El Classico

[Lapsy Pa]

Saturday night on sky sports

Should be a good. The last one was Ramos' debut and it will go down in the memory for madrids systematic fouling of Messi from the first minute. They took turns in kicking him thereby ensuring that nobody got sent off.

Class won through in the end though after late goals from Eto'o and Messi eve after the former missed a spotter. Casillas always saves his best for these games and he'll have to do the same this time.

Guti is out but won't be that much of a loss whereas the loss Marquez will be keenly felt. Comes as a bad time for Barca in between the two CL Q/Fs and a defeat could leave madrid just a point behind. A draw is the most likely result but real have to win and this should draw them out leaving Barca with space to attack them

[EL TORO]

Yep, this is sure to be a belter Lapsy. Barca are under pressure now. Ramos has completely turned Real around and they have been on a phenominal run of form. I can see this being a close one and it could come down to dubious decision or an individual error. Barca need to hold their nerve and play their usual game to get a result from this.

I'm going for 2-1 away win.

[STEVIEG]

Raul is on fire but a draw will do barca and i'd say they will win or draw hopefully

[duffer31]

looking forward to it if i can still see after the day of sport saturday. i have the green card and im out at 12 to the bookies and the high stool for the united match. poker night for the classico and hattan fight in my house.need an hour in the cot if i can manage it without anyone seeing me sneak off. come on madrid to get to a point. i always cheer the under dog

[EL TORO]

looking forward to it if i can still see after the day of sport saturday. i have the green card and im out at 12 to the bookies and the high stool for the united match. poker night for the classico and hattan fight in my house.need an hour in the cot if i can manage it without anyone seeing me sneak off. come on madrid to get to a point. i always cheer the under dog

There's no underdog scenario here fella. Its just Barca were quicker out of the blocks this season.

[mightyquark]

Raul is on fire but a draw will do barca and i'd say they will win or draw hopefully

Jesus someone put him out like;)

[Lapsy Pa]

looking forward to it if i can still see after the day of sport saturday. i have the green card and im out at 12 to the bookies and the high stool for the united match. poker night for the classico and hattan fight in my house.need an hour in the cot if i can manage it without anyone seeing me sneak off. come on madrid to get to a point. i always cheer the under dog

Sporting days like this are rare.

I call them "the perfect storm"

[duffer31]

There's no underdog scenario here fella. Its just Barca were quicker out of the blocks this season.

madrid would be cosidered under dogs for the league at this stage tor.not the game...

[Ooompa]

S
Guti is out but won't be that much of a loss whereas the loss Marquez will be keenly felt.

Got to disagree with this. Guti, as a self professed "Cule Hater" can be deadly in these games. Its one of the few games he wants to play in, and Guti when he wants to play is one of the best there is.

On the other hand, loosing Marquez for Barca is a blessing. He is a dreadfully poor player. Pique and Puyol are far better equipped to deal with the threats that are Higuain and Raul.

This match is very hard to call. But I think Barca will win 1-2

[Philby]

Got to disagree with this. Guti, as a self professed "Cule Hater" can be deadly in these games

I thought Guti was widely known to be a fan of sampling some culo from time to time...?

Wasn't he pretty much outed a few months back?

[Jim Comic]

1-1 after 16 mins

[Jim Comic]

1-2 after 19, real end to end so far

[STEVIEG]

Comedy defending by Madrid:)


Great finish Puyol

[Jim Comic]

1-3

[STEVIEG]

Great finish by Messi Madrid getting pawned good!

[raZor]

What's with pawned Stevie? Or do you mean pwned, is that new version the kids are hollering at each other?

Dream Team 2!

[STEVIEG]

What's with pawned Stevie? Or do you mean pwned, is that new version the kids are hollering at each other?

Dream Team 2!

You must have heard of Pawned

Look it up

and find a picture of Madrid


a joke club living on their past

[raZor]

Stevie I wont lie I'm just gonna nod my head and back slowly out of the room.

Besides I've got HC final tickets to be Pawning ;)

[STEVIEG]

Besides I've got HC final tickets to be Pawning ;)

How bad man make a few bob up in Dublin for them!

[raZor]

I wish lad, exams til the end of the month, gave away my tickets for the match today.

[STEVIEG]

I wish lad, exams til the end of the month, gave away my tickets for the match today.

darn :(

darn by 2

2-3

[Jim Comic]

2-4

[Langer Dan]

Jesus a right pair of shit defences.

[STEVIEG]

2-4

Casilas (sp) all over the shop good finish Henry

[xvis]

Jokeshop

[Jim Comic]

2-5

[STEVIEG]

Mussolini, Cannavaro, Gabby Heinze, Lassana Diarra, Calderon, Perez, Franco, can you hear me Franco?

your boys are taking one hell of a beating:)

[Jim Comic]

2-6

[STEVIEG]

Pique deserved that been immense

This could go to 7 or 8!

[Jim Comic]

Hopefully!

[xvis]

It's a bad reflection on the league when a bad madrid were so close to the top before this, and could win 15 out of 16

[Jim Comic]

Ft: 2-6 barca could have had 12 at least

[afeencalleddan]

Only 6 goals, I expected double figures. OVERRATED!!!

[STEVIEG]

Yeah Barca could have had about 15!

Ronaldo dodged a BIG bullet last summer

[afeencalleddan]

Yeah Barca could have had about 15!What do you mean could??? The bottom line is that they didn't. A proper team would have beaten Real 15-2. OVERRATED!

[STEVIEG]

What do you mean could??? The bottom line is that they didn't. A proper team would have beaten Real 15-2. OVERRATED!

It will be interesting to see if they can bang 2 or 3 in against Chelsea now


a tougher test for sure but they have the players (1-1 will do)


PS---0-0 at home was not great in a game that arguably mattered more in the bigger scheme of their season

[afeencalleddan]

I wouldn't deny that the result the other night was not what they would have hoped for but to call them overrated and to say they had to prove a point within that 90 minutes is an absolute joke. I really hope that they murder Chelsea 3-3 on wednesday night!

[STEVIEG]

I wouldn't deny that the result the other night was not what they would have hoped for but to call them overrated and to say they had to prove a point within that 90 minutes is an absolute joke. I really hope that they murder Chelsea 3-3 on wednesday night!

Xvis called them over-rated


On the basis of the league they play in


I think he was slightly over the top but some of the praise has been been very heavy too and if the likes of Chelsea, United, Inter Milan were doing the same domestically and had such a game at home in Europe people would question them too


I remember United destroying their biggest rivals 6-1 and pulling up one time in February but it didn't mean anything in Europe, where a cleverer team beat them easily

As someone who prefers Barca out of any other team on the contintent i am delighted they beat the bloated Madrid but i don't have a problem with any of my own comments the other night in reply to those who said Chelsea were negative and anti-football

I thought they played a fairly good game

For me, and i'll be taking it to the bookies, i reckon a score draw or Barca win is on in SB.

[Langer Dan]

It's a bad reflection on the league when a bad madrid were so close to the top before this, and could win 15 out of 16

Madrid are an awful side, full of bums.

[afeencalleddan]

Xvis called them over-ratedI know he did Stevie. I wasn't saying that 'twas you who was saying it. I remember the other night perfectly well. It was you and I were the ones who were looking at things logically.

[STEVIEG]

I know he did Stevie. I wasn't saying that 'twas you who was saying it. I remember the other night perfectly well. It was you and I were the ones who were looking at things logically.

Ya i see what he is saying but i think he could have been on a reverse wum


One thing is for sure these two ties are incredibly poised



Chelsea v Barca is gonna be absolutely of incredible interest with the players on view and the stakes so high


Barca have the league now and it might take the pressure off a tiny bit, this is Chelseas big big mission if they don't win it this year i can see them falling apart slightly (though i said that before too)


This Barca team are gonna be there no matter what though henry is particular will want to make it now


United i still can't see winning it but they are still knocking while for Wenger it would be a serious achievment if he could do it this time

I still think whoever wins on Wednesday will be go on though to win in Rome

Roll on Tuesday/Wednesday

[xvis]

well, I'm agreeing with ye on a most of your points.

La Liga has slipped backwards a bit. The PL became the number one ranked league in Europe in summer 2008. And is clearly ahead.
The likes of Real, Sevilla, Valencia and Atletico don't have the durability of the big four.

..to think that that was Barcelona's toughest opponents in the league this year.


And whatever about Chelsea's starting back four, they had a centre-half playing right-back, a right-back playing on the other side against the BFITW, a stand-in at centre-half and a shaky keeper. (Cech flapped in the first minute and was lost again for the Bojan header, and wasn't over-worked in the game).
And Barcelona had no ideas. The game ground to halt in the second half until a late flurry when the kid came on.



Overall I think this isn't a good vintage for club football, ..I think English sides were better overall a couple of years ago, as were Spanish sides, and Italian clubs are gone off the radar.
This isn't a dig at Liverpool coming towards the fore ..as it is mostly United who are prospering these days.

[lionelhutz]

well, I'm agreeing with ye on a most of your points.

La Liga has slipped backwards a bit. The PL became the number one ranked league in Europe in summer 2008. And is clearly ahead.
The likes of Real, Sevilla, Valencia and Atletico don't have the durability of the big four.

..to think that that was Barcelona's toughest opponents in the league this year.


And whatever about Chelsea's starting back four, they had a centre-half playing right-back, a right-back playing on the other side against the BFITW, a stand-in at centre-half and a shaky keeper. (Cech flapped in the first minute and was lost again for the Bojan header, and wasn't over-worked in the game).
And Barcelona had no ideas. The game ground to halt in the second half until a late flurry when the kid came on.



Overall I think this isn't a good vintage for club football, ..I think English sides were better overall a couple of years ago, as were Spanish sides, and Italian clubs are gone off the radar.
This isn't a dig at Liverpool coming towards the fore ..as it is mostly United who are prospering these days.

missing the point as usual bucksfizz. i dont think anyone would argue that the prem's top 4 is stronger than la ligas over the past couple seasons but the depth in la liga is much stronger.

i gave the example of 4 or 5 other spanish teams than barca and real that have champions league experience over the past few seasons. you cant say that for the prem. nothing outside the top four. nothing.

utds success this season has been based primarily on winning by the odd goal against those nothing teams. they have been beaten by liverpool twice and arsenal only doing well against chelsea of the other top 4 teams. does that mean they are overhyped? does that mean they will not deserve the league title?

for you to tignore barcas amazing football this season and hang your hat on the chelsea game nil all where barca had 3 or 4 clear cut chances, should have had a penalty with the richest and second best team in europe last season playing sunderland tactics shows how much you fuckin know.

i suppose liverpool would have put 12 past madrid the other night you gom. overhyped my bollocks.

[leftback]

Agreed, I've travelled to Spain on a number of occasions this season to watch Barcelona and have also attended games involving Deportivo , Recreativo and Malaga and the ball retention abilities of these teams (even those towards the bottom of La Liga) is second to none. The prem, in terms of excitement is prob the best but from a purist point of view nothing can match the present standards on display in Spain.

The levels Barca have reached recently hasn't been seen before...in terms of touch, pace of pass and movement. Had the pleasure of attending Barcelona vs Sevillla last week and it was a joy to behold. ...even without Messi that night! Marvellous stuff.

[STEVIEG]

Yup although defending is a purist artform too

The Kaiser, Bobby Moore, Baresi, Paul McGrath etc


La Liga is great to watch, but the defending is super crap (which does add to the excitement and make it great in fairness)

Barca, even though they are mainly about some great midfielders and forwards, are not as weak as some of the teams defensively and this year all of their players have mucked in and worked hard

They will miss a couple of defenders on Wedneday but i still think they might be too strong

[vanderburke]

Yup although defending is a purist artform too

The Kaiser, Bobby Moore, Baresi, Paul McGrath etc


La Liga is great to watch, but the defending is super crap (which does add to the excitement and make it great in fairness)

Barca, even though they are mainly about some great midfielders and forwards, are not as weak as some of the teams defensively and this year all of their players have mucked in and worked hard

They will miss a couple of defenders on Wedneday but i still think they might be too strong

And Henry unfortunately...hes out for next few Barca games

[buds]

Yup although defending is a purist artform too

The Kaiser, Bobby Moore, Baresi, Paul McGrath etc


La Liga is great to watch, but the defending is super crap (which does add to the excitement and make it great in fairness)

Barca, even though they are mainly about some great midfielders and forwards, are not as weak as some of the teams defensively and this year all of their players have mucked in and worked hard

They will miss a couple of defenders on Wedneday but i still think they might be too strong

I think Chelsea will win with just pure brute force and grind out the result

[STEVIEG]

I think Chelsea will win with just pure brute force and grind out the result

That's another possible outcome

Can't wait to see it pan out

[STEVIEG]

And Henry unfortunately...hes out for next few Barca games

Serious??


Didn't even know that injured saturday?

[legend76]

Serious??


Didn't even know that injured saturday?

Henry received a blow to his knee during his side's 6–2 humbling of Real Madrid on Saturday and reports in Spain claim the striker will be out for between eight and 10 days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/04/thierry-henry-barcelona-injury-chelsea-champions-league

[vanderburke]

Henry received a blow to his knee during his side's 6–2 humbling of Real Madrid on Saturday and reports in Spain claim the striker will be out for between eight and 10 days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/04/thierry-henry-barcelona-injury-chelsea-champions-league

yeah im gutted for him..he was excellent on sat...think they are moving Iniesta out to left wing but obviously not same thing

[xvis]

missing the point as usual bucksfizz. i dont think anyone would argue that the prem's top 4 is stronger than la ligas over the past couple seasons but the depth in la liga is much stronger.

i gave the example of 4 or 5 other spanish teams than barca and real that have champions league experience over the past few seasons. you cant say that for the prem. nothing outside the top four. nothing.

utds success this season has been based primarily on winning by the odd goal against those nothing teams. they have been beaten by liverpool twice and arsenal only doing well against chelsea of the other top 4 teams. does that mean they are overhyped? does that mean they will not deserve the league title?

for you to tignore barcas amazing football this season and hang your hat on the chelsea game nil all where barca had 3 or 4 clear cut chances, should have had a penalty with the richest and second best team in europe last season playing sunderland tactics shows how much you fuckin know.

i suppose liverpool would have put 12 past madrid the other night you gom. overhyped my bollocks.

I've haven't missed the point.

The original point was Stevie's comment that Barcelona playing Chelsea was their first game against genuinely tough opposition in a while.

The big 4 and Barcelona are the 5 elite clubs from the CL in the last 3-4 years (possibly only Milan to add to that if they picked it up again). Barcelona failed to produce against Chelsea. Just as they did last year against United.


Nobody's talking about the overall depth of each league. Nobody.
And regardless I agree La Liga has a higher standard across the middle of the league.



***

United taking 4 points off Chelsea has more significance on the current league table than losing 6 points to Liverpool. Other than the United games, Chelsea would have more points then Liverpool. A good four points for United.


United produced it the other night against Arsenal as well as against Chelsea, and also against the Italian champions in the San Siro. (as well as being the current European and World champions). How can they be accused of being overhyped when they have already produced the goods?

[KD Langer]

seen a bit of la liga this year. how would i sum up the defending?

one word. atrocious.

[lionelhutz]

I've haven't missed the point.

The original point was Stevie's comment that Barcelona playing Chelsea was their first game against genuinely tough opposition in a while.

The big 4 and Barcelona are the 5 elite clubs from the CL in the last 3-4 years (possibly only Milan to add to that if they picked it up again). Barcelona failed to produce against Chelsea. Just as they did last year against United.


Nobody's talking about the overall depth of each league. Nobody.
And regardless I agree La Liga has a higher standard across the middle of the league.



***

United taking 4 points off Chelsea has more significance on the current league table than losing 6 points to Liverpool. Other than the United games, Chelsea would have more points then Liverpool. A good four points for United.


United produced it the other night against Arsenal as well as against Chelsea, and also against the Italian champions in the San Siro. (as well as being the current European and World champions). How can they be accused of being overhyped when they have already produced the goods?

the guff is getting flippier and floppier. 4 points is now > than 6 points. liverpool, in bucksifzz own words are a lesser team this season than under houllier but curiously are now one of the elite 5 teams in europe. and because a team wins the world club thingy they are immune from criticism. you are a ticket fizz, a real ticket. heh heh heh

[los pasillos de hoy]

I think Chelsea will win with just pure brute force and grind out the result


Horrible team Chelsea and financed by a mafioso

[xvis]

the guff is getting flippier and floppier. 4 points is now > than 6 points. liverpool, in bucksifzz own words are a lesser team this season than under houllier but curiously are now one of the elite 5 teams in europe. and because a team wins the world club thingy they are immune from criticism. you are a ticket fizz, a real ticket. heh heh heh

lesser? hmmm. ..quotes?



United are champions across many levels.


Are you drunk perhaps?

[STEVIEG]

Henry is squad for Wednesday

[vanderburke]

Henry is squad for Wednesday

just seen that Stevie...not sure if it is/was a ruse or what...will be good to see him play- he looks close to his best at the minute

[lionelhutz]

lesser? hmmm. ..quotes?



United are champions across many levels.


Are you drunk perhaps?

are you denying it? hmmmm........ fuck your quotes. maybe you spew so much shite you cant remember.

across many levels. hmmmmm....heh heh heh

[STEVIEG]

just seen that Stevie...not sure if it is/was a ruse or what...will be good to see him play- he looks close to his best at the minute

Yup

Think he is still a doubt though


But yes, i hope he plays


I'd always hope that Barca knock Chelsea out

[vanderburke]

Yup

Think he is still a doubt though


But yes, i hope he plays


I'd always hope that Barca knock Chelsea out

Always have huge admiration for Barca and the Catalans Stevie...a suitable twinning city for Cork!!!

..awaiting abuse!!

[STEVIEG]

Always have huge admiration for Barca and the Catalans Stevie...a suitable twinning city for Cork!!!



ha ha there are similarities alright, defo in the Peoples Republic:)

The champagne football we are gettingat the Cross has a bit to go but still!

[vanderburke]

ha ha there are similarities alright, defo in the Peoples Republic:)

The champagne football we are gettingat the Cross has a bit to go but still!

yeah it might be time to bring back Rico Stevie...we can dispense with Dooin in the same way Arsenal got rid of Bruce Rioch to get Arsene Wenger in!!!

PROC Catalans on tour!!

[STEVIEG]

Doolin is getting the results though and has them very fit anyway i wouldn't mind if it was Rioch rather than Wenger tomorrow (Fergie has a better record of Bruce)!

[vanderburke]

Doolin is getting the results though and has them very fit anyway i wouldn't mind if it was Rioch rather than Wenger tomorrow (Fergie has a better record of Bruce)!

Prob wont matter how Doolin, Rioch, Rico or even AW would do at city though...the managment would find some way of shafting them!!!!

[STEVIEG]

True dat


Hope the club can survive this season now

[xvis]

are you denying it? hmmmm........ fuck your quotes. maybe you spew so much shite you cant remember.

across many levels. hmmmmm....heh heh heh

Quotes?

[xvis]

Barcelona's historical record against English sides isn't good..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/may/05/champions-league-barcelona-chelsea

Can Barcelona find a way past a Premier League defence?

..The last time they had been held in Camp Nou was a year earlier – against Manchester United at the same stage. A 0-0 draw then, followed by a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford, put them out. Barcelona's bitter reaction to Chelsea's tactics spoke of frustration – the English again the spanner in Barça's works.

Barcelona have won only 20 of their 50 games against English clubs in European competition. In knockout ties they have emerged defeated as often as victorious and they have won only one of their last five European semi-finals against English teams – against Tottenham in the 1981-82 Cup Winners' Cup. United, Liverpool and Leeds all saw them off. United beat them in the 1991 Cup Winners' Cup final, Mark Hughes scoring the winner.

Recent Champions League campaigns have been more striking still. It is six years since Barcelona were knocked out by a non-English side, when an extra-time breakaway saw Juventus beat 10 men at Camp Nou. Last season they were knocked out by United, the season before by Liverpool and two seasons before that by Chelsea. In between they knocked out Chelsea and defeated Arsenal in the 2006 final but there were extenuating circumstances: Arsenal had their goalkeeper sent off and Chelsea, too, saw red. Barcelona have not beaten a Chelsea side with 11 men.

Barcelona's record over the last five games against English teams at Camp Nou reads: drawn three, lost two, won none. It is these last two draws that most stick in the throat, chiefly for the manner in which they were achieved...

...

...But breaking down a team that comes to defend is difficult; breaking down an English team that has come to defend is harder still. They are physically stronger, better organised and faster. Beating them requires qualities that some Spanish sides do not have.

As Robert Pires admitted after Villarreal were defeated by Arsenal: "They played with an intensity La Liga teams cannot live with." Barcelona's deep commitment to a footballing philosophy is laudable but some criticise the lack of a plan B.

[lionelhutz]

Quotes?

if you cant be bothered tralwing through your own guff im not.

staying up pretty late on a school night aren't you?

as for the english team thing. its lazy.

the barca team that won the CL a few seasons ago comprised of a lot of the players that now form the spine of the current barca team with a number of key improvements both in personnell and form, furthermore a lot of those same players now have a european championship to their name. i suppose that spain team were far more a physical side able to cope with the hustle and......oh wait.......mmmmmm.

barca didnt play against 10 men in every game leading up to the final which they won in 06. when chelsea played barca at stamford bridge del horno got sent off because he and his teammates were being roasted by messi. an injury time penno in the return leg didn't alter barcas dominance over those two legs.

now take that and fuck it all in the bin. this is a different team under a different manager playing a different style, so relying on lazy throwbacks to past matchups is about as much use as looking back at wrexhams record against arsenal in the fa cup

[ho chi feen]

Heh.

I watched this game in a pub in Seville at the weekend, and in fairness I think it's hard to accurately gauge matches watched in pubs. But a few thoughts-

I'm not trying add to any debate on whether Barca are over-rated or not- they are an immense who deserve full credit as they break record after record.

I thought I saw something in that display that would worry me for them against Chelsea. For a long portion of the game (particularly after the third goal, and then again between the fourth and fifth) I thought they looked too casual for their own good. It was almost as if they were more interested in indulging themselves and showing off their superiority over Madrid than actually scoring goals. Two key examples for me would have to be Messi missing two sitters, one which would have been one of the greatest team goals of all time had it gone in.

They can't afford to take this sort of approach, they need to play with purpose at all times. I like they way they started pressing Chelsea high up the field last time. You don't have to play physical to hunt down and isolate players in their own half. This was the most impressive aspect of their game for me last time out, the willingness to work hard, and they'll need to bring more of the same tomorrow.

It's very, very harsh to criticise any team winning a game of this magnitude by 6-2, but really- it should have been 10-0.

All that said though- with Iniesta and Xavi in such peerless form, with Messi absolutely devastating Madrid without playing well by his own standards, they're a fearsome prospect. Iniesta for me is looking more and more the key man in their set-up- he's a much better player already than Deco in his pomp, but he offers the same bit of variety- the willingness to be direct when necessary. I wonder if some of that will be lost has he to fill Henry's role? I know Keita likes to go direct himself, but he's of a much lower standard.

Eto'o simply didn't show up against Chelsea, and he was in poor form when they played United last year. He needs to be much more focussed this time.

Surely Chelsea cannot adopt the exact same approach this time. It would be a crime against football if they do, and while it might get them to penalties that in itself is no guarantee of victory. They have to push Barcelona all over the field, not just in their own half. They need to show a little bit of ambition.

I'm thinking it could be the latter approach that prevails, and maybe we'll see something akin to Mourinho's approach in the Stamford Bridge leg four years ago... quite possibly with a similar outcome (though not by 4-2).

I hope Barca can make it through, but I've just a bad feeling about this one.

[xvis]

For me, Xavi is by far their best player and he has never let me down.

But barcelona disappointed me the other night.


I'd love to see them blow Chelsea away but there wasn't enough evience the other night to show the have got that ability.

For me,he Barcelona side with Ronaldinho was a side with better capability and a more destructive side..... let's see if they can prove me wrong tomorrow. ..the evidence last week proved otherwise.

[lionelhutz]

. ..the evidence last week proved otherwise.

sure it did

[Lapsy Pa]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/lionel-messi/7567641/Real-Madrid-v-Barcelona-match-preview.html

Saturday, April 10

Real Madrid v Barcelona
Bernabeu
Kick-off: 9pm

Alvaro Arbeloa v Lionel Messi
If there is a secret to stopping the world’s best player, the former Liverpool fullback is the most likely man to possess it. On his debut for Rafael Benitez’s side in 2007, Arbeloa, then a largely unheralded utility defender, snuffed out the Argentine with contemptuous ease as his team won at the Nou Camp, and Manuel Pellegrini will entrust him with a similar task at the Bernabeu. That said, Messi is a better player now than he was three years ago, as his performance against Arsenal proved. Arbeloa will have his work cut out.

Tactical battle
'El gran classico' is no occasion for tactical nuance, especially when featuring two sides used to simply steamrollering pliant opposition. Real will line up in their usual 4-2-3-1, Barcelona in their trademark 4-3-3, and both will simply go for the jugular. It is in the individual battles that the interest lies. Lassana Diarra will be tasked with shutting down Xavi, Daniel Alves will be asked to curb his attacking instincts to marshal Cristiano Ronaldo and Real, through Arbeloa, will seek to douse Messi’s fire.

Touchline duel

Manuel Pellegrini v Pep Guardiola
The Barcelona manager, suave and urbane, may be in only his second year as a manager, but the infinitely more experienced Chilean would do well to emulate his ruthless attitude to player power. Pellegrini, as should be expected for a man on the bench at the Bernabeu, has spent much of his first season in the Spanish capital trying to instil a collective ethos into individuals all too well aware of their own self-interest. Guardiola has no truck whatsoever with egotists, as his swift toppling of Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o proved.

Likely Line-Ups

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1, r-l): Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Arbeloa; L Diarra, Alonso; Ronaldo, Kaka, Van der Vaart; Higuain.

Barcelona (4-3-3, r-l): Valdes; Daniel Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal; Ingesta, Xavi, Busquets; Messi, Bojan, Pedro.

[warren888k]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/lionel-messi/7567641/Real-Madrid-v-Barcelona-match-preview.html

can't wait for the this!

[afeencalleddan]

Kaka and Ibrahimovic are confirmed absentees.

[POL]

This will be a load of shite I'd wager

[Aphex]

Ronaldo has the oul diving gear on him again...

[Jim Comic]

0-1 (messi)

[BlueSkies]

Nicely worked goal by Barca, but all in all a dreadful game so far.

[delzer]

Not too much quality as to be expected in a big derby game.

Enjoyable though.

Barca are definitely a lot more organised than Real.

[zimmerman]

Messi is so far ahead of anyone else on the planet football its amazing.

His goal tonight was made possible because of his great attitude i.e. getting up and getting on with it after a bad foul on him.

[Aphex]

Messi is so far ahead of anyone else on the planet football its amazing.

His goal tonight was made possible because of his great attitude i.e. getting up and getting on with it after a bad foul on him.

No lad...it was made possible because of a great ball by Xavi...

[afeencalleddan]

Barca are definitely a lot more organised than Real.I wouldn't necessarily say that. Real have kept a good shape and are getting in Barca's faces as much as possible. It's the extra technical ability of Barca that has them ahead in this game. There's not much in it though. Real have had their chances.

[delzer]

Get in there.

Superb finish.

[delzer]

Ronaldo has done nothing but fall on his hole.

Barca well over the Madrid midfield imo.

[delzer]

Ramos could have gone for that made no attempt to play the ball.

[delzer]

Ramos is walking a fine line.

[delzer]

Messi is human after all. :)

Good save by Casillas

[delzer]

Great win for Barca they were a lot better than Madrid imo.

League theirs to lose now.

[blackie]

Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona. Messi and Pedro grabbed the goals, but Xavi was the real star. The Catalans now go top of the Primera Division by three points, and even should Real draw level on points, they will remain top after their two victories due to their superior head-to-head record.

[Bobby Vinton]

So easy for barca must be hard to be a Madrid fan and watch ur team be slaughtered like that in ur own stadium might only of been 2 but the way they were walked all over it'll feel like ten to them.Ronaldo was shit and bottled his only decent chance,I thought piqué was rock solid at the back.

[afeencalleddan]

Great win for Barca they were a lot better than Madrid imo.

League theirs to lose now.Better by far. That was the best Real could have done in the circumstances. They're well lacking in quality in a number of areas. Gago is a nothing player really. He's young and may improve but he lacks the presence required for those type of games. Marcelo has no business being in that team, Arbeloa too. Van der Vaart didn't show up. Higuain isn't quite up to it either.

[delzer]

So easy for barca must be hard to be a Madrid fan and watch ur team be slaughtered like that in ur own stadium might only of been 2 but the way they were walked all over it'll feel like ten to them.Ronaldo was shit and bottled his only decent chance,I thought piqué was rock solid at the back.

Taught Puyol played well as well.

Xavi was superb though he has to be one of the best if not the best centre midfielder around at the moment.He pissed all over Guti and Alonso tonight.

Madrid just started kicking in the second half.

[afeencalleddan]

Taught Puyol played well as well.

Xavi was superb though he has to be one of the best if not the best centre midfielder around at the moment.He pissed all over Guti and Alonso tonight.

Madrid just started kicking in the second half.I think you mean Gago. Guti did very well when he came on.

[delzer]

I think you mean Gago. Guti did very well when he came on.

Sorry i did the G's got me confused.

Van Der Vaart was very dissapointing hes been in good form this season.

[afeencalleddan]

So easy for barca must be hard to be a Madrid fan and watch ur team be slaughtered like that in ur own stadium might only of been 2 but the way they were walked all over it'll feel like ten to them.Ronaldo was shit and bottled his only decent chance,I thought piqué was rock solid at the back.Hardly easy, it was a physical game that could have knocked Barca off stride if they weren't so focussed and patient. Real more or less threw in the towel not long after they went 2-0 down but it was a hard battle for Barca to get to that point in the game. People don't give Barcelona the credit they deserve for the hard work they put in.

[marco 2005]

Could have been a more severe score without Casillas.

Thought it was surprising to see Alves start upfront given the fact Henry was fit & fresh.

[marco 2005]

Hardly easy, it was a physical game that could have knocked Barca off stride if they weren't so focussed and patient. Real more or less threw in the towel not long after they went 2-0 down but it was a hard battle for Barca to get to that point in the game. People don't give Barcelona the credit they deserve for the hard work they put in.

Very true. Their work when not in possession of the ball is amazing.

[Jim Comic]

from the guardian, lol


Full time: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona It wasn't humiliation, but it wasn't far off. Without ever hitting top gear, Barcelona ended Real's 100 per cent home record with effortless disdain. They scored two fine goals, both created by the exceptional Xavi, and Real were numbed into subservience long before the end. Barca are bouncing around in a celebratory huddle. We are watching one of the all-time great club sides, maybe even the greatest, and surely they will be back at this stadium to retain the European Cup on 22 May. They play football like it has never been played before, in a way that makes Holland's 1974 look like dunderheaded chavs by comparison, and the scariest thing about tonight is that they didn't even need to hit those heights to dismantle a multi-million-pound opponent.

[afeencalleddan]

Very true. Their work when not in possession of the ball is amazing.Not only did they do that tonight but they did it on top of taking kicks from the Real players and managed to retain 55% possession. That's phenomenal. They make it look easy sometimes.

[Bobby Vinton]

I was watching guardiola more than the match tbh the way he tells the players where to position themselves is unreal,I tell ya it's nice now but in 2 or 3 years people will be sick of the sight of barca going by guardiolas first two sasons anyway the mans creating a monster.

[afeencalleddan]

from the guardian, lol


Full time: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona It wasn't humiliation, but it wasn't far off. Without ever hitting top gear, Barcelona ended Real's 100 per cent home record with effortless disdain. They scored two fine goals, both created by the exceptional Xavi, and Real were numbed into subservience long before the end. Barca are bouncing around in a celebratory huddle. We are watching one of the all-time great club sides, maybe even the greatest, and surely they will be back at this stadium to retain the European Cup on 22 May. They play football like it has never been played before, in a way that makes Holland's 1974 look like dunderheaded chavs by comparison, and the scariest thing about tonight is that they didn't even need to hit those heights to dismantle a multi-million-pound opponent.Nonsense.

[Aphex]

Real lacked physicality at the breakdown...

[xvis]

The amount of workrate that Barca put into their games I doubted they'd be able to replicate it a second season.

They're doing it again, bar a little blip when Xavi was out a few weeks ago.
He opened up Real twice tonight which added to his central play must mark him out as the best player in the world.

I heard a stat that his passing in the 2 legs with Arsenal had a success rate of 93%.

He really is the heart and soul of the team.

[Aphex]

http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/reuters/20100410/20/3812711043-10042010205738.jpg

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2010/4/10/1270932821866/Barcelona-004.jpg

[Jinky]

When I saw Messi chest the ball down first time for his goal I thought he'd fucked the effort but on the replay he actually chests it to escape the player. The guy is a phenom.

[Lapsy Pa]

Eamonn Dunphy on Wenesday night "Pedro and Busquets aren't players at all Bill" The more opinions he offers the bigger fool he looks.

Must have been very frustrating for Real, chasing Barca when being behind. Would have been a lot closer if VDV or Higuain had taken their chances. Alves and Maxwell were very advanced causing Real a few problems.

Ronaldo chucked it in the second half, once he realised he wasn't going to getting any change off Pique. Marcelo and Gago aren't up to this level.

Did anyone else see the tricolour amonst the 400 Barca fans at full time?

[Jim Comic]

Did anyone else see the tricolour amonst the 400 Barca fans at full time?

yeah, dunno if it was a paddy on tour or homage to Patrick O'Connell, former irish manager of FCB (i'm assuming the former)




La Liga manager

[edit]Racing de Santander
In 1922 O'Connell succeeded Fred Pentland as the manager of Racing de Santander. He subsequently guided the team to five regional titles and in 1928 they became founding members of La Liga. He would later return to Racing for a second spell as manager between 1948 and 1949[14][15].
[edit]Real Oviedo
From September 1929 until May 1931 O'Connell managed Real Oviedo in the Segunda División[16]
[edit]Real Betis
Between 1931 and 1935 O'Connell managed Real Betis, at the time known as Betis Balompie. After leading them to the Segunda División title in 1932 he then guided Betis, with a team that included Lecue, to their one and only La Liga title in 1935. Betis won the title on April 28, 1935 with a 5-0 win against O'Connell's former team Racing de Santander. The night before the game, which was played in Santander, O'Connell visited the Racing squad at a hotel where they were staying and allegedly tried to persuade them to lose the game. Betis had to beat Racing to overtake their rivals Real Madrid[15].
[edit]FC Barcelona
O'Connell's success with Real Betis attracted the interest of FC Barcelona who appointed him as successor to Franz Platko for the 1935-36 season [17]. With a squad that included Josep Escolà, Domènec Balmanya, Joan Josep Nogués and Enrique Fernández, O'Connell guided Barça to the Campionat de Catalunya and the Copa de España final. In the final they played Real Madrid and with Real leading 2-1, Escolà was denied a late equalizer after a spectacular save by Ricardo Zamora.
During the 1936-37 season La Liga was suspended because of the Spanish Civil War. However clubs in the Republican area of Spain competed in the Mediterranean League and, under O'Connell, FC Barcelona won this title. During the summer of 1937 O'Connell took the club on tour to North America. In Mexico they played against, among others, Club América, Atlante F.C., Necaxa and a Mexican XI. In the United States, they played against Brooklyn Hispano, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic and an American Soccer League XI. They finished the tour with a game against a Hebrew XI [18][19].
In financial terms this tour saved the club, but O'Connell returned to Spain with only four players after the others chose to go into exile in Mexico and France. By the 1937-38 season the Republican area was reduced in size and a second Mediterranean League was impossible to organise. However a Lliga Catalana, featuring just Catalan teams, was organised. Despite a depleted squad, O'Connell and FC Barcelona won both the Lliga Catalana and the Campionat de Catalunya [20][21].
[edit]Sevilla FC
O'Connell went onto manage Sevilla FC between 1942 and 1945. During his first season in charge, 1942-43, he guided the club to second place in La Liga [14][22].

[Jim Comic]

anyone know why iniesta didn't start last night? had he a knock or was it tactical?

[Lapsy Pa]

anyone know why iniesta didn't start last night? had he a knock or was it tactical?

He's injured. Didn't start the arsenal game during the week either.

[bfinnbar]

I thought Barca looked like a team, and Real looked like a group of individuals. I wonder if the same thing will happen to Manchester City when they spend hundreds of millions this summer, just like Real did last summer? It looks like Real will have spent all that money for no return. Ronaldo looked a shadow of his former self, and it looks like Barcelona could end up lifting the Champions League Trophy on Reals patch, which is what Perez promised that Real would be doing, when he spent all that money last summer.

[The Black Knight]

I thought Barca looked like a team, and Real looked like a group of individuals. I wonder if the same thing will happen to Manchester City when they spend hundreds of millions this summer, just like Real did last summer? It looks like Real will have spent all that money for no return. Ronaldo looked a shadow of his former self, and it looks like Barcelona could end up lifting the Champions League Trophy on Reals patch, which is what Perez promised that Real would be doing, when he spent all that money last summer.

Barcelona played Real off the pitch. Messi again coming up with the goal. Ronaldo, another big game, another night on the missing list apart from one or two moments where he acted like a child per usual.

Brilliant game and the tempo was set right from the off but once Barcelona got into their stride there was only ever going to be one winner. Real Madrid just aren't at Barca's level at the moment. Ronaldo did look a shadow of his former self, but having watched a few more RM game's this season with him, he is their main man when it comes to beating the likes of Mallaga or Xerez. He simply doesn't have the balls when it comes to the major games, the big stupid pansy.

[Jinky]

It's been said on here numerous times before. There's no better boy for the likes of Bolton or West Ham than Ronaldo.

[Lapsy Pa]

Barcelona played Real off the pitch. Messi again coming up with the goal. Ronaldo, another big game, another night on the missing list apart from one or two moments where he acted like a child per usual.
Brilliant game and the tempo was set right from the off but once Barcelona got into their stride there was only ever going to be one winner. Real Madrid just aren't at Barca's level at the moment. Ronaldo did look a shadow of his former self, but having watched a few more RM game's this season with him, he is their main man when it comes to beating the likes of Mallaga or Xerez. He simply doesn't have the balls when it comes to the major games, the big stupid pansy.

Even the RM fans wer giving him abuse in the end.

As for RM not being in Barcas' level, they won't be for a long time. There aren't any other players like Xavi or Messi out there. They won't be able to buy them as they're Barca men not like Figo.

It was clear from the outset that RM were out of their depth. Only Cassilas and maybe Alonso would get near the Barcelona team

[STEVIEG]

Love the way Ronaldo is getting blamed one of the few Madrid players who looked like he could do something and his record this season shows how good he is

Real are a joke, for all that cash they still have loads of hackers and despite Van Der Vaart being a capable player they sold Dutchmen such as Sjneider and Robben who have each been the players of the season at their respective clubs, both who are fighting for the Champions league and domestic leagues

Real will get a new manager, move a load of players on, and buy big names once again

Good riddance; it is great to see such a pathetic club owner making an idiot of himself once again

PS-Masterful by Xavi once again

[STEVIEG]

It was clear from the outset that RM were out of their depth. Only Cassilas and maybe Alonso would get near the Barcelona team

I think you may be forgetting about a player or two there

[The Black Knight]

Love the way Ronaldo is getting blamed one of the few Madrid players who looked like he could do something and his record this season shows how good he is


Looked like isn't enough for an 80 million dollar player. He always looks like he could do something in a big game but he rarely does.

[STEVIEG]

Looked like isn't enough for an 80 million dollar player.

You can judge him on his price tag all you want

But he is head and shoulders above anyone at Madrid and has been good all season

He was dangerous the other night too, his team-mates are not up to the task however



It's rare you see Kaka, who also cost a fortune, but who has been in evident decline since 07, being blamed for anything

He is injured at the moment but anyone who watches Spanish football will tell you that he has been a relative flop so far, comparaed to Ronaldo, who has at least delivered goals and good performances

I mentioned when he was sold that he was joining a jokeshop club, and i'm delighted to see them fucking up all the same

[The Black Knight]

You can judge him on his price tag all you want

But he is head and shoulders above anyone at Madrid and has been good all season

He was dangerous the other night too, his team-mates are not up to the task however



It's rare you see Kaka, who also cost a fortune, but who has been in evident decline since 07, being blamed for anything

He is injured at the moment but anyone who watches Spanish football will tell you that he has been a relative flop so far, comparaed to Ronaldo, who has at least delivered goals and good performances

I mentioned when he was sold that he was joining a jokeshop club, and i'm delighted to see them fucking up all the same

He has been good all season. He was not good the other night. Bar one or two opportunities where I thought maybe he would score or create something then that was it. He made a balls of everything else.

[STEVIEG]

He has been good all season. He was not good the other night. Bar one or two opportunities where I thought maybe he would score or create something then that was it. He made a balls of everything else.

I thought he was a threat but like most of the players in white they didn't really have belief once Messi scored

As good as Casillas was Valdes and some excellent defending kept Madrid scoreless when they started peppering the Barca goal at one stage

as for

"He always looks like he could do something in a big game but he rarely does."

simply not true

[The Black Knight]

I thought he was a threat but like most of the players in white they didn't really have belief once Messi scored

As good as Casillas was Valdes and some excellent defending kept Madrid scoreless when they started peppering the Barca goal at one stage

as for

"He always looks like he could do something in a big game but he rarely does."

simply not true

Yeah it is.

A great player would lift himself up after the other team scored a goal. There was plenty of time for Madrid to come back into it. If Barca went down a gold do you think Messi would have lost belief? My bollox he would have.

[STEVIEG]

Yeah it is.

A great player would lift himself up after the other team scored a goal. There was plenty of time for Madrid to come back into it. If Barca went down a gold do you think Messi would have lost belief? My bollox he would have.

He has delivered in big games many times before

and at crucial times

If Messi is held scoreless (like at the Emirates or like 2 out of the 3 times he faced Man United) it does not take from his greatness

Judging a player on one game is pretty silly

Judging Ronaldo on a game where he was not particularly bad is even more so

I suspect some people watch about 5 la liga games a year though

[The Black Knight]

He has delivered in big games many times before

and at crucial times

If Messi is held scoreless (like at the Emirates or like 2 out of the 3 times he faced Man United) it does not take from his greatness

Judging a player on one game is pretty silly

Judging Ronaldo on a game where he was not particularly bad is even more so

I suspect some people watch about 5 la liga games a year though

He did nothing the entire game. I'll give him credit where his credit is due and as I said already he has been very good this season in most games I watched and he has even cut down on his diving. He was not up to scratch on Saturday night however.

[AmadeusDC]

First Classico of the 2010-11 season is set for Monday, November 29th (9pm local time).

As of right now both sides have 16pts from their last 6 games. Ronaldo has 14 goals in 15 games this season and 12 in 10 in the league. Messi has 14 in 11 and 8 in the league. After 10 games each the two clubs combined goal difference is +37 and Real are still unbeaten! This game will be massive! Can Mourinho go to the Nou Camp and get a result? Think I'll take an early afternoon to head to the pub for this one.

[STEVIEG]

Should be good

The usual 2 horse race is well and truly on and makes these games extra important

Madrid will put up a bigger fight this year that's for sure i have a feeling they will win the league

[intothewest]

Visca el Barca. Visca Catalunya!

[Lee Bushwacker]

Visca el Barca. Visca Catalunya!

:cool:
Hala Madrid!
A la mierda con "Los Catalinos" ;)

[Lee Bushwacker]

Should be good

The usual 2 horse race is well and truly on and makes these games extra important

Madrid will put up a bigger fight this year that's for sure i have a feeling they will win the league

:cool:
It's a pity that Valencia & Sevilla have gone backwards and that La Liga has reverted to a 2 horse race. The C.L. looks wide open this season and I have the feeling that Real Madrid are going to win it. A Liga & C.L. double for Mou wouldn't surprise me at all!

[Lapsy Pa]

El Classico on saturday night.

It's a pity the league is as good as done as it would added a bit more spice to it. Naturally both teams still won't want to lose.

"Were Real Madrid's last victories in black and white or in colour?" chuckled goalkeeper Victor Valdes last week when asked about Madrid’s recent record against Barcelona. Ouch

[STEVIEG]

Can't wait as you said pity bout the league table but Jose will want to win the first one too so we might have some good games!

[Carmona]

If Madrid were to lose all 4 of these Barça games, how much would they spend in the Summer?

Record splurge to try to speed up the healing process.

[STEVIEG]

Conversely Barca will do the same

Nearly 90 million on strikers alone in last 20 months

They spend how much on Mascherano??

[Jim Comic]

d I have the feeling that Real Madrid are going to win it.


god i hope not

[POL]

god i hope notwhy?

[Jim Comic]

i dislike real madrid as a club immensely, hate the way they operate

[deckyg]

Going to be in Madrid the night of the first leg semi-final. Trying my best to get tickets. Anyone know the best way of going about getting them?? Not sure how UEFA distribute them....I have registered on Real website as I think they maybe selling them on that. Anyone have any suggestions or is my best chance with the touts when I get there....Cheers.

[ho chi feen]

'Classico' with 2 s's is of course the Portuguese classico which we all dream of seeing in Dublin for the Europa League final, between FC Porto and Benfica. :)

But seriously, this is going to be the mother of all face offs. The "World Series" as the excellent Sid Lowe termed it in Sports Illustrated today: http://sportsillustrated.cn n.com/2011/writers/sid_lowe/04/13/4.clasicos/index.html

Carvalho missing the first leg is a real blow for Madrid (though it's conceivable he would have got himself booked to miss the return, in fairness). Beyond conceding that the league is already over, we can't make any sweeping conclusions about how this will all go... My feeling is that it will ebb and flow across the series, fatigue and use of squad will be a big factor- that's where Madrid's biggest advantage over Barcelona (only advantage, perhaps other than JM's mind itself) lies. it's great to see both squads going into this largely injury free [abidal aside; and Mundo Deportivo are claiming today that Puyol could be back for the Copa del Rey final). My gut feeling is that Real will one of these four ties, and that that one win will come in Europe; and that it will be decisive. But Barcelona could of course easily win all four.

I just got off the line on this matter with Back Page Football's podcast, so I'll lob up a link when that's up tomorrow.

Fuck, I really can't wait for these games! :D

[ho chi feen]

Going to be in Madrid the night of the first leg semi-final. Trying my best to get tickets. Anyone know the best way of going about getting them?? Not sure how UEFA distribute them....I have registered on Real website as I think they maybe selling them on that. Anyone have any suggestions or is my best chance with the touts when I get there....Cheers.

In truth, your only option is going to be touts, and boy! You'd better be packing cash! Outside the Camp Nou for the November 2009 clásico in the league, they were going for €700+; four days before, when they played Inter, the touts I saw looking to buy for the clasico were offering €400 odd.

I see on the Guardian's site, there's a ticketing service, which has a few Copa del Rey final tickets going, surprisingly... think GBP£400, minimum. That's about the only opening i can see.

:cool:
Hala Madrid!
A la mierda con "Los Catalinos" ;)

Madrid! Cabron! Saluda al campeon! :p

If Madrid were to lose all 4 of these Barça games, how much would they spend in the Summer?

Record splurge to try to speed up the healing process.

I dunno, C. José is safe. They splurged already. i think he's relatively happy with the team, and the squad as a whole. They'll definitely buy another striker, probably Adebayor... it's hard to see exactly where he (and I say 'he', because he's put Valdano back in his box bigtime) would want to make additions... i would say one or two more squad players. Also lots of talk of Borja Valero, and you can see why that would make sense because they've really suffered any time Xabi Alonso has been missing for creativity in the centre.

[Lapsy Pa]

Ronaldo cost more than the Barcelona starting XI.

Even more shocking are the price tags attached to both right backs.

Likey starting XIs...

REAL MADRID

Name Age Position Seasons at club First team apps Cost

Iker Casillas 29 GK 12 602 Youth team

Pepe 28 CB 4 104 €30m

Ricardo Carvalho 32 CB 1 41 €7.9m

Marcelo 22 LB 5 156 €6.5m

Sergio Ramos 25 RB 6 254 €27m

Xabi Alonso 29 MF 2 84 €30m

Sami Khedira 24 MF 1 38 €20m

Mesut Özil 22 MF 1 44 €15m

Ángel di Maria 23 FW 1 46 €25m

Cristiano Ronaldo 26 FW 2 80 €94m

Karim Benzema 23 FW 2 74 €35m

Total cost €290.4m (£255m)
Total first team appearances 1523


BARCELONA

Name Age Position Seasons at club First team apps Cost

Victor Valdés 29 GK 12 398 Youth team

Carles Puyol 33 CB 16 511 Y/T

Gerard Piqué 24 CB 3 137 €5m (returned from Man Utd)

Adriano 26 LB 1 28 €10m

Dani Alves 27 RB 3 145 €30m

Sergio Busquets 22 MF 5 130 Y/T

Xavi 31 MF 16 568 Y/T

Andres Iniesta 26 MF 12 355 Y/T

Pedro 23 FW 7 168 Y/T

Lionel Messi 23 FW 6 260 Y/T

David Villa 29 FW 1 42 €40m

Total cost €85m (£75m)
Total first team appearances 2742

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/la-liga/8450457/Barcelonas-finest-ever-XI-costs-less-than-one-Cristiano-Ronaldo.html

[STEVIEG]

Throw in The failure that was Ibrahimovich for Barca and it distorts that

Barca have paid more for Ronaldo on Mascherano and Ibra alone, and they can't get a game (one sent on loan)

[Lapsy Pa]

Throw in The failure that was Ibrahimovich for Barca and it distorts that

Barca have paid more for Ronaldo on Mascherano and Ibra alone, and they can't get a game (one sent on loan)

That's not including Kaka who cost over €60 mill.

Mascherano was never ever going to break into that midfield. He's behind Keita on the bench. All well and good having a club like Barcelona on your cv but I'd have more respect for a player who wants to play week in week out.

[STEVIEG]

Well in fairness he made the tackle that kept them in the CL so he probably was worth it

Kaka is bizarre really I know he's had injuries but his stock really has fallen

Big few weeks for him

Madrid have always been the biggest spenders and as we know, it hasn't always worked

Can't wait for these games

[Jim Comic]

0-1 (messi pen)


madrid down to ten men

[Good News Caravan]

How fortunate are we that two fine players such as Ronaldo and Messi are dazzling their skills at their peak of their careers right now.

as much as I love Messi I'd prefer ronaldo in my team and think he can sustain his abilities longer. he's a freak in terms of physicality.

[Jim Comic]

as much as I love Messi I'd prefer ronaldo in my team.

god no, i can't imagine he'd be good for team spirit with his posturing and sulking.... plus messi is a better team player in terms of assists, etc

if i had a choice between the two it'd be messi every time

[glue]

How fortunate are we that two fine players such as Ronaldo and Messi are dazzling their skills at their peak of their careers right now.

as much as I love Messi I'd prefer ronaldo in my team and think he can sustain his abilities longer. he's a freak in terms of physicality.

Jesus wept

[Good News Caravan]

god no, i can't imagine he'd be good for team spirit with his posturing and sulking.... plus messi is a better team player in terms of assists, etc

if i had a choice between the two it'd be messi every time
take Messi out of that Barca team though, its one of the greatest ever assembled.

looking at their performances with their countries gives a fairer assessment.

don't buy this team spirit stuff either as Ibras departure from Barca was down to Messi. Has Ronaldo ever fallen out with a team mate?

[Jim Comic]

an egomaniac like Ibra was totally unsuited to barca to begin with, that signing was a BIG mistake

[Good News Caravan]

True. still scored a few. wonder how long Messi will be able to play with the pace he has.

[Jim Comic]

1-1 (ronaldo pen)

[Bobby Vinton]

Never a peno for madrid,Barca the better side if villa was on form they'd have won.
Wednesday will be class.

[Jim Comic]

wed is the least important of the 4 games, can't wait for the two e.c. matches

[Lapsy Pa]

Jose is definitely going to park the bus for the CL games.

Alves got a toe to the ball for RMs pen and Villa was taken down by Casillas for a pen the first half. Madrid actually looked better with ten men.

Busquets and Marcelo would make you sick with their antics.

[Crayons O'Neil]

Jose is definitely going to park the bus for the CL games.

Alves got a toe to the ball for RMs pen and Villa was taken down by Casillas for a pen the first half. Madrod actually looked better with ten men.

Busquets and Marcelo would make you sick with their antics.

Madrid looked better when they brought on Ozil and Adebayor and went for it.

Both teams had good chances to win by the end.

These 2 games are no more than dress rehearsals for the CL semi's though.

[ho chi feen]

Article on weekend and looking to tonight, my usual column for Back Page Football

http://backpagefootball.com/featured/the-word-from-spain-entre-dos-clasicos/

Line-up speculation a little out of date.

Speculation has it tonight's barca line-up will be

Pinto - Alves Pique Mascherano Adriano - Xavi Busquets Iniesta - Pedro Messi Villa #fcblive [cat radio]

Real (unofficial) 4-3-3

Casillas; Marceloa, Carvalho, Ramos, Arbeloa; Alonso, Pepe, Khedira; Ozil, Ronaldo, Di María

[Atlanger]

Article on weekend and looking to tonight, my usual column for Back Page Football

http://backpagefootball.com/featured/the-word-from-spain-entre-dos-clasicos/

Line-up speculation a little out of date.

Speculation has it tonight's barca line-up will be

Pinto - Alves Pique Mascherano Adriano - Xavi Busquets Iniesta - Pedro Messi Villa #fcblive [cat radio]

Real (unofficial) 4-3-3

Casillas; Marceloa, Carvalho, Ramos, Arbeloa; Alonso, Pepe, Khedira; Ozil, Ronaldo, Di María

Good article as ever Ho Chi. Get on them to get a proof-reader for you. Missed a couple of typos.

[ho chi feen]

Good article as ever Ho Chi. Get on them to get a proof-reader for you. Missed a couple of typos.

Cheers man!

I'm used to proof-reading for others (always quicker for spotting errors, in fairness). Balls with the site set up now is it goes through a pending review stage, and once it's approved and up I can't edit it. Used to pick them off that way before. Doubt the lads have the time to be taking on the extra work.

[ho chi feen]

Might as well post her here as well.....






Whoever tells you that the Barcelona sports press isn't every bit as bad as Marca or AS is a freaking liar. Front page of sport tomorrow:

http://www.lalibretadevanga al.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sport.jpg

Jesus Calleja wept!

[Bobby Vinton]

Very strange game to watch,I suppose mourinho has now built the foundations for at least giving barca a run in the semi's cant see them going through though.Barcelona should rest a few at the weekend

[Atlanger]

Cheers man!

I'm used to proof-reading for others (always quicker for spotting errors, in fairness). Balls with the site set up now is it goes through a pending review stage, and once it's approved and up I can't edit it. Used to pick them off that way before. Doubt the lads have the time to be taking on the extra work.

You just proved how serious a writer you are with that comment. I was wondering if you would take in the spirit it was meant, given that this place is wind-up central, and well, I wasn't sure if you were a serious writer who understood the writing process or not. Third party proof-reading is the only way...that's why editors get the big bucks I guess.

[Lapsy Pa]

Saw most of the second half and the extra time last night. Didn't seem like RM played with any out and out strikers? and had three full backs on the field. I presume one, more than likely Marcelo, was in an advanced positon.

Barcelona were doing most of the attacking from what I saw but TSO has RM well drilled. Barcelona would count themselves unlucky but that's two games on a row now that they have failed to score from open play against RM.

Some goal to win it in fairness. Brilliant cross from Di Maria and a great header from Ronaldo to win. An underappreciated part of his game. He has a good leap on him and would be able to score more headers if he got the service or got in those positions more often.

[Rebelred]

Great header from Ronaldo... he just seemed to hang there, waiting for the ball. How does he do it?

On a serious note, Mourinho is teaching his players with every game how to stifle the life out of the Barca attack and I wouldn't be one bit surprised to see Madrid advance to the Champions league now.

[Lapsy Pa]

Good one Sergio.

http://youtu.be/sY9-IWFH0S4

I once drank Jameson and Bulmers out of a trophy, I don't think they'll be able to do the same.

[Lee Bushwacker]

Might as well post her here as well.....






Whoever tells you that the Barcelona sports press isn't every bit as bad as Marca or AS is a freaking liar. Front page of sport tomorrow:

http://www.lalibretadevanga al.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sport.jpg

Jesus Calleja wept!

:cool:
Spot on Ho-Chi.
Nice consolation for Pique though.
Cracking score (goal) from Cristiano though.

[STEVIEG]

Can't wait for the CL games now!

[Shabby]

Saw most of the second half and the extra time last night. Didn't seem like RM played with any out and out strikers? and had three full backs on the field. I presume one, more than likely Marcelo, was in an advanced positon.

Barcelona were doing most of the attacking from what I saw but TSO has RM well drilled. Barcelona would count themselves unlucky but that's two games on a row now that they have failed to score from open play against RM.

Some goal to win it in fairness. Brilliant cross from Di Maria and a great header from Ronaldo to win. An underappreciated part of his game. He has a good leap on him and would be able to score more headers if he got the service or got in those positions more often.
Ramos was playing centre-half last night with Arbeloa and Marcelo the full backs. It's a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation but it's an extremely compact formation. They let Barca have the ball out wide in the knowledge they have nobody dangerous enough aerially to score from a cross. He plays 3 destroyers in the middle of the park with Pepe getting stuck into anything that comes near him and Khedira taking up the running.

Ronaldo and Di Maria/Ozil are the wingers in it and they do a lot of unselfish defensive work for a change while Adebayor is greatly suited to the lone striker role compared to Benzema. It's tactically spot on and you can see Barca are going to have a job on their hands trying to break them down without a big man up front.

As for the CL games, I wouldn't be overly excited about what's to come but it will be tactically fascinating alright. Can't see there being many goals. An away goal will probably win it.

[mightyquark]

Great header from Ronaldo... he just seemed to hang there, waiting for the ball. How does he do it?

.

Most top level GAA players can do this...nothing special

[Langer Dan]

Good one Sergio.

http://youtu.be/sY9-IWFH0S4

I once drank Jameson and Bulmers out of a trophy, I don't think they'll be able to do the same.

:lol!:


What a gimp.

[Acowa]

The only classic last night was at White Hart Lane.

Anyone know what the card-count ended up at in Spain?

Fair play to Jose, so that's 3.5 hours of football played in this series and FCB have one penalty to show thus far.

[Crayons O'Neil]

I still feel Barca will take the semi's

[Bobby Vinton]

The only classic last night was at White Hart Lane.

Anyone know what the card-count ended up at in Spain?

Fair play to Jose, so that's 3.5 hours of football played in this series and FCB have one penalty to show thus far.

In fairness there were actual defenders playing at the mestella - Who's at home first in the semi finals ?

[delzer]

In fairness there were actual defenders playing at the mestella - Who's at home first in the semi finals ?

Madrid