Preview: Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Placed the pieces on the board, the first consideration is that Real Madrid and Barcelona face the game tonight without holding anything back, such as if after today would not be world nor the Spanish Cup Final next Wednesday. That generosity (apparent) at the time of raising the battle is great news for the show, but it is intriguing. It is difficult to believe that two good strategists such as Mourinho and Guardiola, when face four Classics, have not distinguished between each other. And today should be the least important of all them, especially for Barcelona, unless they think that each match will be sports and emotionally connected to the next, or unless the plan, savage and primitive, is none other than the annihilation of the opponent.

Pepe returns to the fold following his suspension against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. Benzema and Khedira have also made Mourinho's the cut for the match following their league suspensions last weekend. Karanka, who makes efforts to look bad, chanted Mourinho's speech and then said that the delivery of training bibs had been randomized (Pepe, Di Maria and Benzema did not dress as starters), what makes us bet on a team with them and Marcelo in the midfield, without missing any star: Xabi and Cristiano (no goals in six games against Barcelona).That is, luxury starting lineup, with the only caution of Arbeloa on Messi, if Messi does not surprise relocating himself to the forward position or in midfield with Xavi, because Guardiola has tested all in the "Classics" and with undoubted success.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has recovered centre back Puyol for the match, but won't be able to count on Bojan and Abidal. Mascherano will also miss the game due to suspension. New faces on the squad list save for Puyol are youth teamers Dos Santos and Thiago. The novelty is already known: Busquets as central defense. It is in that position and in the left defense with Maxwell where there are the only two fissures of Barcelona, ​​which in its last five victories against Real Madrid was always accompanied by Puyol, Valdés, Alves and Messi.

As always, the midfield duel seems decisive. Without Lass (injured) and Granero (suspended), Mourinho will need the work of Marcelo and Di Maria in the defense and football creatiion. Guardiola's obsession is to avoid the withering counter-attacks of Madrid.

Real Madrid are currently the best home side in the championship with 14 wins in 15 fixtures at the Bernabeu; they've scored 46 goals and conceded only 7 at the stadium. On the other hand, Barcelona are the best visiting side in the competition thanks to earning 13 victories and two draws outside Camp Nou; they have netted 43 strikes and conceded just 6 as visitors.

Notes:

• Warning: May occur sometinhg as described or completely different. Because, although there is no top hats in sight, do not dismiss that tonight we will see some rabbits out.
• 5-0: The result of the first round could weigh on the game. Has Madrid learned the lesson? Will prepare Mourinho something special? Can Barcelona have the same ambition?
• Barcelona defense, with Abidal injured, Mascherano suspended and Puyol out of fitness, will be tested by an attack that moves at the speed of light.

Four Real Madrid vs Barcelona... in 1916

In the coming days await four "Classic", but it is not the first time something like that happens. Moreover, the origin of the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona lies precisely in four legendary matches that both clubs played in the Spanish Cup in 1916. Three of them were held in April, as is the case on this occasion. Until then, there was no a very large antagonism between them. They do not even occupy the highest place in the rankings, a place that, until the Civil War, was owned by Athletic de Bilbao.

Real Madrid 1916

Spanish Cup semi-final in 1916 faced Barcelona and Real Madrid, the leading candidates to unseat the champion, Athletic de Bilbao. In Barcelona, ​​the Catalans won the match by 2-1, but in the second leg, white team beat 4-1.According to the regulations of the time, there was not goal difference, so a third match had to be played. And so began a rivalry that if it dies, it's because football is also dead.

At that time, the teams were amateurs and had to cut costs, so that the third meeting was held two days after the previous, also in Madrid. The tiredness of the players favored for fans to enjoy an epic match and insurmountable emotion: Match needed an extension that did not solve anything, because the final scorewas a draw 6-6, a scoreboard, contrary to popular belief , so unusual at the time such as now. The regulation time ended 4-4, after several ups and downs in the score. In overtime, Real Madrid scored first, but Barcelona managed to get ahead with two goals. However, three minutes from time, Santiago Bernabeu scored a penalty. It was the third penalty the whites throwing in the match, one of whom had been failed by the future president.

The fourth and final match was held the next day, a football marathon unparalleled today. Bernabéu missed a penalty just before the final and could not prevent the draw 2-2 before the ninety minutes. In the extension, the Real Madrid scored twice, but the Catalans felt that the second goal had been achieved in an offside position and they left the field with seven minutes to play, so the locals were classified for final they would lose against the great Athletic Bilbao (4-0).

Thus began a long series of mutual recriminations by favoritism arbitration, which has resonant episodes in the Spanish Cup, and later in the League and European Cup. Those pioneers did not know, but had begun the fiercest rivalry in the history of Spanish football.

Valdano: "Real Madrid is in progression"

The general manager of Real Madrid, Jorge Valdano, analyzed the Rally of "Classics" of football that is awaiting in the coming days and said that the difference between whites and Barcelona is not as big as a priori is thought: "The perception is that Barcelona are beating its rivals, but has won many Ligas and Champions League, in this century, as those won by Real Madrid", noted the former Real Madrid player.

Valdano said that each match has its own history and that the result of one does not influence the rest: "Every game is going to require a different response. The Spanish Cup Final is a life or death match. In Champions League, is the same with two games. But the coaches in each of the competitions will decide depending on many circumstances. A match does not need to look like the previous one".

Jorge Valdano

In the same way, Valdano gave his opinion on the much-touted comparison between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two biggest stars in the Classic: "They are two exceptional players, unusual and have a huge role. They are essential to games of this magnitude. Perhaps Real Madrid has more collective responses without Cristiano than Barccelona without Messi".

The "madridista" manager said the team is clearly on progression and there is no rush to please: "All those teams have not been the best club of the twentieth century have to hurry, not Real Madrid. Now we feel comfortable. If we had a hurry, we would have signed veteran players", he said.

In addition, responding to recent statements by Silvio Berlusconi, President of Milan, where he spoke about the possibility of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo as 'Rossoneri', Valdano was resounding: "Berlusconi is heating up the possibility of purchase. Should be said that Cristiano Ronaldo is our player and we are very happy with him. He is not transferable".

He was less satisfied with the performance of Mourinho and demonstrated a notable distancing: "We are educated people. No need to fix anything, nothing is broken. This topic is exhausted. Mourinho has realized where he is and has made ​​an effort to contain himself in his statements". In this line of moderation, Valdano wished to recall that during the fighting against Barcelona: "The world will be watching and there will be a "great opportunity" to give an example.

Valdano also analyzed the fitness of Kaka and ruled out a sale of the Brazilian player, at least for now: "Kaka at the moment is not transferable. He has a physical problem. He is a star and we have to accompany him on his recovery. The player is in a very uncomfortable situation. He plays limited by physical problems and did not show his full potential". The executive also ruled out the arrival of Cesc Fabregas next season: "Cesc is a great player but we talk about impossible amounts of money".

Cristiano: "I can't imagine Madrid two years without a title"

The Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo admits he is "excited" by the four matches that his team, Real Madrid, will play against Barcelona in the coming days: in the Spanish League Championship, the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) Final and the semifinals of the Champions League.

In an interview published today by the Italian sports daily "Corriere dello Sport ", the Portuguese star does not skimp on praise for his compatriot and coach Jose Mourinho and expresses the importance has for the white club not to end another season with empty hands of titles.

Cristiano Ronaldo

"I'm not worried, no... I'm excited. It's the moment when we can win all or do not win anything", says Real Madrid player in the pages of the newspaper. "I can not think that Real Madrid spends two or three years without winning anything. We are talking about the biggest club in the world, or perhaps one of the greatest. Last year we did not win anything, but this year and next year I hope we can get some target. We have fantastic players and a great coach", he adds.

The striker says he was in "very good fitness" to face the matches against Barcelona and indicates that fatigue due to matches and so much traveling condensate in the calendar, is the same for everyone: "That's life", he says although his coach talked about it in oher way.

Ronaldo says that Mourinho, with whom he hopes to win many titles with Real Madrid, is very important for the team and he is "very happy" because the former Inter Milan coach now leads the white team.

After passing through the English Championship, the Portuguese claims that the Spanish League is, along with the "Premiere League", the "strongest". "I'm happy to play in La Liga, the most competitive and strongest in the world, in which I face with so many good players", said Ronaldo. "In Spain the game is more tactical. The players have greater ability to play the ball. But I also really liked England. It is a more physical football. The game is faster than in Spain. I'm sure they're the best national tournaments", he adds.

The striker also spoke of his scoring ability: "I always want to score, play well and help the team, giving assists to my teammates. The goals come naturally, thanks to talent and aptitudes, so I do not care. If my team and I play well, all comes naturally".

Cristiano Ronaldo faces his "Nemesis"

Cristiano faces the Classics serial, which begins tomorrow, with a personal challenge: to mark his first goal against Barcelona. The Portuguese forward has faced the Catalan side on six occasions, with Manchester United and Real Madrid, but still does not know what is to beat the Barcelona goalkeeper. Cristiano comes to the four Classics in good streak, having scored in the last three games.

Cristiano Ronaldo

However, the Portuguese recognized not to be obsessed with it: "I do not think 'I have to score in every game'. If you think that way, you will not score. The goals come naturally, come from the hand of your talent , your quality, so I'm not worried", he said on the presentation of the boots "Mercurial Vapor Superfly III", which will debut tomorrow on his feet.

But that may not be entirely true. His teammates know that Cristiano is obsessively devoted to a long list of issues. His abdominals, his eyebrows, his hair, the fight against snuff smoke, his titles, his goals, and above all, the reconquest of the Ballon d'Or, cause him a kind of spiritual impatience. And the Ballon d'Or since 2009, is owned by Messi, his opponent tomorrow in the first of four classic between Madrid and Barcelona in the next three weeks.

"He is very anxious", witnesses said yesterday, astonished at the intensity with which he trains lately. No doubt that, despite his idea of the world of soccer, Cristiano is a fabulous player. None dispute that is the most destabilizing player of the team. And that, in practices like yesterday, when approaching the first of four games with Barcelona, he works with feverish devotion. "He feels as the best in the world and believes that in the coming days the world will be watching him" says a colleague. "It's on fire. He believes that time to reclaim his position as the best player in the world has come".

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: All In

Bookmakers are the people who are responsible for developing the odds in the betting shops. Their work requires constant attention to what happens in the world of sport. The Marathon of "Classics" is coming, is a moment awaited by fans and by the operators. One of the bookmakers talks about how it faces from inside such a special occasion.

There are four classics in a very short period of time. What does it mean for a bookmaker?
The impact of these classics for a betting operator is strongly influenced by the extensive media coverage given to these matches. We always offered every game regardless of TV coverage for example, but obviously they have so much expectation among the general public and media and will always have an impact on betting turnover.

Which team is getting more bets to win the match on April 16?
At the moment, is Barcelona. Catalan team is receiving more bets to win the League Classic .

What are the reasons for this favoritism despite its status as visitor?
In the process of odds creation and betting is paid much attention to the most recent matches between the two teams. As Barcelona has won the last five classics, including two at the Bernabeu, that makes them favorites but not by much. Also the fact that Mourinho has lost his 'air of invincibility' in the league match against Sporting. Preciado's team was the first to beat him in nine years in a league match at home. This makes more possible that Barcelona can win on Saturday. Also, the convincing score 5-0 in the match at the Nou Camp, influences greatly.

Are there different or special bets for the four Real Madrid vs Barcelona?
We will provide a lot of new bets on the four Classics of the next few weeks, with bets we have never offered before. These bets will be related to the outcome of the four games and will include for example: Which team receives more yellow cards in 4 games, How many penalties will be in the 4 games...

Can you give some advice to people want to bet on these games?
Is important to be informed of everything that can be: in the circumstances surrounding it (injuries, suspensions...), but also the historical background related to it (number of goals scored in the last 10 years or what team wins more often).

Champions League (Quarterfinals, 2nd Leg): Mourinho

Jose Mourinho addressed the media after Real Madrid's 0-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the Champios League Quarterfinals. He spoke about the team classification for semifinals but also about the matches against Barcelona in the coming days.

Jose Mourinho

"We are a young team without much experience. This project is still under construction, but I nevertheless think it's normal for us to reach the semifinals because it's part of Real Madrid history to do so".

"Each one of our games against Barcelona will be different. I don't think they should have an effect on each other. My theory is very basic: you play one and then start to prepare for the next. Tomorrow, I'll start to think about Saturday's Clasico, not about the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) Final".

Mourinho told reporters that he will have to "practice with 10 players" to deal with the Catalan side, referring to the expulsions that his teams have suffered when faced Barcelona. "I will test with 10 players and play with 10, because I always have sent off a player against them. It happened with Chelsea and Inter, and can happen again", said the Portuguese coach.

"You should ask journalists if we've achieved our goals, since they know about so many things and always generate opinions. I know how football is: you have nothing if you don't win. That's why it isn't enough to reach the Copa del Rey final or the Champions League semis. You need something else".

"I get suspended if I do something to clear my men from bookings. I didn't want to do so after our 4-0 victory at the Bernabeu. My greatest concern was having three defenders with a booking. I didn't even call up Albiol for the first leg, Pepe was the next to fall, and now it is Carvalho who will not play the first leg of the semifinal; but he will be in the return match. Some manage to clear players from their bookings and others don't".

"Only the President of Real Madrid can put a stop to Milan's endeavours to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a tremendous player and I don't think anyone can afford to pay what he's worth, but only Florentino Perez has the final say in this".