From Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports:
Real Madrid looks spent in El Clasico
There is no doubt that money talks loudly in soccer. But for Real Madrid, the almighty Euro is not flexing its vocal chords as much as the club would like right now.
Watching hated rival Barcelona win an unprecedented Treble while struggling both domestically and in Europe was a bitter pill to swallow for Real. The humiliating experience prompted a glut of summer spending at the Bernabeu, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema all arriving in blockbuster transfer moves.
However, Sunday’s El Clasico proved that while cold, hard cash can buy you some of the world’s best players, it’s not an automatic recipe for success.
Sure, Barcelona also spent on new players, acquiring Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a deal that sent Samuel Eto’o to Inter Milan, but Barca’s squad cost less than a third of Real’s team. Also, the end product is stronger, more fluid and more effective, and it’s marshaled expertly by head coach Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona has had its troubles this season and is still not guaranteed a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. And yet, anyone who is prepared to bet on Barca failing to repeat last season’s heroics should accept that their investment may not realize the desired return. Just like Real Madrid’s.
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