Oh How the Mighty Fall ...

This was not a good week for Manchester City or Real Madrid, two teams that seemed poised to challenge their nearest rivals, the teams that have for many years now overshadowed them. With Real Madrid, there is the long history of success and even a recent League Victory and a few other pieces of silverware; but a recent losing streak against Barca only broken in the 2-0 League Cup victory last year (before the 2-0 home defeat in the more important UCL semis). With Man City it is the emergence of a team that has long sat in the shadow of its crosstown rival. Man City looked unstoppable, until they were the first team eliminated from the Champions League with 10 points in the Group Stage, until their B squad was almost beaten by a much less experienced B squad from Arsenal and until they finally lost for the first time in 17 games in the Premiership to Chelsea (a resurgent team that still has a lot of defensive questions to answer) -- now sitting a mere 2 points above the hated United. This is still probably one of the best squads ever assembled and it is important to acknowledge that they still play all the top squads at home before the season is done -- included my beloved Gunners next Sunday. I think this is a blip in what will be a winning campaign, though you never know. I am just happy our Invincibles can rest for another year, still standing as the only team to pull off the nearly impossible task of an undefeated run through 38 league games.

And Real? Sitting 6 points above Barca a week ago, the squad is now even (with a game in hand) and has to go back to the drawing board if they are to solve the problem that is Guardiola (and Messi ... and Iniesta ... and, well, everyone). But Real had their chances. Once again Cristiano Ronaldo failed to show up in a big game, missing two great opportunities to put his squad back up before Barca took over and won the match rather easily 3-1. Arguably the best goalee in football probably should have kept out Barca's second goal. And the squad that has been scoring in bunches suddenly had trouble putting three passes together; like so many others left lame by the Barca possession game. Real still has the opportunity to win the League but will have to conjure the old magic of Mourinho if they are to do so.

P.S. A quick note on the American version of the game, where the Packers seem poised to maybe repeat the Miami feat of an undefeated season and Super Bowl and the Cowboys seem ready to repeat their December malaise yet again; though without any real blame to be shouldered by Romo. This team has lost three games with double-digit leads in the fourth quarter and really blown four already this year. The first game of the season was a disastrous comeback they offered up to the Jets, who took it. Then a few weeks later they somehow let Detroit come back from 21 down. Then there was the time out debacle last week and for the second time in two weeks, the kicker missed a tying or winning field goal after making it with a timeout called. I think it is one of the stupidest rules in football and one that should be changed. If you want to call a timeout before the play, fine. But to be allowed to call one after the play starts is just stupid. It didn't used to be allowed and should be stopped from now on. It's like calling a timeout after a player in basketball tosses a free throw to win the game or after a successful penalty kick. Just stupid ...