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In The Stands previews La Liga’s big Saturday night match as Real Madrid host Barcelona in the season’s first ‘El Clasico’.
There are some things in life which stand out as not-to-be-missed hallmark events and dates. We all know them; they include birthdays, Bank Holidays, Christmas Day, Easter, May Day, Valentines Day and of course VE Memorial Day come November.
For the football fan the list includes the opening day fixture to a new season, the Cup final, the UEFA Champions League final in May, as well as the first local derby against those retched neighbours.
To that list you can add the ‘El Clasico’. The clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona has become arguably the biggest club match on the continent as two of the most decorated clubs on planet Earth throw all including the kitchen sink at each other.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona, 2011
Saturday’s Spanish blockbuster will be the seventh time the pair have played one another this calendar year with the last few bouts being memorable in their own right.
Who can forget the UEFA Champions League semi-final double-header back in May, settled as it were by Lionel Messi’s masterful performance and goal at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 1st leg.
That win for Pep Guardiola’s men catapulted them to eventual European Cup success against Manchester United in the final at Wembley although Real Madrid did ensure Copa Del Rey success prior to the clash.
In both matches incidents were aplenty and the expected scuffles and confrontations often threatened to ruin the fine football on show.
But what emerged most clearly from those spate of Real Madrid vs Barcelona games was just how far Madrid have closed the gap on their eternal rivals.
Real Madrid Are Favourites
Bookies have marked Jose Mourinho’s men as the favourites ahead of Saturday’s encounter and perhaps for good reason.
Madrid have not dropped a single point after scoring first in La Liga since the beginning of the 2009/10 campaign and when it comes to finding the back of the net, Jose Mourinho’s men have a record to rival anybody on the continent.
19 goals in their last five games including three away to Valencia and four at home to Atletico Madrid is proof if any that Saturday’s hosts have a frontline to fear.
That coupled with the fact that Barcelona have won only three of their last 10 La Liga away fixtures, this coming after setting the record for most consecutive away victories last season (12) and suddenly it is easy to see why Los Blancos are favourites.
Barcelona Need A Strong Showing
Champions Barcelona come into the match on the back of a fine midweek performance against BATE Borisov in which their youngsters put on a fabulous display and ran out eventual 4-0 winners.
Interestingly enough Barca coach Pep Guardiola has been downplaying the significance of Saturday’s ‘El Clasico’ – insisting that win, lose or draw, the 2011/2012 La Liga crown will still be far from decided.
Nevertheless, it is not in the Barcelona spirit to not reach out for victory and the fact that La Blaugrana have won seven of their last 11 matches against Real (drawing three and losing 1) is proves that victory will once agian be the aim in the Spanish capital.
Madrid currently lead the table on 37 points, three ahead of Barcelona having played one game less. In this moment in time the momentum is arguably with the nine-time European Cup winners but there is also a feeling of nervousness or trepidation from even the most diehard Madrid fan.
The reason being that Barcelona have a certain Lionel Messi up front. That is of course the same Lionel Messi who has scored on his last five visits to the Santiago Bernabeu, netting a total of seven goals in the process. Somebody to fear? Well…yes!
Who Will Win?
The scene is thus set for another explosive encounter. Stars aplenty, celebrities on show and the eyes of the watching world tuned in just like they did seven times previous this year.
Christmas parties will be missed, the girlfriend will be left off the phone hook, the children packed off to bed early and the ‘night out’ with the lads cancelled because these two teams are ready to lock horns yet again.
DO NOT MISS IT!
See also: Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Team News & Predictions
Related posts:
- Real Madrid vs Barcelona: El Clasico Team News & Predictions
- VIDEO: Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Last 3 El Clasico’s At The Santiago Bernabeu
- Its Real Madrid v Barcelona Again! Spanish Super Cup Preview
- Valencia 2-3 Real Madrid; Barcelona 4-0 Real Zaragoza
- Barcelona v Real Madrid: UEFA Champions League Semi-Final Preview
