Darkness and Light

Real Madrid is plagued by black holes in defence, through which the enemy is able to penetrate. But it is a completely different story in attack, where the light shines brightly. Fortunatley, there is enough light to drown out the darkness. And at times the team plays at the speed of light, its wingers charging up the bylines as if on rails.

To see Cristiano in full flight is to feel the landscape rushing past you in a flurry, as if everything around him were locked in slow motion. It gives you the sensation that in the blink of an eye a whole train of events could unravel that could be over in a flash. Whilst others might need to cut back and forth in order to break through in attack, Ronaldo only needs to glimpse an opening for himself and the flood gates open, as he charges towards the opposing goal like a torrent.

And if this bolt of lightning speed weren't enough, then there is Bale's force. The Welshman is as fast as a bullet - blink and you might miss him as he rushes forward like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

It is a real feast for the eyes to see Ronaldo and Bale take off. They leave others in the shade, leaving them to wallow in the darkness whilst they touch the light. Their speed is pure adrenaline, like a star blazing a trail accross the dark night.

So in the end, darkness is overshadowed by light. Real Madrid's shortcomings at the back are more than made up for by its smouldering attack, burning its way through the opposition. But as Ancelotti knows full well, he can't reply on this firepower in every match. He desperately needs to strenghthen his hand, for the times when the gunpowder doesn't go off and his bullets are turn out to be blanks - for even shooting stars like Ronaldo and Bale are only human.