Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta
Or
Casemiro, Kroos and Modric?
Which midfield was better?
posted on 29/5/22
Didn’t that Spanish trio start against Holland when they lost 5-1? For what it’s worth
posted on 29/5/22
Thing is, that midfield was fundamental to how Barcelona played. It exerted control. Madrid's success has been based more on reactive football. Their midfield doesn't dominate matches in the same way. All six are fine players of course but Modric is the only Madridista I'd place in the top three of that list.
posted on 29/5/22
The Madrid trio has been excellent but what has made Real so successful in recent years is that they have been the total package in finding a way to win.
I still remember a second leg against Bayern a few years back when Tolisso, Thiago and James Rodriguez totally outplayed the Madrid midfield but Real took their chances and they defended for their lives somehow coming out with a 2-2 draw to get the through by a single goal (one more Bayern goal would have knocked them out).
Real have had a number of games (many of course this season) where they've summoned something in their locker to win a game where they were really struggling and then gone on to win the CL
posted on 29/5/22
This shouldn’t even be a question. The first and it’s not even close
posted on 29/5/22
comment by Clockwork Red: Jadon and the Argonauts (U4892)
posted 40 minutes ago
comment by AlwaysUnited (U4063)
posted 4 seconds ago
Interestingly, I don't recall Spain ever playing this 3 man midfield (certainly not in big games)
They either went with a different shape or would have a different player in there like Alonso for example.
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That’s because Kroos is German, Casemiro is Brazilian and Modric is Croatian.
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posted on 29/5/22
Xavi etc. Comfortably.
That real one is great though
posted on 29/5/22
Barca one. Not even sure it’s close to be honest.
posted on 29/5/22
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 46 minutes ago
Thing is, that midfield was fundamental to how Barcelona played. It exerted control. Madrid's success has been based more on reactive football. Their midfield doesn't dominate matches in the same way. All six are fine players of course but Modric is the only Madridista I'd place in the top three of that list.
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This
I’m surprised this is even a debating point
posted on 29/5/22
Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta by a countrymile. The other three are very good, but the first three were on a different level.
posted on 2/6/22
Ftr, in 2006 Xavi had missed about half the season after rupturing his ACL. Iirc, he'd been given the all clear by the time the final came around, but was considered to be too short on match fitness to play a CL final.
He was already an integral member of that side though, and had been chosen Spanish footballer of the year the season before.
As for Iniesta, there was a very strong current of opinion to the Barça fans back at the time for Rijkaard to start him or at the very least give him more playing time than he was getting.