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For the second match in a row, Cristiano Ronaldo, the second best player in the world didn’t score for the second match in a row. The big news is Real Madrid, currently the second best team in Spain and Europe probably, scored 4 goals, winning convincingly and with style.
It’s not the scoring that’s the problem. There’s nothing wrong with Ronaldo scoring. His 95 goals in 101 matches for Real Madrid aren’t the reason they’re finishing behind Barcelona and watching them win Champions League trophies while they’re waiting for their first since 2002. It’s the dependency, and maybe tonight’s 4-0 win over Lyon and the weekend’s 4-1 win over Betis are signaling a change.
Lets start with the negative, or at least the less impressive spin from this. Eventually, goals or no goals, Real don’t struggle in these games. They don’t have any problem, especially at home, with 18 La Liga clubs most of the time. They got over their Lyon hurdle last season, and these group stage matches at the Bernabeu tend to be laughers for a squad at this caliber.
The bottom line is what you do against Barcelona, if you’re number one in the La Liga at the end of the season, if you held the Champions League trophy in May. These things are what great clubs, giant clubs like Real Madrid aspire to. It maybe a unhealthy way of thinking, but you don’t win more titles than anyone else by thinking small. Legends, like Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo always strive to be the best. They’re hated as much as they’re loved by the other half for it and other things, but they don’t settle for second best.
But here’s the good from these last two matches, in which Ronaldo notched up three assists. They might not need to rely on his as much when it’s time to take down Barcelona, which has to happen eventually right? The sooner the better if you ask Real Madrid fans. These matches of Ronaldo blending into the system instead of forcing the game upon his very talented two legs might be what gives Real their final piece for that jigsaw called winning the La Liga against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Real often look to play a different style against Barcelona, overly relying on counter attacking, overly relying on Cristiano Ronaldo’s ability to finish matches on his own. Forget about Copa Del Rey trophies. I’m pretty sure Ronaldo, Mourinho and every Real Madrid fan will give up winning five of those for finally winning the Champions League and the La Liga. It’s about the biggest trophies. And maybe, just maybe, making these changes and hoping they’ll stick, that both the team and Cristiano Ronaldo will adapt and evolve in time for the Clasico clashes, this will be the year the power shifts back to Madrid.
10 responses to “Cristiano Ronaldo Not Scoring is Better For Real Madrid”
You should leave the discrediting remarks about ‘second’ , etc. out.
It is very unfortunate that many non-Europeans write about football these days.
Messi and Ronaldo should not be compared, because of their different styles. Personally I definitely prefer
Ronaldo, as a player and as a person. Where is Messiss personality ??
Is this article supposed to be a joke?
Its not supposed 2 be a joke, IT IS JOKE, and discrediting Ronaldo and calling him second best proved to me that this guy is just a hater trying to get our views on the Ronaldo-vs-Messi debate.
@Keetse Why is calling someone second best make me a hater? 🙂 I don’t think there’s one negative opinion against Ronaldo in this post except for the fact that Real tend to over-rely on him when things aren’t working properly.
ronaldo is amore complete player than messi people,
@Peter: It’s a sad day when people like you write about how great a club like Barca is and how tough it will be on other clubs to defeat the “great club” ? Perhaps you should take note of the fact that it’s not some much the others trying to beat them but rather how is that so called great club is going to remain unbeaten? As the saying goes one or two swallows do not make a season? Ronaldo may not be scoring as many goals as your hero Messi is doing but there is a long way to go and he may still surprise us all. Your bias is evident and not every one is a Barca fan!!!
damn some Ronaldo fanboys crying up in here. There is nothing discrediting about being 2nd best in the world. If you ask me the author complimented him because as things stand, Iniesta is the 2nd best player in the world not Ronaldo. Ronaldo isn’t even number 3. But it will change next round in December but Ronaldo will still not be number 1. Its a huge compliment to call him 2nd best in the world especially seeing as that is a product of the English press really.
Hey num nuts perhaps you should think about this? Ronaldo may not be scoring on the field but my guess is that he is scoring in the sack and as for the little flea Messi he may be scoring on the field but I dont think he is scoring anywhere else hehehehe! Good on Ronnie.
Why is that people like you always want to compare Real against your Barcelona???? Is it because they have been good form for three or four seasons??? Look at the bright side, Real has been winning for 100 years. And where are your famous Barcelona players? Real is always better. And Ronaldo is amazing, he gets targetted and the refs don’t protect him because of his huge figure whereas Messi is shown sympathy. Messi is really great but the way fans hate Real is not right. Is it because they are jealous of all the history and trophies? Ronaldo is right, people are jealous of him because he is “Rich & handsome”
@me wow are you serious?! First off this article is a joke, Ronaldo is an overall better player then Messi and certainly Iniesta, Ronaldo has proven himself in England and scored more goals then Messi last year in la liga. Also he can kick harder, better free kicks, faster, kicks outside of 18 yards, has skill moves, stronger, better crossing and weak foot, messi couldn’t score with his right for his life, etc. Messi may be slightly more effective with his dribbling but overall cr is so much better and i don’t even know how u mentioned iniesta, can i get some of what your smoking? Oh and remember messi nor inesta are proven in the Epl, just the crap spanish league.