Speaking ahead of Arsenal‘s Champions League bout against Barcelona this week, Arsene Wenger has compared Luis Enrique’s side to the iconic Real Madrid side of the 1950s.
That legendary Blancos side—a team containing the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Paco Gento, Ray Kopa and Feranc Puskas—won five back-to-back European Cups, dominating the early years of the competition and doing much to establish the global reputation of Real which endures today.
That Real side were also responsible for one of the most remarkable displays in a European final when they devastated poor Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in the 1960 final at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
It was the kind of irresistible offensive showing that has become almost commonplace for Barca this season, as the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have devastated all before them.
They have scored 67 goals in La Liga so far this season, 32 more than second-placed Atletico Madrid, and have scored four goals or more on five occasions since the beginning of 2016.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League bout against Barcelona this week, Wenger has compared the current team to the legendary Merengues side of the 1950s.
“Raymond Kopa, Di Stefano, Gento, Puskas. It’s difficult to compare with this Barcelona team,” Wenger began, as per the club’s official website.
“I believe that apart from the individual talent the three have, they have a good understand[ing] and cohesion. They have a great solidarity.
“When you see someone like Messi, who could score his 300th goal, give the ball to Suarez when he had the opportunity to score goal 300,” Wenger continued, referring to the controversial ‘passing penalty’ goal that the pair scored against Celta Vigo earlier this month, “that means there’s really something in there.”
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