All of Spain will likely come to a halt this Saturday evening as the decade’s first chapter of El Clasico unfolds. The defending La Liga champions Barcelona travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on bitter rivals, Real Madrid in what likely will decide this year’s Spanish league champion. Both clubs are knotted at 77 points apiece atop the La Liga standing with Real narrowly leading the tie breaker on goal difference by 1. With so much on the line and both teams clicking on all cylinders, this one is sure to be one for the ages.
Barcelona:
It’s no secret that Barcelona is on fire and it’s also no secret that the man lighting the match is reigning FIFA Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi. The 5 foot Argentine International has been on a goal scoring rampage and he showed he can do it when it counts in scoring all 4 goals in Barca’s 4-1 quarterfinal route of Arsenal. That win sends them through to the Champions League semifinals to face Inter Milan as they continue their title defense. However, while Messi is surely getting all of the publicity, football is a team game and Barcelona is no better example of that. They absolutely dominated possession against Arsenal and other than suffering an early counterattack mistake early on, they barely allowed the Gunners to even get a peek at the goal. When this Barca team is clicking, there truly may not be a team in the world that can beat them. In injury news, Eric Abidal has been ruled out of Saturday’s tie after suffering a thigh strain against Arsenal. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also questionable after suffering a calf injury last weekend and missing this week’s Champions League clash. On a positive note, Andres Iniesta saw some pitch time after recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to feature against Real.
Real Madrid:
Is it just me or have things been a little quiet from the Beranbeu? After being shockingly booted from the Champions League at the hands of now semifinalists Lyon, Real Madrid has been discreetly licking their wounds and pressing forward, gearing up for their title deciding showdown with Barcelona. Real is currently ahead on goal difference as both clubs are tied at 77 points apiece. However, the tie breaker shifts to head-to-head records after this weekend which makes claiming 3 points that much more vital for Los Galacticos. The good news for them? They are on a 12 match winning streak in league play and have not conceded a home defeat this season. The most important thing for Real, in my opinion, is to not solely rely on star winger Cristiano Ronaldo and for Cristiano Ronaldo not to think he must carry the team himself. They must play team football. If not, Barca may pick them apart. While all the hype has been about Messi, I could not think of a better opportunity for Ronaldo to remind the world who the best player in football is. He will however, be without one of his most important partners in Kaka who has been deemed unfit while he still recovers from a thigh injury. Also questionable is frontman Karim Benzema who is suffering from a groin strain. In his absence, look for Gonzalo Higuain to carry the attacking load, something he is surely accustomed to as he trails only Messi in league goals scored.
Barcelona:
It’s no secret that Barcelona is on fire and it’s also no secret that the man lighting the match is reigning FIFA Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi. The 5 foot Argentine International has been on a goal scoring rampage and he showed he can do it when it counts in scoring all 4 goals in Barca’s 4-1 quarterfinal route of Arsenal. That win sends them through to the Champions League semifinals to face Inter Milan as they continue their title defense. However, while Messi is surely getting all of the publicity, football is a team game and Barcelona is no better example of that. They absolutely dominated possession against Arsenal and other than suffering an early counterattack mistake early on, they barely allowed the Gunners to even get a peek at the goal. When this Barca team is clicking, there truly may not be a team in the world that can beat them. In injury news, Eric Abidal has been ruled out of Saturday’s tie after suffering a thigh strain against Arsenal. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also questionable after suffering a calf injury last weekend and missing this week’s Champions League clash. On a positive note, Andres Iniesta saw some pitch time after recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to feature against Real.
Real Madrid:
Is it just me or have things been a little quiet from the Beranbeu? After being shockingly booted from the Champions League at the hands of now semifinalists Lyon, Real Madrid has been discreetly licking their wounds and pressing forward, gearing up for their title deciding showdown with Barcelona. Real is currently ahead on goal difference as both clubs are tied at 77 points apiece. However, the tie breaker shifts to head-to-head records after this weekend which makes claiming 3 points that much more vital for Los Galacticos. The good news for them? They are on a 12 match winning streak in league play and have not conceded a home defeat this season. The most important thing for Real, in my opinion, is to not solely rely on star winger Cristiano Ronaldo and for Cristiano Ronaldo not to think he must carry the team himself. They must play team football. If not, Barca may pick them apart. While all the hype has been about Messi, I could not think of a better opportunity for Ronaldo to remind the world who the best player in football is. He will however, be without one of his most important partners in Kaka who has been deemed unfit while he still recovers from a thigh injury. Also questionable is frontman Karim Benzema who is suffering from a groin strain. In his absence, look for Gonzalo Higuain to carry the attacking load, something he is surely accustomed to as he trails only Messi in league goals scored.
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