Perhaps the fiercest rivalry the beautiful game has to offer will be renewed at the Bernabeu on this weekend, and — what's new? — the stakes are high.
With Real Madrid three points clear of FC Barcelona with a game in hand, Saturday's Clasico (4 p.m., GolTV, ESPN3.com, ESPN Deportes) will have major ramifications in La Liga as Madrid tries to snap the Catalans' streak of three consecutive titles. For the past seven years, the side that has won the season's first Clasico has gone on to win La Liga.
So the center of the footballing universe will, once more, fall on the historic rivalry – just as it did this past spring when the clubs clashed four times in a three-week span. During that heated stretch, the teams played to a draw in league play before Real Madrid triumphed in the Copa del Rey final and Barcelona claimed aggregate victory in a two-leg Champions League semifinal.
Earlier, Barcelona thrashed Madrid 5-0 at Camp Nou in the first Clasico of the 2010-11 campaign, a match many remember for Cristiano Ronaldo's amusing touchline shoving of Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola.
There will, of course, be plenty of star power on hand. Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Ronaldo continue to battle for the title of the world's best player, as the gifted attackers have both bagged 17 goals this La Liga season to climb atop the scoring chart. And with Barcelona midfielder Xavi set to make his 600th appearance for the club, all three Ballon d'Or finalists should be sharing the pitch Saturday.
When it comes to lineup choices, Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has a difficult dilemma choosing between Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain (12 goals this season) and Frenchman Karim Benzema (seven) as his lone true striker.
Guardiola, meanwhile, will likely choose between playmaker Cesc Fabregas (seven goals) and striker David Villa (five) to anchor his front line. He also has a key decision to make in the back, with one of Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol likely to be left out.
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How do you see the Clasico panning out? Will Real Madrid win to strengthen its grip on the top spot in La Liga? Or will Barcelona draw even with three points away from home?
Share your thoughts below.
the picture is great. ronaldo looking down his nose in disdain at the greatest soccer player alive…
Good stuff, Toumba.
Hala Madrid!!
Barcelona is more like the best in the modern game… I can name so many other teams better then what Barca have now but you know, due to media around the world todays Barca is for some reason considered the best ever.
classic!! should be a great diving match….have to bring out the score cards for this one.
Thanks for the tips, fellas. Will probably hit up Kezar Pub this time.
that is a riot!
This is going to be an epic classico.
The club that many experienced pundits call the greatest club in the history of the game versus Mourinho’s super star squad which he finally has firing on all cylinders… and 3 critical points up for grab.
agreed.
I’ve watched numerous Classicos at Kezar Pub, at the main entrance to Golden Gate Park, and it’s a great atmosphere. A packed bar with passionate, knowledgeable fans.
That’s funny sh!t.
List of things that will happen in this game.
1. Players mistake the opening whistle for a foul called by the referee. 22 players surround the ref asking for him to give a card to the opposing team. Busquets instinctively falls down and grabs his face.
2. Ronoldo gets dispossessed and looks at the referee in disbelief. Ronoldo thinks it is a foul anytime someone takes the ball from him.
3. Dani Alves, having long abandoned the right back position and all defensive responsibilities, makes the first of 100 wild forward runs.
4. Busquets falls down and grabs his face upon hearing the halftime whistle.
5. Messi to Xavi to Iniesta to Xavi to Messi to Xavi to Iniesta to Pedro to Xavi to Pique to Xavi to Xavi to Xavi to Xavi…..corner.
6. Referee signals the end of the match and leans over to shake Busquets hand….Busquets falls down and grabs his face.
No mention of the thuggery and anti-soccer of Madrid?
Mad Dog in the Fog will probably show it.
Hello, AC, welcome to modern football. Diving is pandemic. You know what isn’t pandemic? Eye-gouging coaches. Those are limited to Real Madrid.
Anyone know of a good place to watch in San Francisco?
Hope the match is a good one and not the crazy antics of diving by Barcelona players as before. It’s such a waste of talent when players do that.
Ronaldo vs Messi is this decade’s Donovan vs Dempsey
😀
I would be a great match #1 in the world vs #2.
http://www.footballclubrankings.com/2011/12/football-club-rankings-12-5-11/
picture: Bad tackle Ramos. 5-0:)