Jose Mourinho set out to send a message when Real Madrid took on Barcelona on Saturday. His Real Madrid side wasn't trying to pull back into the La Liga title race, or even trying to earn a measure of revenge for last year's 5-0 defeat. No, Saturday's game was about proving that Real Madrid could really push Barcelona, showing that this stretch of four games in 18 days between the rivals is going to be one long and intense battle.
If that was the goal, then Real Madrid succeeded, even if 'Los Blancos' still haven't proven they can beat the defending Spanish champions.
Setting a tone for the next three match-ups between Real Madrid and Barcelona was important for Real Madrid, and Mourinho's men did that in Saturday's 1-1 tie. They defended smartly and held up well against Barcelona's unrelenting attacking, even being down a man after Raul Albiol's sending off.
Proving it could hold up against 'Les Cules' was vital on Saturday because the next three meetings between the clubs are even more important than Saturday's match (especially with the La Liga title race all but over before Saturday). The Copa Del Rey final and UEFA Champions League semifinal series would have been seen as inevitable Barca victories if Real Madrid had rolled over yet again.
Drawing at home shouldn't be seen as too much of a positive normally, but it has to instill some confidence in a Real Madrid side that needed some sort of result against its arch-rival after last fall's 5-0 drubbing. Fighting back from a goal down and a man down was impressive, and something Mourinho can certainly build on.
Yes, Barcelona still had more chances, and dominated possession yet again even before Albiol's red card, but Saturday's draw was a much more even game, one that saw Real Madrid go after Barcelona's defense more effectively, if not more frequently, one that saw Real Madrid show more fight and willingness to try and get physical with a Barcelona team that regularly destroys teams that try to match its attack.
Give credit to Mourinho, who has managed to convince a very finesse-minded team to buy into defending better, harder and smarter. This Real Madrid team doesn't have nearly the defensive quality of Mourinho's Inter Milan side, the same side that knocked Barcelona out of last year's Champions League, but the group at least showed on Saturday a willingness to defend.
You need only look at Pepe's performance on Saturday. It's no secret that he is Real Madrid's best defender, but seeing him sacrifice everything to chase around Lionel Messi for most of the match (including man-marking him before the red card) clearly inspired his teammates to also defend for their lives. If Real Madrid can duplicate that effort, then the next three matches between the rivals will all be as closely-contested as Saturday's was.
Barcelona has to see Saturday's draw as a bit of a disappointment considering Albiol's red card gave the visitors the lead and 38 minutes a man advantage, only for a Dani Alves foul to give Real Madrid an equalizing penalty kick late in the match. Throw in Carles Puyol re-injuring his hamstring, which could rule him out of the Copa Del Rey final, and suddenly the road draw doesn't look as attractive.
Barca will still have to feel pretty confident heading into the next three meetings with Real Madrid and will rightly be regarded as favorites in every match. The Barca offense continues to flow smoothly and while losing Puyol for the Copa Del Rey final would be a big blow, Pep Guardiola will still field an attack that will keep Real Madrid from throwing numbers at a short-handed defense. That said, Real Madrid did test Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes several times and attackers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria have to come away feeling more confident that chances will come in the upcoming games.
As for Mourinho, for all his protestations about poor officiating on Saturday, he still had to come away from the match feeling good. It wasn't a victory, but it was enough to show us that mis-matches like the 5-0 drubbing in November isn't something we should expect to see again.
Real Madrid looks ready to make this four-game series with Barcelona the type of battle that may not be pretty, but certainly more competitive and tougher to predict than many would have expected before Saturday.
Ives Galarcep is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering Major League Soccer and the U.S. national team.
