Madrid: Once again the two heavy weights of Spanish football, Real Madrid and Barcelona, face each other in La-Liga tie, with Barcelona having a mammoth 16-point lead at the top of the table. The two teams face off again, since they last met less than a week ago, where the Los Blanco’s stunned their bitter rivals with an all round industrious performance to win the tie 4-2 on aggregate in the Copa-del-rey semi-final tie. The Catalans had hardly recovered from their defeat in Milan, when they again faced a big blow to their treble winning ambition this season.
The 11! :
Real Madrid will put out a strong team on the field as they have nothing to lose and will go all guns blazing against the Catalans. Kaka and Modric are sure starters for today’s match. The manager is playing a safe game by resting his players with the second leg tie coming up against Manchester United. It was rumored that the two top scorers from the previous tie, the prodigy Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, will start as a substitute. It is to be seen what would be the tactics of Jose Murinho.
Meanwhile, the Catalans will look to avenge the humiliating defeat they suffered at home in front of their supporters. However, the bad news didn’t end on the field for Barca on Tuesday as Lionel Messi missed training on Wednesday morning and has been treated for fever like symptoms.
With Barca’s Champions League return with Milan not until March 12 there is not the same pressure on assistant manager Jordi Roura to rotate his side, but even if Messi is fit there have been widespread calls for David Villa to be handed a start with Cesc Fabregas the most likely candidate to drop out.
Xavi and Alex Song also missed training on Wednesday but both are expected to be fit.
CR7 VS La-Pulga!
An EL-Classico would be incomplete without the two best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and 4 time Ballon d'or winner, Lionel Messi. Messi has been going through heavy criticism with the press in Spain with his lowly performances in the last two games against AC Milan and Real Madrid. Ronaldo on the other hand, is in an invincible form, scoring 3 times in last 2 appearances. Messi would like to turn the tables on Ronaldo and put out a good and strong display of team work this time around.
I’ve Seen it All..!:
29th November 2010: Barcelona 5 - Real Madrid 0
16th April 2011: Real Madrid 1 – 1 Barcelona
10th December 2011: Real Madrid 1 - 3 Barcelona
21st April 2012: Barcelona 1- Real Madrid 2
7th October 2012: Barcelona 2- Real Madrid 2
I say:
I think Real Madrid will have a definite edge over Barcelona in this match. They have all the confidence in the world and with the crowd behind their backs; they will take some stopping. The Catalans cannot be underestimated though. It will be a test of character for Roura’s men to get a positive result out of this game.
[polldaddy poll=6906294]
The 11! :
Real Madrid will put out a strong team on the field as they have nothing to lose and will go all guns blazing against the Catalans. Kaka and Modric are sure starters for today’s match. The manager is playing a safe game by resting his players with the second leg tie coming up against Manchester United. It was rumored that the two top scorers from the previous tie, the prodigy Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, will start as a substitute. It is to be seen what would be the tactics of Jose Murinho.
Meanwhile, the Catalans will look to avenge the humiliating defeat they suffered at home in front of their supporters. However, the bad news didn’t end on the field for Barca on Tuesday as Lionel Messi missed training on Wednesday morning and has been treated for fever like symptoms.
With Barca’s Champions League return with Milan not until March 12 there is not the same pressure on assistant manager Jordi Roura to rotate his side, but even if Messi is fit there have been widespread calls for David Villa to be handed a start with Cesc Fabregas the most likely candidate to drop out.
Xavi and Alex Song also missed training on Wednesday but both are expected to be fit.
CR7 VS La-Pulga!
An EL-Classico would be incomplete without the two best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and 4 time Ballon d'or winner, Lionel Messi. Messi has been going through heavy criticism with the press in Spain with his lowly performances in the last two games against AC Milan and Real Madrid. Ronaldo on the other hand, is in an invincible form, scoring 3 times in last 2 appearances. Messi would like to turn the tables on Ronaldo and put out a good and strong display of team work this time around.
I’ve Seen it All..!:
29th November 2010: Barcelona 5 - Real Madrid 0
16th April 2011: Real Madrid 1 – 1 Barcelona
10th December 2011: Real Madrid 1 - 3 Barcelona
21st April 2012: Barcelona 1- Real Madrid 2
7th October 2012: Barcelona 2- Real Madrid 2
I say:
I think Real Madrid will have a definite edge over Barcelona in this match. They have all the confidence in the world and with the crowd behind their backs; they will take some stopping. The Catalans cannot be underestimated though. It will be a test of character for Roura’s men to get a positive result out of this game.
[polldaddy poll=6906294]
