EL CLASICO............

It is just a game but few matches in world football capture the imagination quite like a meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid does and El clasico returns on Sunday. Barcelona are facing Real Madrid for the 222nd time in all competitions and both sides compete under the weight of huge expectation, with  La Liga title success demanded rather than longed for.

 

Real Madrid are already eight points adrift in La Liga. In every other league, this would be considered a slow start. Last season, Madrid won the title while dropping points in just five games that were not played against Barcelona. Through six games, they have already dropped points in three games that were not played against Barcelona. This latest Barcelona might not be their best, but they are good enough to beat Madrid to the title. If Barcelona wins the first league Clasico of this season on Sunday, they will have an 11 point lead on their rivals, which might as well spell the end of Madrid chances to repeat as champions.


The good news for Real Madrid in this game, is that Barcelona have injury concerns to deal with , they are without defensive pair Carles Puyol who picked up a shoulder problem against Benfica on Tuesday and fellow centre-half Gerard Pique. Javier Mascherano has adapted well since being dropped back from midfield, but he has benefited from playing alongside more recognized centre backs in that position. On Sunday, it is likely that he will be paired with Alex Song, another player who can operate at the back but can do still do a job in midfield. Even with those issues in defense for Barca, the pre-match spotlight will be on Jose Mourinho, as always. There are plenty of questions about that Barcelona defense and what kind of adjustment they will make, but there will be no surprise about how Barcelona will attempt to play. Regardless of who takes the pitch, the general idea is always the same. The most surprising change that the coach could potentially make is to put Cesc Fabregas or Andres Iniesta up front to help the team narrow the pitch and keep the ball. Their tactics are somehow straightforward, but for Mourinho, it’s always about changing the tactics to achieve a result.Will Mourinho stick with his normal attacking 4-2-3-1 and spread out the pitch, or will he bring in Micheal Essien, or Luka Modric? Surely this is exactly the kind of match that Essien and Modric were acquired for in the first place. One doesn't spend upwards of €30m on a player like Modric, and then leave him on the bench against Barcelona. 

In attack, there is the small matter of who comes out on top between Ronaldo and Messi. CR7 is not an easy man to sympathize with. He is rich, handsome as some say and wonderfully gifted, Ronaldo walks towards greatness and will go down among the very best to have stepped foot on a football field. But how would you feel if every time you did something amazing at work—like score successive hat tricks—the most likely response was for people to bring up the one person who can it do slightly better? That is what happens to Ronaldo, over and over again. On Wednesday his treble against Ajax means he has now scored 158goals in 154 games for Real Madrid, those numbers are amazing but then there is MESSI. Here is a man who has scored 167 goals in his last 154 games for Barcelona. And for the fact that Messi—when you take your C-Ron blinkers off—is just that little bit more talented. Ronaldo, as ever, will feel he has a point to prove. Madrid are struggling in La Liga, but a victory against Barca would resurrect the defense of their title and make a statement to the world that Jose Mourinho's team are genuine contenders on every front this season. Moreover, Ronaldo knows that games against Barcelona are his only chance to take the plaudits from Messi without being cast in his shadow afterwards. If Ronaldo performs more than Messi with both men on the same field, then for a brief period, at least, there's nowhere else for the argument to go. The Madrid’s man biggest challenge at Camp Nou will be to access the calmness that runs through Messi, especially if things don't go well early on. If Ronaldo does that, then there's every chance the world's second-best player….in my opinion can win out and briefly experience what it's like to be on top.


However, Messi will forever be remembered as the king of their rivalry, but every Clasico offers Ronaldo the chance to put on the crown…Remember its Barcelona vs Real Madrid but there's no denying their coming together continues to represent the most compelling element of this vital fixture in world football……..bring on the El Clasico says CR7 but as is always…….there is Messi and Its Live in every country possible……let the battle begin and May Barca Win……….LIVE!!!!!!!!!!