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Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview
The big one is here. Real Madrid vs Barcelona. Two of the worlds biggest clubs. It is the grand daddy of all derbies. The blockbuster showdown that needs no more introduction.
For me, this is the most important match of the season for Real Madrid, for two reasons. One, is that this is the El Clasico which means that we simply cannot loose this game, no matter what the situation is. Second, Real Madrid need the 3 points to close the gap on Barcelona.
It may also help other teams such as Sevilla and Valencia. I just don’t want Barcelona to run away with the title.
Real Madrid are currently sitting 4rth in the table, a woping 9 points behind Barcelona. If Barcelona win this then I am afraid, the lead is going to be unimaginably big for Real Madrid to cut down in the second half of the season.
While many pundits have declared that Real Madrid are going to get thrashed by Barcelona because of the recent form of both the teams. Real Madrid playing their worst football in 3 years and Barcelona playing their best football, defensively and offensively, in 3 years.
Barcelona have scored the most this season and have conceded the least. They are top of the table. Top of the Champions League table. They have humiliated sides infront of their opponents own home fans and at their fortress Camp Nou, they have just decimated teams.
While, I can go on for another half and hour of how Barcelona are in better shape than Real Madrid in every sense of the word, at the moment. Let me just put an end to this by saying that In El Clasico, stats are about as useful as a garbage can.
When Fabio Capello was incharge, everyone thought Real Madrid would get thumped in both of the league matches between these two and the stats supported that opinion but what happened?
Real Madrid won at the Bernabeu 2-0 and drew at Camp Now 3-3 (Barcelona barely stayed with Real Madrid and that only because of the player known as Lionel Messi, who scored the 3 goals, one in the 90th minute).
The Situation was more or less the same last season when Schuster was in charge. Real Madrid again beat Barcelona 0-1 at Camp Nou, again proving that in El Clasico, form does not matter.
It’s just not a regular match between regular players. Last time I checked. All the FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR were from these two teams in the last decade or so (excluding 2007 and 2008).
Real Madrid annihilated Barcelona in their last meeting, at Bernabeu. We beat Barcelona 4-1. Thrashed them.
This time, I am not expecting the same but I am not expecting Real Madrid to make a fool of themselves in front of Barcelona fans either.
Last time around, Barcelona had to make an Guard Of Honour for Real Madrid players, as we had already clinched the title before the Clasico. That was one of the most dispicable of insults imaginable to Barcelona.
Now, 7 months later. The two teams have literally swapped fortunes. Real Madrid have been surrounded by crisis, injuries, management problems and dressing room problems which lead to our star man Robinho leaving the club and Schuster getting sacked.
And while all this was happening at the white house. Our eternal rivals, were flourishing. Messi, Eto’o and Henry, combined many times, destroying teams within half an hour time period. Barcelona brought new faces into the squad in the summer while Real Madrid weakened their’s. Barcelona changed the coach but did not change their philosphy of how football should be played.
Real Madrid on the other hand, had all sorts of problems relating to that. Some fans (and directors alike) wanted results while others wanted flow, rhythm and magic football which lead to Schuster making insane decisions (in order to keep both sides of the sea happy).
Barcelona look invincible at the moment, they are untouchable. On current form, there aren’t many managers around the world who are denying the fact that Barcelona is going to sweep everything this season (League and Champions League). No one in Europe is dominating as much as Barcelona is currently dominating.
Barcelona have literally destroyed everyone of their title rivals. Only Real Madrid and Villareal have not come in their way to live through the force the battering that Barcelona has given to teams like Sevilla (0-3, away from home) to Valencia (4-0) at home and not to mention, Atletico Madrid (6-1 at home).
May be Barcelona should thank Real Madrid for thumping them 4-1 seven months ago which paved way for the sacking of Rijkaard, Ronaldinho and Deco and brought the revolutionist in Guardiola.
Such as been Barcelona’s form that it even lead to a sacked coach. Bernd Schuster out of desperation said that Real Madrid has no chance of winning at Camp Nou and that was enough for Mijatovic to relieve him of his duties. Schuster became the 7nth coach to get the axe in the last 5 and a half years at Real Madrid.
I think, Schuster sacking was imperative to get the players motivated again. I think, it all but natural that player do tend to loose some of their drive and hunger when there are no new challenges for them to overcome. Now with, Juande Ramos, all the players have a new challenge and that is , they have to prove their worth to the coach or else, warm the bench for good.
Schuster did not improve or expand on his strategies which he used to win us the title last season. He had the same tactics and the same game plan for this season which the opponents had learned to neutralize.
Starved of new ideas, Madrid eventually turned to the only thing they had left to get them out of trouble: true grit and determination.
Along came Juande Ramos, who was given with the task of driving the team out of their stagnant state.
Predrag Mijatovic, will be hoping that the more adventurous and attacking-minded ex-Sevilla coach will bring a fresh ideology to their game and a rejuvenated, positive mindset to take on the beast that is Barcelona.
Juande Ramos has not had the time to prepare for this clash which may be the deciding factor in the end but I am thinking that all Real Madrid players must bring out their game and all their experience, from their childhood inter school matches to matches played in La Liga with Real Madrid, into this game to save Real Madrid from a potentially, a titile ending defeat.
Here is the form guide for both the teams, if you must know.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
Dec 09 Barcelona 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Dec 06 Barcelona 4-0 Valencia (LA LIGA)
Nov 29 Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Nov 26 Sporting CP 2-5 Barcelona (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Nov 23 Barcelona 1-1 Getafe (LA LIGA)
Real Madrid
Dec 10 Real Madrid 3-0 Zenit St. Petersburg (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Dec 07 Real Madrid 3-4 Sevilla (LA LIGA)
Nov 29 Getafe 3-1 Real Madrid (LA LIGA)
Nov 25 BATE Borisov 0-1 Real Madrid (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Nov 22 Real Madrid 1-0 Recreativo Huelva (LA LIGA)
Real Madrid Team News
Arjen Robben and Marcelo will both be suspended, leaving a huge gap to fill down the left flank. Either Sergio Ramos or Míchel Salgado will be tasked to occupy the leftback role while Royston Drenthe, who has shaken off a minor knock he picked up in midweek training, will deputise in attack.
It will be interesting to see how Juande Ramos solves this puzzle. He doesn’t have a recognised left back and on top of that, the team we are facing in this match will have their best player (and argueably, the world’s best player) in the position.
That is certainly not what Juande Ramos wanted to see in his first game as incharge of Real Madrid vs Barcelona.
Pepe, Miguel Torres, Mahamadou Diarra, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben de la Red complete the absentee list.
Sniejder has recovered in time for this clash and may play.
Goalkeepers
Casillas, Dudek
Defenders
Salgado, Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Chema Antón, Agus
Midfielders
Gago, Guti, Drenthe, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Javi García
Forwards
Raúl, Higuaín, Saviola, Bueno, Palencia
I think Juande Ramos has a problem at the left back position so I can’t predict on that.
Juande Ramos has tabbed Castilla’s Bueno, Agus, Chema Antón and Palanca to round out the Madridista expedition to Barcelona
I think Van Der Vaart, Guti, Gago and Drenthe are going to make up the midfield. Guti and Van Der Vaart will do all the creative tasks in the attacking side and Gago will make sure that the back four is well protected. I think, he can manage the midfield on his own.
Upfront, no doubt, it is going to be Raul and Higuain. Raul with all his experience and never say die attitude and Higuain with his electric form (which by the way, has earned him the nickname “Real Madrid’s Messi”. Now that is one nickname he will not be proud off).
The Back four may be Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder and one youth team player or Salgado ofcourse.
One thing I want Juande Ramos to keep in mind is that, the left back (which ever the one he chooses) must have pace otherwise Lionel Messi is going to rip his heart out, therefore, Salgado should be excluded from the possible candidate for left back.
Real Madrid have to have a plan against Barcelona’s key players. Namely, Henry, Eto’o, Messi, Keita, Xavi and ofcourse Daniel Alves.
Raul and Higuain will have to run themselves to the ground tonight in order to stop Daniel Alves joining with Messi on the flank and really creating a blizzard for Real Madrid.
Raul and Higuain must put Barcelona’s defenders under immense pressure so whenever these defenders get the ball, they are forced to smack it back towards the ball rather than relaying it to Xavi or Messi.
Xavi and Messi are both individual players, who can win games all by themselves. It is just unfair to have so much talent in one single team. Messi is the speed daemon and Xavi is the Sniper.
Xavi can quietly destroy the opponents defence without leaving a trace with his slick and accurate passing. He can control the game like hell with his skills and vision for the game.
Messi, doesn’t need to do that. He can just pick up the ball and start running. No one has the legs to stay with him let alone tackle him.
Real Madrid will have to play as a unit tonight, otherwise, we could well be looking at a score of 4 to 6-0 for Barcelona.
Casillas is going to have to bring out his A game, not the one he displayed in the previous 2 weeks. Gago, is going to have to work really hard and help out both the wing backs against Messi and Henry.
Raul and Higuain will have to be sharp tonight. This Barcelona defence is way more stubborn than the last season one. We will have to convert, any chance that falls in our path otherwise Barcelona will punish us.
Casillas will probably get bombarded with shots from all corners. Messi from the left and Henry from the right. Eto’o from the middle too.
I think this game (for Real Madrid) is going to be decided by a piece of magic football like the one Real Madrid created last time at Camp Nou, Baptista and Van Nistelrooy were the stars in that goal. Both are not present in this game.
Robben and Robinho, both are not available for this game (who also performed at a very high level last time in Camp Nou). The Later will never be available though.
Prediction
If Sniejder plays at his best, I think Real Madrid will win and if Real Madrid win, I am dead sure that Real Madrid will win the title come the end of the season.
If Real Madrid draw, than I think Barcelona is going to sweep this year’s title and I am not even going to think about Real Madrid loosing this match because if that happens. Juande Ramos will get the sack no matter what, at the end of the season (assuming he doesn’t win the Champions League)
Here are some pre match comments from Juande Ramos
How well prepared for the Barcelona match do you think your team is?
I think the players are very excited about it. You don’t need to do much to motivate them. We have to climb positions in the league and we are convinced of our chances to win tomorrow. There’s never a clear favorite.
Do you think Sergio Ramos is the ‘antidote’ for Messi?
Sergio has my total support. I’m sure everyone will do a good job. Playing with five defenders is a valid possibility because one must use different systems to achieve the goals at hand.
What do you think of Barcelona?
There’s nothing I can say to highlight how good they are. They are playing very well and we will therefore have to pay attention to several aspects of their game. I think we can manage.
Do you think your team can pull off a draw? Will Sneijder play?
I only think about winning the match. ‘Draw’ is a word that doesn’t exist in my vocabulary. The doctors are thinking about what to do with Sneijder tomorrow. We miss several players and we must also take good care of the ones we still have.
You won at Camp Nou several years ago with Rayo Vallecano. How did you motivate your men back then?
I really don’t remember. All I remember is that there were two or three games left in the season and that nothing was at stake for us, so we won.
Barcelona are clear favourites on all the betting boards…
Then tomorrow is clearly a great day in which to become a millionaire if you bet on us.
What do you know of De la Red’s situation?
I’ve only focused on the technical aspects of the game. I only know I won’t be able to count on him.
You managed to defeat Barcelona also in the European Super Cup when they were clear favourites…
This situation reminds me of that one. Everyone bet on Barça to win, and that greatly motivated us.
Have you started to leave your mark on the team?
It will be more noticeable as time moves on. This is the first day in which we’ve managed to properly train with the squad. It’s normal for the players not to be sure of what I expect of them at this stage.
How’s the morale on the squad?
The victory against Zenit has done us a lot of good. My players’ confidence is greater than before the clash and we hope it will be even greater next week if we win tomorrow.
What do you think of the job Guardiola is doing as Barcelona’s coach?
Guardiola is doing a great job and could begin a new era if he continues to do this well. The team plays excellent football, but their style can be fought with hard work and high levels of concentration. I think we can win tomorow.
What will be the key to winning the game?
The start of the match will be very important. Our confidence could be undermined if we concede an early goal, but I think we can win even if that happens.
You are the boss of six Dutch players…
Good players always have room on any team. They must have done something well in order to be here. They will have to do their best for the Club. I believe Van der Vaart and Sneijder can play together.
Come on Real Madrid, I know we can do this. Yes, we can, YES!!! we can. let’s do it. Let’s go. Let’s hurt someone. Go Madrid. Do it for the fans.
HALA MADRID.
