Tuesday 15 September 2015 10:33, UK
In his weekly column, Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague debates the influences of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as answering questions on Fernando Torres and Las Palmas…
Let's start with the playful question put by some, particularly in the Catalan press, over the weekend - what is worth more, one goal by Messi or five by Ronaldo?
You can imagine the answer from the Catalan press - one goal by Messi. In the half an hour that he played against Atletico Madrid he was fantastic, he was involved in everything and he changed the destiny of the game because at that point it was pretty equal.
Atletico Madrid had a pretty good 15, 20 minutes in the second half. Yes, Barcelona were dominating, but there's always a threat from Antoine Griezmann or Fernando Torres, or Jackson Martinez when he came on.
But when Messi came on he got involved in everything. He touched the ball a lot of times, he was the magnet to the team. And of course, as he has done so many times against Atletico Madrid, his goal was crucial. A great move finished nicely from the outside of his boot and that was that.
What's interesting out of him coming from the bench is that the situation is completely different to the last time he was on the bench. That was against Real Sociedad in January, and he didn't go to training the next day because he hadn't been told that he was going to be on the bench after the Christmas period.
This time, Luis Enrique admitted in the press conference that they had spoken, and you could see a much happier Messi, whose son was born on Friday.
'Influence doesn't just mean goals'
So that's the worth of Messi. He's won seven leagues in 11 seasons at Barcelona - he's a team player. That contrasts with one league in six years for Ronaldo. But, of course, it's not easy to score five goals.
He's done it twice in a short period - he did it against Granada last season. You have to say that Espanyol made it really easy. They decided to play with three at the back, although it was five at the back really, and it didn't work because they hadn't worked hard enough in training to make it work.
So there was a lot of space, and it was used by Ronaldo.
What's interesting, of course, is that he come from a period of drought - he wasn't scoring freely. You cannot doubt Ronaldo. There is nobody doubting him.
I know it's been pointed out on Twitter that I said his best days were over. I also said in the same article that he's going to continue scoring a lot of goals. But what I meant was his influence on the game.
Scoring goals is obviously a crucial part of the game. How you get the chances is another crucial part of the game, and he doesn't get that involved that much in the build-up anymore.
'Ronaldo is Benitez's No 9 solution'
That will not be a problem for as long as it's working under Rafa Benitez. No goals conceded in three, 11 goals in the last two games, and despite the draw against Sporting Gijon, when they should have won, this is a very offensive team.
Those that have been saying for a while that Benitez has defensive teams, maybe they should realise that he was involved in teams that were shaped that way, and were not as strong financially as others, so he had to do that.
It's so far so good but he says he has still got lots to improve. I think what he means by that is that there were mistakes being made - only a couple - when defending set pieces. Espanyol didn't really put up a challenge.
Real Madrid have got a problem up front, as in who is the No 9? Karim Benzema, who moved around and cleared the striker's area for Ronaldo to use, is not a typical No 9. Jese, who was No 9 with the B side, is not a typical No 9, so Ronaldo is certainly the solution.
His influence is huge with the goals, but not so much with the build-up. I still think the general influence of Messi is bigger, and is getting even bigger.
Guillem answers your questions…
Hi Guillem. Do Real Madrid fans consider Ronaldo as their best-ever after he became their top-scorer in La Liga? Nick
GUILLEM SAYS: I don't think Real Madrid see him, still, as the best ever. I've been thinking about Ronaldo for two years because of the book - which is coming out on November 5! - and what I realised is that, despite all the goals and beating all the records, he still hasn't won everybody's heart. He's seen as a killer, a goalscorer of stratospheric proportions, but he's not a Raul, a Di Stefano or a Gento in the heart of the fans.
It's a little bit of a tragedy, if you like, for someone who's given so much to Real Madrid not to be seen that way. When he leaves, unless both club and he decide it's the right time to go, that will create a controversy that will also blur his legacy at the club.
Hola! Rafa Benitez seems to have Real Madrid playing some great football - the fans must be delighted with his start. Do you think he can maintain that form right through the season or will they drop off again like last year? Paul
GUILLEM SAYS: He's got two very good players per position everywhere, really. It's a very balanced squad. I keep insisting that, for me, the crucial part is the relationship between Bale - who was involved in four of the five goals - and Ronaldo. That's obviously something they're trying to build on. Last season Bale admitted he wasn't particularly pleased with how the system was working.
If that works well, yes, I think they can keep up the level because rotations are taking place already. It's not starting on the bench, only. Rotation is also giving Luka Modric or Benzema a half-an-hour rest in games like these.
Hi Guillem. I saw Fernando Torres score against Barcelona at the weekend. Do you think he's getting back to his old self at Atletico? Ben
GUILLEM SAYS: I think Torres has a different role to when he had when was there the first time, or when he was at Liverpool. I see a Fernando Torres who is not as fast as he used to be, but still as committed. He works very hard without the ball and he scores key goals.
If he could add another 15 goals as well as the key goals, it would be an extraordinary season. But I think he will score perhaps around 10 in the league, which is not the level that the best Torres had, but certainly a big help to Atletico Madrid while Jackson Martinez gets fit and challenges for his place.
Hi. Amazing effort from Las Palmas against Celta Vigo! Do you think that spirit will keep them up this season?! Jon
GUILLEM SAYS: The coach, Paco Herrera, is possibly my best friend in football, and I'm so happy that he's in the Primera Division with a team where he can develop his idea of football, which is based on keeping the ball, being protagonists and scoring.
It's a lot of fun to watch Las Palmas this season - keep an eye on them. What happened against Celta is proof that they don't give up. They're full of local guys who developed under the idea that you have to play with the ball, and you have to entertain.
