Preview: Barça - Madrid
Friday, 12 December 08, 12:16 PM · Comments (75)
Andres Iniesta could make a surprise early return in time for tomorrow's clasico with Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola has said that Iniesta will train again with the team tomorrow morning but he would not commit to whether Iniesta would play. It seems unlikely that he will start but it is nice to have another option and it will also keep Juande Ramos guessing. Barça now have only Gabi Milito on the injured list and he is not expected to be back to match fitness until February.
Real Madrid on the other hand have all sorts of problems: Robben and Marcelo are both suspended while Van Nistlerooy, Pepe, Torres, Heinze, Diarra and De La Red are all injured, Wesley Sneijder has recovered enough to travel with the team to Barcelona but it seems unlikely that he will make the starting line-up. With so many players out Juande Ramos has a difficult job to form a team especially in defence. There is the big question of who will play at left back which probably means marking Leo Messi: in Wednesday's Champions League game with Zenit Ramos experimented with Salgado at left back but there is also the possibility of putting Sergio Ramos or Drenthe there or even giving a game to youngster Chema Anton. On Wednesday Metzelder was tested at right back and if he plays there with Salgado on the left then Ramos can partner Cannavaro in the middle. In midfield unless Sneijder makes an unlikely start we will probably see Van der Vaart, Gago, Guti and Drenthe with Raul and Higuian playing up front. The rest of the squad is made up of Dudek, Javi Garcia, Saviola, Palanca Agus and Alberto Bueno.
Barça really will be after revenge tomorrow, we haven't beaten Madrid since the famous 0-3 win at the Bernabeu in November 2005 and we have to go back another 12 months for the last time we beat them at Camp Nou (a 3-0 win with goals from Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Giovanni van Bronckhorst). A win will leave Madrid 12 points behind us which even at this early stage of the season will seem like a huge mountain to climb if they want to retain the league title. Barça are clearly in better form than Madrid but in the clasico games form very often goes out of the window. Both sets of players will feel they have something to prove, Madrid's players will want to silence their critics and show new coach Juande Ramos what they are made of, for Barça the hunger and desire to get one over our enemy after the last two seasons of disappointment should guarantee we give 100%.
Yesterday, I said I was worried. Today I'm going to go with the prediction I made to myself last week. That is that we will return the 4-1 scoreline that Madrid beat us by in May. Just over 24 hours to go now: I can't wait.
Probable Starting XIs:
Barça: Valdés; Alves, Marquez, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Gudjohnsen; Messi, Eto'o, Henry.
Madrid: Casillas; Metzelder, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Salgado; Van der Vaart, Gago, Guti, Drenthe; Higuian, Raul.
My Prediction: Barça 4 Madrid 1
SOM-HI NOIS!!!
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75 Comments · Add yours
I was going to go with the same prediction as the PM of Spain but I will show a little more respect and say 5-2. If Sevilla can score 4 away then 5 might be too generous.
Messi will show why he's the best in the world.
5-2 Baaaarca!
It will be interesting to see how Ramos makes us play. And as you said the Clasico is different and the fact that Barcelona are in a better form doesn't necessarily mean they already won.
Wow, El Clasico: the creme de la creme of football rivalries.
Its very true that form is out of question when it comes to such rivlaries. Roma beat an in form Lazio 1-0, thanks to Julio Baptista this season........ yes him again. That bastard! lol
But the players have to avenge the loss at camp nou last season with a deserving victory tomorrow.
I am so excited, I wont be able to go to sleep tonight.
One thing worries me about this match is that most of the starting players missed last tuesday match in the CL. Eto'o was out for two. So I hope rust did not set in !!
Wooooooooooooooow!!
The game is tomorrow!! I am not going to sleep tonight in case I miss my flight
I think Iniesta will not come on at all. He is not ready, and a half ininjured Iniesta can do nothing if Madrid are winning so there is no point risking him and besides I think Henry will continue his 1 goal a game record v Madrid. As for Messi, I think Ramos has a problem. If he puts Ramos man marking Messi, Alves will attack more. If Ramos puts men on the left hand side, Eto and Henry will have space and run riot on the left. Dam tomorrow will be good and I R E A L L Y want to get revenge as they absolutely ripped Barca to shreds in the Bernabeu but like they say, 'revenge is sweet'
I stay with my prediction: 2-1
Barca 3 - 1 Madrid.
revenge is best served in a cold dish. barca should give it to r. madrid. im expecting 5-0
Less than 23 hours to go. I imagine what is the city of Barcelona like at the clasico day. Fans on the streets, emotions, expectations and huge party after beating Madrid.
I remember that last year after beating us at Camp Nou Raul told that this victory was for their fans in Catalonia. The idea that there were Madrid fans in Catalonia was a new one for me. However, I hope tomorrow they will be sad.
Barcelona 2 - 0 Madrid
Just droppin in to say that I am truly excited for the match and to say that my prediction for the match will be:
Barca: 3 - 1 :Madrid
this is like the biggest day of the year for me. my family will be celebrating my dads 50th birthday and i'll be in my room watching el classico.
dont count real madrid out, 'cus i beleive they'll play better tomorrow than ever before this season. but their defence is simply too weak to stop us, so i'm also gonna go with 4-1 for BARCA.
raul will always score a goal
Barca 3 - 0.
SOM-HI NOIS!!!
I have 2 exams tomorrow, but I don't plan on missing the match one bit!
I predict a 3 - 0 scoreline for Barca.
BARCA, BARCA, BAAAAARCA!
hey, what does SOM-HI NOIS mean???
btw, barca 3-0
i predict 5-1
just pray we win
GEE UP LADS! its on! nervous excitement is pumping through me as i type! got big 21st tonight then up at 7am to watch my boys! dont know how much sleep will be obtained...but all worth it!! FORCA BARCA
SOM-HI NOIS = COME ON BOYS
damn..the game is tomorrow..i won't be able to sleep tonight that's for sure...I m watchin it with 4 of my madrid friends....i still remember them makin fun of me last season when we got thumped....I just want to repay the favor to them.....but anyways, call me a pessimist, but i don't feel nearly as good as u guys....altho I would want nothin more than Barca humiliatin them, which would mean I could humiliate my friends, I think the scoreline's gonnna be 2 to 1 to us....with the new coach and the new attitude, it may not be the walk in the park....Viva Barca
They better win the game coz I'll not be able to watch it live.. which mean, I have to download it later.. And for sure I can't control myself from seeing the result.. So, win is a must..
Seriously, I know we should win based on the recent form but el-classico is just different and I'm scared as hell..
prediction: 2 - 0
Hey Saira, where do you download these games from?
Just asking in case I am not able to watch barca on tv in the future. Would be really helpful.
hahahaha they have no left back
i dont think there is anyone who could do a better job at left back than ramos naw ,man they are so gonna kak
2-0
It is 6 Am and I have been awake for 3 hours now. My wife thinks that I am crazy and I probably am, but I am awake and for someone who made fun of Nic after posting his now "Why I am worried" article, I am about to go nuts. My jaws are so tight that I have unfortunately given myself a headache.I remember feeling this way right before I took my college entrance exam and right before the opening game of the 2002 World Cup or my wedding day:yes, I am nervous and I have every reason to be.
This is a day full of wonder and apprehension. I question everything. Will Barcelona show up?How did Yaya sleep? Is Valdes again ready to be the guy we all know he is? Will Samuel keep his head against his former team? What about Messi? Will there be a red card against one of our players?Who will score first?Can Abidal keep Higuain quiet?on and on and on. In these early cold hours of yet another Classico, I am full of wonder and as I sip on this hot coffee (suppossedly Colombian coffee), I am silently writing my book of questions in my head:For whom will there be hubris at the end of the day?
Love the passion Diatus, great comment.
Marca are saying this morning that Sneijder will start and Van der Vaart will be on the bench. They also put Sergio Ramos to mark Messi.
is SOM-HI NOIS spanish or catalan?
It's Catalan
Guardiola has named 22 players on the list for the game, only leaving out Iniesta. The players will report for duty at 20.15h at Camp Nou and Pep will then discard 4 players.
The 22 are: Valdés, Pinto, Jorquera, Alves, Cáceres, Puyol, Márquez, Piqué, Abidal, Sylvinho, Touré, Keita, Busquets, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Víctor Sánchez, Pedro, Hleb, Bojan, Eto'o, Henry, Messi.
alright, now to try to sleep...i'm getting up at 6am to watch the game. i'm so nervous - largely about my alarm not going off. that is, i'm worried that both of my alarms will somehow fail...i'm considering using my phone as a backup alarm for my backup alarm.
but i'm also nervous because, it's el classico. and because barca play soccer the way it was meant to be played. they play the beautiful game. and i would hate to live in a universe where the beautiful game doesn't triumph. let's go BARCA!!
Where I am it is about another 7 hours, I'm super Excited
, I cannot wait, it is gonna be great!
Diatus those are all important question, but I know in my heart that our boys will play with their heart and make us all proud.
Puyol must have higuan in his pocket, Messi will run rings around the R.M defence, Alves will be a monster motoring his way up and down the flanks causing the now fragile Casillas a host of problems, Xavi will orchestrate R.M downfall and Toure will crush anything in his way..
Visca El Barca, make Catalonia proud and send back the enemy with their tails between their legs
Barca 3-1
SOM-HI NOIS
--------------------------------Valdes---------------------------------
---------------------------Marquez-Puyol---------------------------
-------Alves---------------------------------------------Abidal------
-------------------------------Yaya Toure----------------------------
-----------------------Xavi-------------------Guddy------------------
--------------Messi------------------------------------Henry---------
-----------------------------------Eto'o---------------------------------
My Prediction: Barça 6 Madrid 0
jeeez im worried by some of the comments above,,, someone is gonna have a heart attack
chill guys it's just a game
No its not. Its El Clasico. This is much MUCH more...
blaugrana_namibia, this game is more than a game...
im making my way to the game.
band together guys, we are gonna win this one!
my name is amos frm nigeria berca will bet real Madrid. becuse are know my team berca is a good team and are like to be in berca
Welcome Amos. It's great to think how many people in so many different countries will be following the game. It clearly demonstrates the enormity of this fixture. Less than two hours to go now
I am NOT going to watch the game live !! Instead, I'll try to keep my nerves under control then check on the final score. If Barça win , I'll watch the replay if I can find it on the internet .
very light rain in Barcelona right now, should make the pitch fast - just as we like it
Any news yet on the starting 11 Nic????
Barça's team announced - it is as expected -
Valdés; Alves, Marquez, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Xavi, Gudjohnsen; Messi, Etoo, Henry.
Sneijder is in for Madrid, their line up -
Casillas; Salgado, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos; Gago, Guti, Sneijder, Drenthe; Raúl, Higuaín
We'll have to wait and see how their back four line up
i am from da caribbean and i am a real barca fan hope we win madrid by any score as long we win.
Juande Ramos's assistant says that Sergio Ramos will mark Messi
Oh, Nic, we have double Xavi?
Thanks a lot.. I like the look of our team.. and theirs to be honest..
Ramos on Messi means him attacking less AND Henry with Salgado.. I like the sound of that.. 
Here we go...
SOM-HI NOIS!!!!!
wishful thinking Aztecca
I just wanted to point out that the line-up you gave on post 38 has two times Xavi and 12 players for our side.
Subs as follows.
Barça - Jorquera, Caceres, Sylvinho, Keita, Busquets, Hleb, Bojan
Madrid - Dudek, Bueno, Anton, Van der Vaart, Javi Garcia, Palanca, Saviola
Why no Pinto or Piqué?
Aztecca - I know, I meant wishful thinking from me
FFS Alves....close down that right side.
Filthy tackles on Messi
Looking good so far. Madrid looking dangerous on counter. Need to score now to settle nerves
this ref is a serious punk, still has not figured out the negative tactics the 'def champions' are using, they've almost destroyed messi ankles, the fans need to be more vociferous
half time...very tight...domination but no goals? remind you of anything? hope this is not one of those days!
WHAT IS WITH PUYOL'S RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE? he takes on three guys from defence and gets tackled, leaving a massive gap at the back?
playing pretty well though
keep it up boys! lets get a win here!
We are playing well and I can tell you right now that we will win this!!!They can only park it for so long!!!
Back to the game.
The ref truly sucks...he should do a better job protecting Messi!!!
1-0 would do me just fine!
I'm glad to see the back of Sneider. He is their best player & very dangerous.
Hey amos from nigeria, my cats name is amos!!
Madrid playing a good counter attacking game - making me nervous!
Casillias is a monster in goal. WHY is Eto'o taking that???
ETO
that miss kills me
Madrid are playing their game so well. They are clearly out for the point & are doing a great job. Our decision making today really hasn't been the best.
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!
Puyol what a leap!
What a goal by Messi!
how good is this!!! 12 points up on our enemy!! WHAT A WINNNNN!
who thought we'd take 9 points from sevilla, valencia and madrid!!!
well done boys
2-0 to BARCA and 73% possesion in their favor = MADRID CABRON!!!!!!!
2-0 :
Barça 2-0 Real Madrid
There was no way I could have keept myself together watching this game . I just tuned in in the last minute . Good win . I bet the ref sucked tonight !!
the ref gave us a penalty but etoo missed...
I've just got one sentence for REAL MADRID......' You've got served'. 2-0.....what a score.....what a great Messi goal that even Iker Cassilas(The Best Goalkeeper in the world) and Fabio Canavarro(The Best Defender in the world) could do anything about. What a finish. what a goal. I'm so overjoyed. Nerve wrecking game!!
I thought Madrid played well tonight. Casillias had a cracking game. The ref actually did a good job too IMO.
Having said that - Barca weren't 100% today. What makes the win even better is this is what a true championship side does - grinds out results. Well done boys! It was worth getting up at 7:30am for!
I'll be cheering for Atletico and Deportivo tomorrow. If both win , Madrid will drop to 8th. place. Just fine with me !!
this match showed wat madrid have become, a negative tryin-to-keep-up team esp when they face up too a far more talented team, this can't be the face of la liga
fcb-darren has said it all, we weren't 100% and still won, that takes a lot of work
to you, nic
F**K those putosss....That's what those clowns deserve....After etoo's miss, I must say I was gettin worried...I didn't think we'd win at all...but i m glad I was proven..etto's goal was a bit lucky, but Messi's goal was pure class...and Hats offf to el capitan...You rock captain...
Correction:
If both Atletico and Deportivo win ,Madrid will drop to 7th. not 8th. Not even a crappy UEFA Cup spot. What a shame for the two-time defending champions !!
aussi-barça:
Last year Barça only managed 10 points in eight games against Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla and Madrid . This year, 9 points in just three games .That is more like it . Let's hope we get at least 20 points against these guys !!