Preview: Barça v Real Madrid

I predict Barca 2 Madrid 0. But who knows! Real Madrid have been really really good this season. But
idont know how good they are. Sure they won against Milan in CL. But how good are Milan (today) vs Barca? They won against A,Madrid but Forlan and Madrid had their chances! Madrid are ofcourse a very very good side, but i would be pretty dissapointet if we dont win this battle.

My lineup

Valdes

Alves
Pique
Puyol
Abidal

Xavi
Busquets
Iniesta

Messi
Villa
Pedro

We should not play with both Masherano and Busquets we are going to play like Barca always plays!

Thanks a lot Nic for that magnificient preview. But I don't think Pep has to alter the "WINNING ELEVEN" of;

VALDES

ALVES
PIQUÉ
PUYOL
ABIDAL

SERGIO B.
INIESTA
XAVI

MESSI
VILLA
PEDRO

The fact that RM is in form aint a strange situation. Last two seasons (Pep's first as head coach), no club defeated RM since we defeated them in first leg but we repeated the feat. Last season again, they lost only one match (I think against Athletic Bilbao) since we won them in d first leg & they were on a run of 13 stretch WINS before we met in d second. What happened? - I think we all know. We are the fever that ruins the soul of RM. Tomorrow is another day that will remembered for generations yet unborn. When RM & their Mourinho begin to fall apart like a pack of cards thrown from the top of a sky scraper, I expect Mou & Perez to perform the most honourable gesture -- RESIGN!!!

CheerS.

Thanks a lot Nic for that magnificient preview. But I don't think Pep has to alter the "WINNING ELEVEN" of;

VALDES

ALVES
PIQUÉ
PUYOL
ABIDAL

SERGIO B.
INIESTA
XAVI

MESSI
VILLA
PEDRO

The fact that RM is in form aint a strange situation. Last two seasons (Pep's first as head coach), no club defeated RM since we defeated them in first leg but we repeated the feat. Last season again, they lost only one match (I think against Athletic Bilbao) since we won them in d first leg & they were on a run of 13 stretch WINS before we met in d second. What happened? - I think we all know. We are the fever that ruins the soul of RM. Tomorrow is another day that will remembered for generations yet unborn. When RM & their Mourinho begin to fall apart like a pack of cards thrown from the top of a sky scraper, I expect Mou & Perez to perform the most honourable gesture -- RESIGN!!!

CheerS.

Well!!! when we talk about top eleven players our team BARCELONA has alot of good players, who ever Pep guardiola puts as the best eleven there will be no problem.
All I know is that Barcelona will be at its best
RM have'nt face a good team yet, plus there is nothing to worry about, Barcelona has humiliated Rm for the past few seasons, when i say humiliated is because they talk to much crap before the game,

Thanks Nic for a great Preview!

Aaaah, here we go again!

Like you Nic, I have been reading the spanish press and, although the stats you gave about the two teams are great ingredients for the classico of the century, I actually think that this game will end up being dirty with hard fouls and cards. I am not sure that I could give a clear rational for my argument but I feel the simple fact of losing will spell disaster for both teams.

1-Barcelona
I think that if Barcelona loses, then Rossell will have it hard with the fans. As 'crooked" as Laporta might have been, he won quite a few classicos. Yes, he lost some but won many more than he lost. The point being that, considering all that has been achieved in the last 2 years, it would spell the end of Barcelona's dominance of spanish football. That is bad for the president, bad for the players, bad for the coach, as Pep might be tempted to go elsewhere.

2-Real Madrid
It is obvious that after spending half a BILLION Euros in player acquisition in the past 2 years, they have nothing yet to show for it. Added to that they went all out and brought in the "special one", or the "dumb one", depending on your perspective. Losing this game to Barcelona would be such a bitter pill to swallow for everyone in Madrid, from Florentino Perez on down to Pedro Leon.It would effectively mean that nothing's changed. It would mean that they have not done enough to reach Barcelona's level. I am afraid there are going to be suicides (I hope not) in Madrid if Barcelona wins.

3-Culprits
*Sergio Garcia: look for Sergio Garcia to foul Pedro and Iniesta repetitively.
*Xavi Alonso:I think he will go hard at Xavi Hernandez and possibly try to put him out of commission.
*Khedira:This one will be after Busquets and Messi
*Pepe: "el bruto" will definitely get a card in this one.
*Marcelo: not a dirty player but the Brazilian duel with Alves on that side of the field will be interesting to watch.
Prediction: Barca 3 RM 0

Looking at how RM struggled agains Sporting, I think we will win Monday...may be hard but Barcelona will win.

I am worried about Carvalho, he is a dirt bird and I think he would do anything to get one over on any of the Barca players and I expext him to go in very hard on Villa, Messi or Pedro when ever he gets the chance. He will be all over Barca players once they get into the box with cynical tackles and pull backs, and the thing about him is that he always seems to get away with these type of fouls and I expect the classico to be no different.

Who's the ref? Not that that is what we should focus on, but I mean... I have watched La Liga for awhile and it just seems like there is an outside chance the arbitration could be a factor... just a hunch...

Well, I hope the ref for the game is strong enough to call things straight down to middle, in order to keep things under control, I have a small feeling RM players will be using underhanded tactics in order to get under our skin.

However, I'm sure the Barca players won't allow RM to get the better of them, and will give their all.

Barca 2-1

@Caleb - the ref is Eduardo Iturralde González who was the ref when we won 0-3 in the Bernabeu in 2005, he also reffed a Barça-Madrid at Camp Nou in 1999, Iturralde sent off Roberto Carlos in the 20th minute and Barça won 3-0. In Madrid they are complaining that he has been named ref, perhaps they could be talking about the fact that so far this season Madrid have had five penalties awarded in favour and none against, while Barça have not yet had one in favour and we have seen two awarded against us. Something funny going on?

Well well well!!!

The Spanish press can go on to utter or write whatever they choose to. All I know is that they (Real Madrid) stand in great awe of Barca. Tonight, it is!!! And 90 minutes will separate the two sides. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Mou and Perez would be simply doin' the most gentlemanly thing to RESIGN if Mou loses today's encounter.

REASON!!!

Perez has spent abominable millions of pounds over the years on both players and coaches all in the desperate bid to stop Barcelona and after the evident failure of these expenditures, resorted to employ the services of the "Inferior One" (Barca players, with smart work and the grace of God, will prove him so tonight).

My question for RM is : What will they do this time if get knocked out again by the Barca football maestros? Obviously, "GROSSLY DEVASTATED" would be the most sublime word to classify them.

It's a fight to finish tonight and I expect nothing less than a victory.

My Prediction:
Barca 3 -- 1 Real

Goodluck to us!!!

I can't wait this match. My betting pick is: LINK

what do you think?

Thanks Nic, that's good to hear about the ref. As you point out, it's rather astounding the number of penalties we're not awarded. But I think we're a better team for doing things the hard way. I'm firmly convinced that most of the teams in La Liga come out to play us with far more intensity and intent than when they meet Real. But, when we go to play in Europe, the constant challenge of the league (including the reffing) must be seen as a good thing.

I am very sure that Mourinho will stick to his familiar anti-Barça game plan :
1-He will "park the bus" for most of the game especially in the first half . I look for a 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation with 8-9 men behind the ball . Mourinho did the same thing with Chelsea and Inter every time he faced Barça . He will do the same this year .
2-I agree with Diatus and Lon-A-Barca about the prospect of RM turning this game into a dirty affair . Nothing is beneath Mourinho: he will do anything in order to win including cheating and excessive fouling . I remember him sending Del Horno to take Messi out of the game while he was with Chelsea . Messi will be double and treble teamed and hacked every time he touches the ball . I would NOT be surprised if Mourinho decided to use Lassana Diarra as part of his strategy to "go after " Messi , Xavi and Iniesta .
3- Mourinho will be quiet content with defending en mass . RM will rely mainly on the "counter " attack . I doubt if they do too much attacking unless they were too far behind .
4- One little detail that no one has mentioned yet : Cristiano Ronaldo DIVING all over the pitch . Let's hope the referee does not get fooled into rewarding cheating Ronaldo with a penalty as a result of one of his dives .
A victory for Barça tonight will be a victory for football over greed , cheating and win-at-all-cost mentality .
Barça 3-1 Real Madrid .

Interesting preview Nic especially with the stats. I do think this Classico after many years sees BOTH Barca and RM close to if not at the peak of their powers. Usually its the case of one going up and the other struggling in either La Liga or the CL. Barca have been picking up momentum steadily over the past few weeks and RM even when they haven;t been at the top of their game, have still managed to collect their 3 points in La Liga nearly every week. RM have not been beaten in either La Liga or the CL this season under The Irritating One.

I agree that this is not a Messi Vs CR7 showdown especially with the riches of talent in both sides.If things do get ugly which they nearly always do when Mou's teams square of against Barca, then anything can happen. Rash tackles, flaring tempers and an abundance of playacting should result in half a dozen or so bookings and maybe even a sending off. If we get this kind of match then a single goal will settle it. Gosh I still remember that horrible Classico when Julio Baptista nicked one against us and that settled the match.

Lets just hope I'm wrong and the Irritating One goes all out to attack rather than parking the bus and hitting us on the counterattack with CR7 and Co.

Go Barca!

Oh btw, while I'm going to get a lot of stick for this but if I were Pep, I'd have gone in with a 4-2-3-1 formation [to shock Mou and Co.]:

Valdes- Abidal-Puyol-Pique-Alves-Sergei-Masch-Villa-Xavi-Iniesta and Messi in a free role upfront to torment Pepe and Carvalho. I think Sergei alone will not be able to cope with both Alonso and Khedira and having Masch in tandem with Sergei will tilt the midfield battle in our favour.

Having not posted for months - and aside from a "whut-up" in mock hip hop lingo to Nic and the regulars - I just want to say VISCA BARCA!

(2-1 - Villa to score first in the 33rd minute, Leo to get the second halfway through the second half, Sergio Ramos to get a consolation goal from a headed corner in the last minute of the game, Ronaldo to lie on the ground beating it with his fists like a spraytanned baby at least once in the game, Mourinho to blame the ref (what he has already?))

im at the camp nou right now!

@ LokiFCB

Great to see you back in action Loki.

@ Blaugranaboy

Cheer all your heart out!

I am very anxious about the game.

I hope Barca win this game to shut Mourinho up. Plus I'm going to watch the game with a friend who is a Real supporter and if they win he will be shouting in my ear, jumping around and just annoying me in general. Maybe thats the way Real supporters carry on, when Barca beat Real I normally give him the silent treatment and don't really say to much to him. Its probably just that Barca fans have class and Real fans like their team have no class

@Wikd14

Good to be back typing - but I have been reading all your comments guys!

I'm so nervous too - I only got through the last few hours by filling out a mortgage application which is somewhat distracting!

@Blau - make sure you flip Mou the bird!

@ Lon - keep it classy, in the words of Ron Burgundy!

@ Pab - mi amigo!

@ Nic - best blog as always!

Right, time to start drinking.

Just got home from work. Watching the preview on ESPN Deportes. RM just walked on the pitch to heavy jeers.

@Blau

I am so jealous dude!!! ENJOY ENJOY MY FRIEND!

hi

Half time 2-0

Not until the fat lady boys.

Damn I'm envious of you B Boy. Hope your enjoying it my friend.
Give a cheer for us boys here!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Barca are dominating RM

4-0

Blaugrana boy, Hope u are having a ball. I'm jealous...

Barca are playing brilliantly

!!!!!

We're No1 Guys.



Just where we belong.

Hope you enjoyed that Nic.

I've said it before, Number 1 team, Number 1 Blog.

Thanks Nic

I pray that Messi's injury isn't serious those bastards went for his legs after losing I wished that Pep took him off @ 75 mins.

Wow. Did that really just happen? I felt confident going into this game but not in my wildest dreams did I imagine we would ever see such a dominant performance over Madrid. They had ONE shot on target. ONE. All their money, all their stars, all their counter attacking flair.... did they ever once really threaten us? I dont remember one really dangerous attack from them. We snuffed them out so qucikly everytime they got close to us.

I am so proud right now I am not even sure how to express it.

Every player should get a 10 in my book for tonights performance. Not a single player stopped running for the full 90. What a team.

Ronaldo btw is not even worthy of shinnig Messi's boots. He is so far behind Messi in every aspect of the game I find it shocking how anybody can even try and compare them. Such a classless git as well.

THE BOY'S FROM MADRID HAS KNOWN THERE FATHER WHEN IT COMES TO FOOTBALL UP BARCA, UP PEP, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

Real Madrid two points behind after a 2-0 victory over Valencia. Villarreal, in third, has 30 points after a 1-0 win over Sevilla.

LINK