29th November 2010. On this day, FC Barcelona not only welcome perennial rivals Real Madrid but also an old acquaintance – Jose Mourinho. Arguably, one of the biggest matches ever to have been played in Spain, or even in Europe for that matter, El Gran Clasico will have to live up to that promise.
Featuring two of the biggest teams in the world, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, this promises to be a cracker. The two football powerhouses have met a record 160 times, with little to choose between them – Los Blancos winning 68 times, the Catalans emerging victorious on 62 occasions and 30 matches ending on level terms.
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho – The only man who’s had some experience in taming ruthless Barcelona outfits, has had quite a tryst with the Catalan club. The Portuguese followed the legendary Sir Bobby Robson, as an interpreter, to FC Barcelona where he honed his managerial acumen. “One of the most important things I learnt from Bobby Robson is that when you win, you shouldn’t assume you are the team, and when you lose, you shouldn’t think you are rubbish,” said the Portuguese of his English mentor. After the former’s brief stay, Luis Van Gaal took over, but the Portuguese remained. He later left to join Benfica and then Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and finally Real Madrid, etching his name in history as one of the most successful managers ever.
With the emergence of Pep Guardiola as their manager, FC Barcelona became one of the best attacking sides in world football and had it not been for Jose Mourinho, might well have been back to back winners of the Champions League.
Even before this season commenced, it was quite evident that Florentino Pérez, the Real Madrid supremo, would hire the services of The Special One in a last-ditch attempt at getting the better of FC Barcelona. Jose Mourinho has undeniably resurrected Real Madrid into an outfit, competent enough to challenge for every trophy in Europe. However, his biggest ever test as Madrid boss awaits him and his neo-Galacticos when they travel to the hallowed Camp Nou.
Real Madrid will arrive at Barcelona as the league leaders. With Ronaldo on song and Di Maria, Özil, Alonso among others providing able support, the Los Blancos would be looking for a win at the Camp Nou, a result that has evaded them for quite some time now. Pep Guardiola’s side has had an erratic start to the season with a shocking loss against recently promoted Hercules and a draw against an injury-ravaged Real Mallorca, both at home. Nonetheless, the defending champions have got their league campaign back on track with a string of impressive results. Co-incidentally, the talismans of each side – Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid – are in scintillating form. These two men lead the Pichichi race with 13 and 14 goals to their names, respectively.
Collectively too, both these teams have scored the highest number of goals. Both are on 33, although Real have conceded 2 goals less than Barcelona, who have let in 8. An interesting fact attached to this clash is that FC Barcelona haven’t exactly scored goals by the truckload at home and Real Madrid are relatively defensive playing away. Nevertheless, the excitement, the drama and the apprehension promise to make up for a possible dearth of goals.
Barcelona will be more than relieved with their fabulous display of football away at Greece. Not only did they defeat Greek champions, Panathinaikos, but they also cemented their place at the top of their group in the UEFA Champions league. Eleven goals in two matches without even conceding once will give the Catalan outfit the necessary impetus to take on a resurgent Real Madrid.
El Clasico Duels to Watch Out for:
The El Clasico isn’t only a match that pits two of the biggest clubs in Europe against each other. It is a match that brings two factions of Spain against each other. Sandro Rosell against Florentino Pérez. Pep Guardiola against Jose Mourinho. Apart from these off-field psychological clashes, football lovers all over the globe can expect some absorbing on-field duels too.
3. Xavi Hernandez vs Xabi Alonso
The two stars, share not only a similarity in names, but also a talent for immaculate passing. These two men are expected to orchestrate proceedings for their respective teams. If Xavi is a master at pulling the strings in the final third, Alonso is one of the best as far as defensive abilities are concerned. Besides an amazing range of passing these two midfield geniuses have the ability to hold onto the ball at will. Alonso and Xavi, were both decisive in Spain’s World Cup campaign and there isn’t a doubt that both teams, both managers, both presidents and both group of fans will be expecting the duo to bring their ‘A’ game.
2. Andres Iniesta vs Mesut Özil
The former is an El Clasico veteran whereas the latter will be playing one of the biggest matches of his young career. Iniesta or El Ilusionista, as fans fondly refer to him, is a key figure in this clash of titanic proportion. This man has the flair to be at the right place and at the right time. Be it for FC Barcelona against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in the UEFA Champions League semi-final or for Spain against Holland in the World Cup final, Iniesta has it in him to be the man of the moment for club and country.
Mesut Özil, on the other hand, is as young and as exciting a talent as anyone else. The German footballer of Turkish descent had a scintillating World Cup and Florentino Pérez made no mistake is snapping up the star. Özil has the potential to run at defences and cut right through them, thanks to his exceptional ball skills. The presence of the former Werder Bremen midfielder will always pose a threat to the Catalan defence.
1. Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo
This mouth-watering clash, sees two of the best players of this generation – Messi and Ronaldo square off against each other. Both these men go into the game with a hat-trick to their name in their previous league games. If Messi is FC Barcelona’s Messiah, Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s Redeemer. Messi will definitely be pivotal in both team’s plan of action. Pep will try and exploit the Argentine’s genius to the maximum while Mourinho will focus on neutralising him.
As for Ronaldo, Pep and his men better have a cast-iron plan to stall the Portuguese superstar whereas the flamboyant Madrid manager will need to unleash his weapon of mass destruction. If mazy runs, neat interplay with his Barcelona colleagues and typically clinical finishing are Messi’s forte, Ronaldo’s set-pieces, amazing acceleration and long range shots make him an intimidating adversary. When two such men come face to face, winning and losing almost become irrelevant to the observer. And whatever the ultimate result may be, the 161st edition of this epic rivalry promises to go down in history as one of the greatest games of football ever played.