mermar al rival al encontrarse

Question

En un articulo sobre Real Madrid apareció una frase "La solidez defensiva es una de las bases que tratamos de instalar porque eso merma al rival al encontrarse con un equipo firme y riguroso atrás" y no se como entender "eso merma al rival al encontrarse...", ¿alguien puede explicarme?

Answer 1

This is what I meant by looking it up.

http://www.spanishcentral.com/translate/mermar

Answer 2

From the translator:

La solidez defensiva es una de las bases que tratamos de instalar = The defensive soundness is one of the bases that we try to install

porque = because

eso merma al rival al encontrarse con un equipo firme y riguroso atrás = that reduces the rival on having met a firm and rigorous team(equipment) behind(back)

My version from the translator. I would say the translator did a good job overall.

Defensive soundness is one of the basic things that we try to install because that reduces the rival when he meets a firm and riguous team behind it.

Answer 3

Slightly off topic but I think this may be correct and if so it is interesting, at least to me.

mermar = to reduce

mermelada = jam/jelly, which is made by reducing fruit. I never made the connection before.

Answer 4

No, look up in the dictionary for "mermar", do the job.

Answer 5

plug it into the translator. You get three pretty good answers.

Answer 6

I've already done that, but still don't know what it means with the rest of sentence. btw, translator is a disaster.

btw. No more free help. Try to work it out for yourself and then ask for corrections or clarification. - gringojrf, Oct 6, 2014