Barcelona host Real Madrid in 'El Clasico'
It is the most compelling, and highly anticipated, match of the year when Real Madrid head to Camp Nou to take on Barcelona in La Liga on Monday 29 November with top spot in the league standings up for grabs.
Previous meetings and recent games
Barcelona have won the last four meetings between these two sides as Madrid have not beaten their Spanish rivals since 2008.
In recent seasons, Barcelona have established their dominance in Spain in winning the last two league titles including an unprecedented treble of league, cup, and Champions League glory two seasons ago.
But things have changed now that Jose Mourinho has arrived in Madrid as the historic club from the Spanish capital looks to reassert itself as the team to beat in Europe. Madrid are currently one point in front of Barcelona in the Spanish Primera and most
recently qualified for the UEFA Champions League knock-out phase with an easy 4-0 victory over Ajax to finish top of their group. That victory was not without its share of controversy though as Madrid were accused of intentionally getting players sent off
so as to wipe away where their caution records heading into the next stage of the tournament. UEFA is now conducting an investigation into the players involved and Mourinho as well.
Barcelona have not been quite so dominant this season as Madrid, but they continue to get wins. They won their most lopsided victory of the season in La Liga last weekend when they defeated Almeria 8-0. Barcelona also achieved qualification for the knock-out
phase of the Champions League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Panathinaikos in midweek.
How they match up
There are numerous interesting personal battles in this fixture. Up front there is the obvious battle between the most dominant football players in the world – Argentine Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo for Madrid. Both are on a
furious scoring pace this season with Ronaldo just edging out Messi by a single goal, 14 to 13.
In goal there is the battle between Spain's top two keepers. Madrid's Iker Casillas has long been Spain's number one, but Barcelona's Victor Valdes is beginning to seriously contend for the position.
There is also the battle up front between two of this summer's leading goal scorers from the World Cup – Barcelona's David Villa who scored five goals for Spain, and Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain who scored four goals for Argentina.
In what could be the most interesting matchup is Barcelona's midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez lining up against Madrid's German duo of Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. In the summer's World Cup it was the Spanish trio who
came away winners by a score of 1-0 in the semi-final against Germany.
What to expect
Jose Mourinho can expect a rude welcoming when he walks into the Camp Nou after he led Inter Milan over Barcelona in last season's Champions League. Both teams are carrying their share of momentum into the game and although the Camp Nou always provides a
hostile environment for any visiting team, it is the only Spanish stadium where Barcelona have dropped points this season.
The two teams have not produced a draw since they drew 3-3 back in 2007. Back Barcelona to win 3-2.
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