona began resting on the ropes, a surefire sign of a team not yet in its stride. Valencia bit back, and they bit back hard. Los Che's increased pressing saw them win the ball high up the pitch, and a cross in from the right flank was met perfectly by Helder Postiga. Appropriately, Neymar was the player who failed to get back and block the cross, showing that his understanding with the Barcelona defence isn't quite as sharp as those further forward.
Minutes later, Postiga made it 3-2 with his second of the game. This time, it came from a corner, revisiting a long-term problem for Barcelona. In the end they held on for the win, though they have goalkeeper Victor Valdes to thank for that after he came to the rescue on several occasions. He has been hugely important to Barcelona's success early on this season, being tested more often than before, and that in itself reflects on the defensive issues that dog the Catalans. Regardless, the club insist there will be no centre-back signings before the window shuts. Sorting out those shortcomings at the back remains a key issue for manager Tata Martino, and if he wants his team to touch anywhere near the levels achieved under Guardiola, he has to find a solution.
Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid provided a slightly better scoreline than Barcelona in their 3-1 victory over Athletic, but the arrival of Gareth Bale creates the risk of adding unnecessary new problems for the Italian coach. Angel di Maria was hugely active in the game, working tirelessly as always off the ball, as well as delivering a typically precise free-kick for Ronaldo to score the second goal of the game. Given Di Maria is likely to be the victim of Bale's arrival at the Bernabeu, that could have a de-stabilising effect on the team, and at least temporarily distract a team still adjusting to the demands of their coach.
Will Bale off-set the loss in balance that could occur when Di Maria is removed?How long will he take to adjust to his new team, with no pre-season and the league campaign already three games in? Could that cost Madrid in difficult games? Messing with a winning formula just as it's beginning to click isn't always a wise move. A hallmark of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid at their best in 2011/12 was the clarity with which they played, every individual knowing exactly where their team-mates were and at which point to pass to them. Achieving that kind of precision will be a tough ask for Ancelotti (it took Mourinho over a season), particularly with Di Maria debunked, Bale still learning the ropes, and a hugely effective player like Mesut Ozil being shipped out. Getting over those difficulties will be key for the Italian.
As to whether any team in La Liga is currently well equipped enough to take advantage of potential slip-ups from the big two in the coming weeks, well, it's difficult to be optimistic. Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid , who served up an awesome clash at the Anoeta on Saturday, perhaps have the quality in their first XI's. The caveat, however, is that their own Champions League campaigns will eat into energy reserves and thin squads, so it's tough to see past the traditional powerhouses as it stands. Then again, both teams have a habit of exceeding expectations these days. Now is the time for them to pounce, if they can.