El Clasico preview: FC Barcelona – Real Madrid (Part 1)
The clash of the titans
Tonight at 20:00 hours GMT, the world will come to a standstill. Everything will be put on hold and hundreds of millions people will wait in anticipation as the eternal giants of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will lock horns at the legendary
Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.
Look far and close, go hunting in the suburbs of Buenos Aires or scratch the freeze of Moscow, no matter where you look, you will hard-pressed finding a rivalry felt greater than the El Clasico. Most would agree that the 12 games that
have been played in the league were all a mere build-up to this monumental clash. Comments such as “Mardid won, three points above Barca” and the likes were just too common in the footballing community.
The clash will be 161st League game between the two immortal sides and a victory for either side will get them the bragging rights over the whole of Spain until the return leg is played in the New Year.
Fifth star looming for Los Cules
The greatest footballing side on the planet – at the moment at least – locks horns against the mighty avalanche that is Real Madrid. El Clasico has a history worth paying for. Dig deep in the history books and the moth eaten archives,
you will not find a clash more anticipated than this one.
Blaugnara have shown their intent - like an assassin showing the glistening dagger to a prey - with an outrageous demolition of Almeria. If 8 – 0 score line is not a demolition, God knows what is. Pep Guardiola has not lost to Los Galacticos
in the four games he has played against them while wearing his managerial suit and will be desperate to add a fifth star on his CV.
The game could not have been more perfectly poised. Blaugnara are stationed second in the league just behind Mourinho’s men as only a solitary point – Barca have 31 points while Madrid have 32 – makes all the difference between the two.
Pretty much like gladiators sweating in anticipation, the two set of players will have had sleepless nights prior to the game, not knowing what awaits them. However, the players have tried to get upper hand through media.
“In this game Barcelona are favourites. We play at home, we are in very good shape and we have a burning desire to win” says Xavi while Dani Alves had this to add, “Monday will be a tough match, a very intense match, so hopefully we can keep up our form because
our opponent is motivated, but we know our own level and we will strive to meet our objective”
Mourinho set to be unleashed
Jose Mourinho has been there and done it all. Be it Premier league, Serie A or even the two polished Champions league medals on his drawing room walls, the manager has weaved his magic across the continent. The History don’t matter, he
is yet to win the El Clasico.
The greatest coach in the world – Sir Alex Ferguson might beg to differ – has made an awe-inspiring start at the white seat of Real Madrid. Madrid have played 19 games in all competitions, 15 victories and 4 draws – legendary stuff indeed.
The Portuguese will go four points clear at the top should his men register a victory. However, in this case, the points are purely secondary.
The tactician has a frosty relationship with his former employers as he sent Barca packing en route to Inter Milan’s Champions League triumph. The Special one had 12 games to formulate his master plan for the big occasion and tonight will
be the grand premiere.
Mourinho’s men replied to Barca’s 8 – 0 by thumping Athletic Bilbao with a 5 – 1 score line. Los Merengues had enough steam to roll down Ajax 4 – 0 in Amsterdam just a few days later. With a water tight defence, uncharacteristic of Madrid,
and a fearsome attack, Galacticos travel to Catalonia with Mourinho coat of arms on them to conquer the Camp Nou fortress.
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