What: Spanish La Liga
Who: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
When: Saturday 10th December, 2011, at 21:00 UK time
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Examination
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid will be put under microscopic observation as they begin their preparations to welcome reigning Spanish and European champions Barcelona to the 216th edition of El Clasico, hyped as the most watched club football fixture in the world in the last few years. Famously blasting his squads to better in his second year in charge, this is a do-or-die for Mourinho’s team.
The Whites have been very comfortable in recent games, leading the league pack and qualifying for the knockout stage of the Champions League with flying colours, defeating Ajax 3-0 in Holland.
It was a match Mourinho fielded a weakened side in, but one that did include Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain, an exception that the Portuguese declared will not repeat itself against Barcelona: “It’s a normal game and we always play with one of the two. Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Angel] di Maria did not go today because they will play the next game, alongside Higuain or Karim [Benzema].”
Mourinho may eventually drop Mesut Ozil in favour of a three-man midfield consisting of Xabi Alonso, Lassana Diarra and Sami Khedira, as this system has proven to be effective whenever utilised against the Blaugrana last term.
Nothing Decided Yet
Thirteen goals in the last three games and none conceded speak volume for the world’s best side. The first league Clasico of the new campaign might be advantage Real Madrid, but Josep Guardiola’s side have had their fair share of Bernabeu triumphs, with the most memorable being a 6-2 win in April 2009. The champions have the chance to record another success here.
Barcelona find themselves three points behind Real Madrid in the domestic race, having also played an extra game. A defeat in the Spanish capital, coupled with a win for Los Blancos in their other game, could see a whopping nine-point gap open up between the two sides.
Such a theoretical margin however does not intimidate Barcelona kingpin and current FIFA Ballon d’Or nominee Xavi, who believes that there is much left to play for before conclusions can be drawn.
"If we did not win, there would still be many points”, acknowledged the Catalan, while conceding that Barcelona’s opponents are in an excellent form: “Madrid are doing well, with 11 straight wins in the league, and they have three more points than us… This is the first Clasico to arrive in three or four years in which Madrid are in better shape. They are physically strong.”
Recent form
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid
(26/11; La Liga)
Sporting Gijon 0-3 Real Madrid
(03/12; La Liga)
Ajax 0-3 Real Madrid (07/12; Champions League)
Barcelona:
Barcelona 4-0 Rayo Vallecano
(29/11; La Liga)
Barcelona 5-0 Levante (03/12; La Liga)
Barcelona 4-0 BATE Borisov (06/12; Champions League)
Key absences
Real Madrid: Ricardo Carvalho (doubt)
Barcelona: Ibrahim Afellay
Players to watch
Real Madrid – Sergio Ramos: The team’s vice captain has really established himself in the centre of defence in Ricardo Carvalho’s absence, as the Real Madrid back-four have never looked better. He now faces his most important task to date in keeping Lionel Messi quiet for the evening.
Barcelona – Lionel Messi: No player manages to bring down the Madrid juggernaut like Messi does. His wonder goal against Mourinho’s troops in last season’s Champions League semi-final remains one for the ages. The Merengue defence will have to put on the display of their careers should they want to bring his runs to a halt.
Match Prediction
Real Madrid have improved since their famous four meetings with Barcelona last spring, coming close to beating the Blaugrana in the Spanish Super Cup. Los Blancos’ form shows that they are the better side, at least on paper, but Cristiano Ronaldo and co. will have to dig deep in order to overcome the obstacle of Barcelona and Mourinho’s guidance might just hand them victory. Expect an epic night full of cards, controversy, and of course goals, with a 3-2 final score in favour of the hosts.
Key battles across the pitch will decide El Clasico. Read our preview of them here.
Real Madrid v Barcelona is the biggest clash in Spanish football. El Clasico is sure to be packed with great bets, but where is your money going? Make sure you visit OLBG for tips and to compare the current odds and betting markets available at all the important bookmakers.
