(ESP-ENG) Champions de "Brujas" y "Rojos" - [Opinión]
Hello friends, good vibes to all.

Another Champions League matchday where we witnessed some great encounters that left plenty to talk about. I've always thought, and said, that this competition is a parallel universe compared to what happens in domestic leagues; many things that happen here don't reflect the reality of matchday after matchday in their respective countries. This means that the situation each team is in, good or bad, won't matter. And proof of this is what we saw yesterday with Club Brugge from Belgium and with Liverpool on Tuesday.
The Belgians hosted Barcelona, the same team that had beaten Elche 3-1 on Sunday. No one predicted that this club could challenge Flick's side, much less beat them, as they almost did. Football is highly unpredictable, and it was those circumstances that meant Barça only managed a draw. Had it not been for the own goal and the disallowed goal for a foul on Szczęsny (which wasn't a foul), it would have ended 4-2. But since you can't live on hypotheticals, the Belgians had to settle for a draw, which for them feels like a victory.

Barcelona has two faces on the pitch: one when attacking and the other when defending. The first is led by Lamine Yamal, who was impressive yesterday; all the attacking play went through him—chances, shots, and even the goal. But sometimes that's not enough. The second face is the one that suffers the most, since playing so far forward carries risks that, if exploited well, create spaces that led to the Belgians' goals. Barça fans, please forgive me, but Araujo is no guarantee of anything, and even less so Szczęsny. Neither is at the level that a team like Barcelona demands; the goalkeeper's situation is temporary, but the Uruguayan center-back's is something to think about.
Flick's biggest challenge is to solidify that defense and make it stable and reliable, something he hasn't yet achieved. But speaking of defenses, we have to mention Real Madrid's. They left Anfield not thrashed, but nearly so; without Courtois, that Real Madrid side would have lost by at least 4-0. What I mentioned earlier about a parallel universe applies perfectly here. Liverpool haven't been doing well in the Premier League, losing four of their last five matches, but they arrived on Tuesday and played perhaps one of their best games in recent weeks. Because yes, their performance at Anfield was a team effort that completely neutralized a Real Madrid side that was 100% sterile in attack.

When Mbappé isn't on the pitch, it seems like nothing goes right for Real Madrid; they only managed two shots on target the entire match. How can you explain that with the Frenchman, Vinicius, Bellingham, Guler, and Valverde all on the field? It's illogical. Part of it was due to Slot's excellent defensive setup and the fact that players like Szoboszlai and Conor Bradley had the game of their lives. The latter stands out even more because he's relatively unknown, but he was instrumental in containing Vinicius throughout the match. Xabi Alonso once again underperformed in a big game; it seems that when he's called upon in these kinds of matches, something just doesn't click. They score freely and play well against smaller teams in La Liga, but when they face the heavyweights, they fizzle out.
As you can see, football isn't an exact science, nor is it governed by the current circumstances of clubs; it's based on moments, moods, and above all, accurate reading of the game. Club Brugge played on the counter-attack, exploiting the spaces in Barcelona's defense, while Liverpool neutralized their key players with high pressure and tight marking.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos leemos en la próxima!
Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!