View Poll Results: Real vs Barca... who will take tonights game??
Real
7
53.85%
Barcelona
6
46.15%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll
El Clasico (Dec. 10th 2011)
#1
12-10-2011, 01:28 AM
El Clasico (Dec. 10th 2011)
Tonight is the 1st leg of Real vs Barca. and here is what the two sides had to say yesterday...
BBC Sport - Barcelona coach says Real Madrid are stronger than last season
Goal.com had this to say
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola says Real Madrid are stronger than last season ahead of Saturday's first league El Clasico of the season.
While Guardiola gave his views, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho opted to send his assistant to speak to the media.
Real have won 12 of their first 14 league games and lead the Catalans by three points with a game in hand.
Guardiola said: "We have more at stake, and whoever is behind in the standings always feels a little more pressure."
Since Guardiola took charge, Barcelona have dominated Madrid with seven wins and three draws against only one loss across all competitions.
But the Barca coach feels Saturday's match at the Bernabeu could be their biggest test yet.
"They are stronger than they were last year," he said. "They know each other better, they have spent more time together and know what their coach demands of them.
"Above all we have to defend well, be quick with the transitions and pay attention to factors like the circulation of the ball. It will not be easy because they have a very intense game."
In the league Madrid have scored 49 goals in 14 games, and assistant coach Aitor Karanka said they would play an aggressive, attacking game with three forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria alongside either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain.
"It is not just a match like any other," Karanka said.
"But we are not going to change our way of working whatever the result is tomorrow.
"We could have a lead of four, six or nine points, that would not change our principles. We have to go after the three points like we always do."
While Guardiola gave his views, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho opted to send his assistant to speak to the media.
Real have won 12 of their first 14 league games and lead the Catalans by three points with a game in hand.
Guardiola said: "We have more at stake, and whoever is behind in the standings always feels a little more pressure."
Since Guardiola took charge, Barcelona have dominated Madrid with seven wins and three draws against only one loss across all competitions.
But the Barca coach feels Saturday's match at the Bernabeu could be their biggest test yet.
"They are stronger than they were last year," he said. "They know each other better, they have spent more time together and know what their coach demands of them.
"Above all we have to defend well, be quick with the transitions and pay attention to factors like the circulation of the ball. It will not be easy because they have a very intense game."
In the league Madrid have scored 49 goals in 14 games, and assistant coach Aitor Karanka said they would play an aggressive, attacking game with three forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria alongside either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain.
"It is not just a match like any other," Karanka said.
"But we are not going to change our way of working whatever the result is tomorrow.
"We could have a lead of four, six or nine points, that would not change our principles. We have to go after the three points like we always do."
MESSI V RONALDO
•Messi has 17 goals in 15 league starts this season, while Ronaldo has 17 in 14 games
•In all competitions Messi has 27 goals in 23 matches, compared to Ronaldo's 21 in 20
•Messi has 207 goals in 292 games in his Barcelona career, while Ronaldo has 107 in 109 for Madrid
•Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d'Or for the past two years, while Ronaldo won it in 2008
•Messi has 17 goals in 15 league starts this season, while Ronaldo has 17 in 14 games
•In all competitions Messi has 27 goals in 23 matches, compared to Ronaldo's 21 in 20
•Messi has 207 goals in 292 games in his Barcelona career, while Ronaldo has 107 in 109 for Madrid
•Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d'Or for the past two years, while Ronaldo won it in 2008
Last season's El Clasicos
Barcelona had the better of last season's tussles, thrashing Real 5-0 in the league and knocking their rivals out of the Champions League. Real's only victory in the last seven meetings came in last season's Copa del Rey final but Barca gained revenge with a 5-4 aggregate victory in the Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona had the better of last season's tussles, thrashing Real 5-0 in the league and knocking their rivals out of the Champions League. Real's only victory in the last seven meetings came in last season's Copa del Rey final but Barca gained revenge with a 5-4 aggregate victory in the Spanish Super Cup.
Jose Mourinho looks set to deploy Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back after the defender returned from injury in the midweek Champions League win over Ajax. Sergio Ramos and Pepe will continue their partnership at the heart of the defence, with Ricardo Carvalho still injured.
Xabi Alonso returns from suspension and will play alongside Lassana Diarra, while Sami Khedira is likely to be given the nod ahead of Fabio Coentrao to complete a three-man midfield.
Mourinho has already confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria will start the game in support of either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain.
Despite suffering concussion in last weekend's 5-0 victory over Levante, Carles Puyol is winning his battle to start at centre-half alongside Gerard Pique, with Barcelona set to opt for a four-man backline, although Pep Guardiola has indicated he has considered utilising a back-three, as he has done on several occasions this season.
Guardiola has no major injury woes and has a selection dilemma in midfield and attack. Sergio Busquets is expected to shield the defence with Xavi and Andres Iniesta likely to provide the creativity in the middle of the park.
David Villa is set to miss out again as Guardiola is likely to select Chile forward Alexis Sanchez on the left, with Cesc Fabregas deployed in the 'false nine' position and Lionel Messi reverting to a right-wing role.
Xabi Alonso returns from suspension and will play alongside Lassana Diarra, while Sami Khedira is likely to be given the nod ahead of Fabio Coentrao to complete a three-man midfield.
Mourinho has already confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria will start the game in support of either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain.
Despite suffering concussion in last weekend's 5-0 victory over Levante, Carles Puyol is winning his battle to start at centre-half alongside Gerard Pique, with Barcelona set to opt for a four-man backline, although Pep Guardiola has indicated he has considered utilising a back-three, as he has done on several occasions this season.
Guardiola has no major injury woes and has a selection dilemma in midfield and attack. Sergio Busquets is expected to shield the defence with Xavi and Andres Iniesta likely to provide the creativity in the middle of the park.
David Villa is set to miss out again as Guardiola is likely to select Chile forward Alexis Sanchez on the left, with Cesc Fabregas deployed in the 'false nine' position and Lionel Messi reverting to a right-wing role.
DID YOU KNOW?
•Real Madrid have won only one of their previous 11 meetings with their Catalan rivals (losing seven and drawing the other three).
•However, Los Blancos have won six out of eight of their last meetings versus Barcelona when the sides have met in the month of December (one defeat, one draw).
•Madrid have not dropped a single point after scoring first in Liga since the beginning of the 2009-10 campaign, with every other team dropping at least 18 points in this period.
•Barcelona have won only three of their last 10 Liga away fixtures, this coming after setting the record for most consecutive away victories last season (12).
•Lionel Messi has scored on his last five visits to the Santiago Bernabeu, netting a total of seven goals in the process.
•Pep Guardiola's men have scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other side in La Liga this season (11), while Madrid have netted the most strikes in the last 15 (10).
•Real Madrid have won only one of their previous 11 meetings with their Catalan rivals (losing seven and drawing the other three).
•However, Los Blancos have won six out of eight of their last meetings versus Barcelona when the sides have met in the month of December (one defeat, one draw).
•Madrid have not dropped a single point after scoring first in Liga since the beginning of the 2009-10 campaign, with every other team dropping at least 18 points in this period.
•Barcelona have won only three of their last 10 Liga away fixtures, this coming after setting the record for most consecutive away victories last season (12).
•Lionel Messi has scored on his last five visits to the Santiago Bernabeu, netting a total of seven goals in the process.
•Pep Guardiola's men have scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other side in La Liga this season (11), while Madrid have netted the most strikes in the last 15 (10).
Last edited by GrayTT; 12-10-2011 at 01:54 AM.
#6
12-10-2011, 07:41 AM
I really hope we have an exciting match without any sending offs and no violence on or off the pitch. I hope Barca play a 4-3-3 with Alves, Puyol, Pique and Abidal with Busquets, Xavi and Cesc in Midfield and upfront Iniesta on the left Messi down the middle and Alexis on the right with Cuencca and Villa as super subs. Visca el Barca!
#7
12-10-2011, 07:47 AM
Damnit I really shouldn't be looking forward to this game too much. Most likely the ref will be handing out penalties left and right to Barca while sending Reals players out just by touching Messi.
If only the refs can refrain from helping Barca this game has epic potential.
If only the refs can refrain from helping Barca this game has epic potential.
#8
12-10-2011, 08:28 AM
I really hope we have an exciting match without any sending offs and no violence on or off the pitch. I hope Barca play a 4-3-3 with Alves, Puyol, Pique and Abidal with Busquets, Xavi and Cesc in Midfield and upfront Iniesta on the left Messi down the middle and Alexis on the right with Cuencca and Villa as super subs. Visca el Barca!
#9
12-10-2011, 09:03 AM
In all honesty I think Real have what it takes to take Barca on especially at the Bernabu. It would be a shame if the reverted to physical "tactical fouling". I think it'll take the first twenty minutes to know who's comfortable and who's truly under pressure. They'll be clear indicators showing who's feeling the pressure. Barca will have trouble circulating the ball, forced to back pass and Valdes will be pressured to play long balls rather than playing it short to one of the back 4 ( or 3). Real might get physical if they feel the pressure with hard tackles left right and center.
#10
12-10-2011, 09:18 AM
No doubt Madrid is as strong as ever, but history is not the their side:
Since Guardiola took charge, Barcelona have dominated Madrid with seven wins and three draws against only one loss across all competitions.
Since Guardiola took charge, Barcelona have dominated Madrid with seven wins and three draws against only one loss across all competitions.