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Real Madrid vs Barcelona Match Preview

This weekend, the Spanish giants will affront Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in a crucial encounter anticipated by millions of football fans around the world.

LiveSoccerTV.com takes you through an in-depth look from a Real Madrid point of view ahead of Sunday’s super clash.

Statistics – The Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s Fortress

No other team in La Liga can boast of a home record as perfect as Real Madrid’s… not even Barcelona, the team that is considered to be the best in the world by a majority of the public.

The Spanish giants have played 15 league matches at the Santiago Bernabeu, picking up the maximum 45 points there and scoring an amazing number of 50 goals. This takes their average tally to a bit more than 3 goals scored in every home game.

Real Madrid didn’t always have it easy on their own soil. On the opening day of La Liga season for example, they struggled before seeing out Deportivo La Coruna in a 5-goal thriller.

Earlier in March, Los Blancos suffered a real scare at the Santiago Bernabeu against Sevilla.

They had to come from 2-0 down to beat their opponents 3-2 with midfielder Van der Vaart netting an injury time winner.

Atletico Madrid also posed problems to Real Madrid, just as Real Valladolid and even Sporting Gijon did.

Mentality has certainly played a great role for the Spanish giants to maintain their 100% home record this season.

They’ve clinched victories at the Santiago Bernabeu in various style – one of those including a 6-0 thrashing of Real Zaragoza and a 6-2 shocking triumph over Villarreal.

Real Madrid’s home statistics have transformed the Santiago Bernabeu into a fortress in La Liga this season.

No team has managed to deny Los Blancos from anything less than a win, but Barcelona could be the first to do so.

The Bernabeu’s foundations and walls are expected to be tested by the Catalans’ untouchable fire on Saturday night as the world will have their eyes set on El Clasico.

El Clasico Statistics – A Quick Look Back Into History

Records might shock you, but the truth is that Real Madrid have been beaten at home to Barcelona only 15 times in as much as 79 meetings in La Liga.

El Clasico has ended in a draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on 14 occasions and if the Spanish giants defeat the Blaugrana this weekend, they’ll be recording their 51st victory on home soil against their greatest rivals.

Real Madrid’s statistics at home in El Clasico look strong but the latest result between Los Blancos and Barca in Madrid has inflicted fear in the hearts of many Madridistas.

In the corresponding fixture last season – which marked the last Clasico played at the Santiago Bernabeu since then – Barcelona humiliated the Spanish giants by defeating them 6-2.

Lionel Messi clinched a brace like Thierry Henry, and Gerard Pique even made history by scoring his first goal for the Blaugrana.

In few words, Real Madrid clearly got disgraced on their own turf. This 6-2 loss was quite a harsh way to brush away Los Blancos’ memorable 4-1 triumph over Barcelona in Madrid back in May 2008.

Saturday will see El Clasico staged at the Santiago Bernabeu for the 10th time in this 21st century. Now looking at the previous 9 results, it could seem difficult for one to predict this weekend’s outcome.

35 goals have been scored between both sides at the Bernabeu since the 2000/2001 season.

Real Madrid have claimed 18 of those, clinching a 4-2-3 (W-D-L) record as well.

Ironically, the outcome of their defeats to Barcelona in El Clasico has been more and more emphatic over the last decade.

Real Madrid were defeated 2-1 in April 2004 with Kluivert and Xavi staging a dramatic comeback for the Blaugrana in the Spanish capital.

In November 2005, the margin of defeat was worse. Real Madrid stumbled against the mesmerizing potential of Ronaldinho who scored twice to round up Barcelona’s 3-0 win in El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Then the unimaginable arrived: the Spanish giants bowed down to their Catalans rivals with a terrible 6-2 loss in May 2009.

Will Real Madrid erase the pain that they suffered in that match against Barcelona by writing a new page in the history of El Clasico on Saturday night?

Quotes – Real Madrid’s Sayings

Many people think that whoever wins El Clasico this weekend will end up lifting La Liga trophy.

LiveSoccerTV.com gives you the chance to read through important comments made by Real Madrid personalities ahead of El Clasico on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini – Real Madrid Coach

“We must now concentrate on the match against Barcelona.

"The encounter has come at the right time for both sides, after we have both recorded many victories.

“We need to recover the points that we lost at the Camp Nou. I’m confident that we can win.”

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portuguese Superstar Winger

"[El Clasico at the Camp Nou] was Real Madrid’s best game this season. That match taught us which approach we should take against Barca.

“I’m confident that we will win the match against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu and that we will also win La Liga.”

Jorge Valdano – Real Madrid Director

“El Clasico with Barcelona will be extremely important, because the points at stake will be worth double for either team.

“Nevertheless, seven more games will follow El Clasico. The league will remain open whatever happens in El Clasico. La Liga won’t end this weekend.

“You never know what’s going to happen in football. Much will be at stake during the game and tension will fill the atmosphere.”

El Clasico – Real Madrid Players To Watch

Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano stated that El Clasico “will be decided by teamwork and not by individual players.”

However, some names are expected to play a big role in the match for Los Blancos.

Gonzalo Higuain

The Argentine striker who is vying for the Pichichi honor will come head to head against his fellow countryman Lionel Messi.

Higuain has scored as much as 24 goals in La Liga only and he is only 2 behind his club rival and national team buddy Lionel Messi who leads the top scorers chart.

Higuain has netted 8 goals in his last 5 appearances for Real Madrid and he is poised to have an impact in El Clasico on Saturday.

Real Madrid supporters will hope that the striker doesn’t experience an awful night like the one he had against Lyon at the Santiago Bernabeu in the UEFA Champions League.

A repeat of such a poor and selfish performance by Higuain will surely come at the detriment of the entire Real Madrid squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has never scored a goal against Barcelona in his career and his fans will be anxious to see him break this curse.

The Santiago Bernabeu could be the ideal venue for Ronaldo to realize his dream of putting a goal past the Catalans’ strong defense.

Under a Manchester United jersey, the Portuguese winger suffered agonizing moments against Barca.

He missed the greatest opportunity to score against the Blaugrana at the Camp Nou when he blew away his spot kick in the semifinals of the 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo also failed to score in the return leg at Old Trafford. He then came up against the Blaugrana again; this time in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome which Manchester United lost 2-0.

Earlier this season, Ronaldo came close to unlocking his account but an impressive Victor Valdes denied him from doing so.

Cristiano Ronaldo is 4th in La Liga’s top scorers chart with 18 goals and 8 behind rival Lionel Messi.

His fans might be even happier to see him score against Barcelona than to see him lifting the Pichichi trophy.

Iker Casillas

The shot stopper will need to be at his full best against Real Madrid’s archrivals Barca. He knows how difficult it is to contain any Barcelona player, and especially Lionel Messi.

Iker Casillas won’t need to be reminded of the Argentine’s record against Real Madrid.

Casillas has kept only one clean sheet in his last 8 appearances for Los Blancos.

It was only last week, when Real Madrid defeated Racing Santander 2-0 that the Spaniard managed to keep his lines clean.

Besides, the goalkeeper has conceded 11 goals in 720 minutes of football since February 21st.

However, if he can repeat the heroics that he made for Spain against Italy during the 2008 European Championships, it will definitely come at Real Madrid’s benefit.

Iker Casillas’ performance in post will certainly have a huge impact on the outcome of the match.

El Clasico – Real Madrid Team News

(LiveSoccerTV.com will update you with further news on Real Madrid’s squad by the end of this week.)

El Clasico – Predictions And Expectations

A poll on Real Madrid’s official website shows how optimistic Real Madrid fans are ahead of El Clasico.

On Tuesday, results revealed that 86% of around 8,500 voters think that Los Blancos will win the battle over their rivals.

Are Madridistas being realistic? Are Florentino Perez’s men strong enough to destroy Pep Guardiola’s unbreakable unit?

Well, Real Madrid have grown dangerous in attack and their record of 50 goals scored in 15 home matches proves just that. But they’ve also been wasteful in front of goal.

Besides, their effectiveness in defense has to be questionned. One mistake might be deadly against the Blaugrana.

My prediction:

Real Madrid will need to start off strongly and to remain consistent throughout the match. A good game plan may offer them a 2-1 win.

Meanwhile, a bad day marked by defensive errors and bookings could see them lose again, narrowly or heavily.

A draw, whether goalless or not, doesn’t look likely though. But it's true that such an outcome would benefit Barcelona more in terms of head to head.

Real Madrid’s last five results in La Liga

Mar. 14: Valladolid 1-4 Real Madrid
Mar. 20: Real Madrid 3-1 Sporting Gijon
Mar. 25: Getafe 2-4 Real Madrid
Mar. 28: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid
Apr. 04: Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid

In all of their last five fixtures, Real Madrid haven’t been able to live up to expectations.
Let’s see how they will bounce back from their patchy form to avoid being punished by Barcelona.

La Liga Top 5 standings ahead of Match-day 31:

Real Madrid – 77 points, +57
Barcelona – 77 points, +56
Valencia – 56 points, +16
Mallorca – 48 points, +8
Sevilla – 48 points, +12

Barcelona will go on top of Real Madrid if they avoid defeat. A draw will give them the head-to-head advantage while a victory will put them three points clear of the Spanish giants. For Real Madrid, the safest manner to control their own destiny in La Liga would be to bag a win.

Read the Real Madrid vs Barcelona Match Preview from a Barcelona perspective here.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Match Statistics

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Live Commentary

90'' Crucially, Barca now have a superior head to head record between the two sides, so should they yet finish level on points, Barca have the edge.

90'' Perhaps this is the night they have sealed the league, as Barcelona go three points clear of Real.

90'' Indeed, it is. The final whistle is blown and Barcelona win El Clasico 2-0. Madrid were never really at the races tonight and Barcelona celebrate like they've won the title.

90'' Real are still going for a goal but Ramos's cross is intercepted and that could be it.

90'' Benzema comes close with a header, but it flies a foot wide of Valdes's left hand post.

90'' The fourth official has indicated 4 additional minutes. He could have indicated 40 and I still don't think Real would score. It's been a bad night for them.

89'' Arbeloa and Pedro tangle on the halfway line, I'm surprised we have avoided a red card given the number of yellows shown tonight.

87'' And Madrid look like a side that feel sorry for themselves.

85'' The ball did seem to touch Benzema's arm but it wasn't clear-cut. Raul is disappointed, to say the least.

84'' Real Madrid have a goal disallowed, and it would have been a goal for the substitute Raul. A cross came in from the left and the ref has seen Benzema handball it in the build up, before the ball fell to Raul.

83'' Real are losing their temperament here.

82'' Clumsy, late and stupid from Garay. That was the tackle of a man frustrated with a poor Real performance.

81'' Yellow card: Garay (Real Madrid)

80'' Keita clatters into Benzema.

79'' The ref is trying to keep order after Alonso fouls Iniesta.

78'' Ramos fires in a cross from the right but it doesn't find its target, gathered by Valdes.

77'' Barcelona sub: Marquez on for Milito

76'' Real Madrid sub: Benzema on for Higuain

75'' Barca's Milito is struggling with a calf injury and appears to be coming off.

74'' Iniesta plays Messi in again, whose left-foot shot is saved by Cssillas, who must be exasperated with the defenders in front of him. That was truly awful defnding from Real. Messi was in far too much space there.

73'' Real enjoy a good period of possession but Ronaldo loses the ball with a terrible pass into the box. Ronaldo's body language isn't very positive right now.

72'' I can confirm that Pedro isn't dead, he was suffering with a back problem after a clash with Higuain and seems to be okay now.

71'' Real Madrid sub: Raul on for Van Der Vaart

70'' Pedro is down and isn't moving. I hope he isn't dead.

69'' Messi comes close to grabbing his second. Xavi releases messi with another inch-perfect pass but Casillas gets just enough on Messi's shot to concede a corner.

68'' The angle was against Ronaldo there but that goes down as more than a half chance.

67'' Ronaldo comes close for Madrid. He sprints away from his marker down the left and, with no players in support, he hits a tame shot left footed straight at Valdes.

66'' Messi is down after being fouled by Gago. He gingerly gets back to his feet, to the whistles of the home fans.

65'' Puyol is fouled by his Spain team mate Sergio Ramos. No love is lost in El Clasico.

64'' Unsuprisingly he does, but it's straight into the hands of Valdes.

63'' Real win a free kick 25-or-so yards out and Ronaldo is the favourite to hit this.

62'' Barcelona sub: Iniesta on for Maxwell

61'' Just to confirm it was Cristiano Ronaldo who was booked after he appealed for Alves to be shown a second yellow card. Good to see refs clamping down on that.

60'' Real Madrid sub: Guti on for Marcelo

60'' But it hits the wall, but there's no way that wall was 10 yards out when the ball was struck.

59'' Ronaldo is lining up the free kick...

59'' Alves has tripped Ronaldo on the edge of the box and the ref has brandished a yellow card, although it's unclear to whom.

58'' Van Der Vaart misses a glorious chance. He found himself one-on-one with Valdes after a beautiful pass from Guti but his shot wasn't far enough from the keeper, who smothers it. Big big miss.

57'' But Real are bouncing back through Higuain, but he pulls his shot wide of the left post.

55'' And that's a crucial goal for Barca. Xavi puts a perfect throughball to Pedro who takes a touch and passes it left-footed inside the left post. Lovely finish and that's a big blow for Madrid.

54'' GOAL! 2-0 BARCELONA

52'' Barca are controlling the play and everything is going through the brains of the team, Xavi.

50'' Real attack with numbers but Ronaldo's low cross from the left is cut out by Puyol.

49'' Marcelo comes close for Madrid. His left foot drive from just outside the box was heading for the top right corner, but Valdes catches the effort.

48'' Messi wins a throw after the ball deflected off Albiol. The home fans do not like that decision.

47'' Early chance for Real, but Ronaldo's ball from the left is just too long for Higuaín, and the chance is gone.

46'' Barcelona kick off the second half, kicking from left to right.

45'' Join me in 15 minutes for the second half.

45'' So Barca lead 1-0 at half time, but it's been a half that's failed to live up to the hype. Scrappy at times and divided only by a well taken goal crafted by Xavi and scored by Messi in the 32nd minute.

45'' But we won't have time for the corner to be taken, that's half time.

45'' Casillas punches clear and the ball eventually drops to Xavi who shoots and the ball deflects out for another corner.

44'' Barca force a corner on the left through Pedro.

43'' Gago fouls Messi from behind on the halfway line. Barca free kick.

41'' Barca win a corner which Casillas punches clear. Real Madrid counter attack with fantastic pace but the ball comes to Marcelo who can't find Ronaldo who is motoring down the left channel. If Marcelo had found Ronaldo he would have had a clear sight of goal. Poor from Marcelo.

40'' The ball breaks to Higuaín who blazes over from 10 yards out under pressure from Puyol. Higuaín should have shown more composure to hit the target there.

39'' Xavi and Messi link well again, but this time Messi is outnumbered as he tries to make space on the edge of the Real box.

38'' Late tackle by Alves. These yellows are really adding up now.

38'' Yellow card: Alves (Barcelona)

37'' And again Alonso gets a chance from the corner. This time he does make contact but it's just over.

36'' Ronaldo puts a dangerous cross in from the right and it's cleared for a corner by the covering Daniel Alves.

35'' Alonso gets a free header from the corner but fails to make contact. That should have hit the target at the very least.

34'' Marcelo looks for Ronaldo with a low cross but the ball is out for a corner.

34'' And that goal comes slightly against the run of play after Real had put together the better of the chances so far. But there's no holding back Lionel Messi at the moment.

33'' It's Messi, who else? Messi plays the ball to Xavi who chips it over the defence and back into Messi's path, who took it down with his left foot and shot past the onrushing Casillas with his right foot. Lovely finish. Game on.

32'' GOAL! 1-0 BARCELONA

32'' Xavi has been booked for his protests.

31'' Yellow card: Xavi (Barcelona)

30'' Xavi's free kick hits the wall, and appeared to be blocked by Xabi Alonso's arm.

29'' Messi skipped past Albiol, who cynically tripped him. Free kick to Barca 25 yards out.

28'' Yellow card: Albiol (Real Madrid)

27'' But it's given away again by Barca, who have been uncharacteristically sloppy in possession.

26'' And Barca can finally get the ball into Real's half after the ball goes out for a goal kick.

25'' Ronaldo is limping, but I suspect he is just looking for sympathy.

24'' Sublime flick by Ronaldo puts the ball into the path of Marcelo but his low cross from the left is miscontrolled by Van Der Vaart.

23'' Keita diffuses a Real Madrid attack but they come forward again with Ronaldo who wastes a good chance to pass to Higuain.

22'' Madrid have been the better of the two sides in attack so far, but neither side has quite got into their stride so far.

20'' Marcelo weaves his way into a shooting position but elects to pass to Alonso on the right who shoots first time. The ball hits the side netting of the right side of the goal. Alonso could have crossed that into the box there.

19'' Sergio Ramos attempts a 1-2 with Gago but the ball gets away from Ramos and goes out for a goal kick. But Madrid are attacking with pace and purpose.

18'' Messi is cautioned for a deliberate handball, as he tried to bring the ball down with his arm. Silly yellow card to be given.

17'' Yellow card: Messi (Barcelona)

16'' Van der Vaart is penalised for catching Pedro with an elbow.

15'' Ronaldo bursts into the box on the left after cutting inside Pique, he then very very optimistically looks for a penalty by stumbling over Pique's trailing leg. That was nowhere near a legitimate claim.

14'' Misunderstanding between Maxwell and Busquets in midfield, resulting in Barcelona losing possession.

13'' Alves blazes the free kick over. Nowhere near.

12'' Stupid tackle by Gago on Xavi on the edge of the Real box. Chance for Barca from the free kick, no more than 25 yards out.

11'' And this time we do have a yellow card. Alonso is penalised for a late tackle on Keita.

10'' Yellow card: Alonso (Real Madrid)

8'' I'm just hearing that Pique's yellow card does not stand as the assistant referee already had his flag up for offside.

8'' Ronaldo lunges in on Pique. Free kick to Barcelona.

7'' Alves puts a cross into Pedro but his cross is way too high.

6'' Pique is carded for a deliberate handball as Higuain tried to play the ball in to Ronaldo. A number of players surround the referee as Barcelona feel Pique should have seen red. It was very deliberate.

5'' Yellow card: Pique (Barcelona)

4'' Good pressure by Higuain forces Pique to blast the ball out of play.

3'' Alves, who is playing in attack tonight, is penalised for a foul.

2'' Madrid start the game to a high intensity, Barca are being pinned back in the early stages.

1'' Real Madrid kick us off in El Clasico.

0'' We're approaching kick off at the Berbabeu in Madrid. 8 games to go in La Liga so this could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the league.

0'' Real Madrid's home record this season: Played 15, Won 15, Drawn 0, Lost 0. Goals for: 50, Goal against: 13. Not bad.

0'' Real Madrid are fielding a more conventional line-up tonight. Higuain and Ronaldo play up front for the home side tonight.

0'' Guardiola's team selection for El Clasico is very unusual. He seems to be playing Daniel Alves as an attacker, on the right hand side, with Messi on the left and Pedro through the middle. I'm not quite sure what formation they are playing tonight. It may be a 4-2-3-1 formation with Busquets and Xavi in front of the back four. But I could be wrong.

0'' Barcelona XI: Valdes; Pique, Milito, Puyol, Maxwell; Busquets; Alves, Xavi; Pedro, Messi, Keita.

0'' Real Madrid XI: Casillas; Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa; Gago, Xabi Alonso; Ronaldo, Van der Vaart, Marcelo; Higuain. Substitutes: Dudek, Metzelder, L Diarra, M Diarra, Guti, Raul, Benzema.

0'' Good evening ladies and gents. Real Madrid vs Barcelona, El Gran Clasico, maybe the biggest game in world football is half an hour from kick off.

0'' Join us at 2100 BST to see Real Madrid play host to Barcelona in one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the year, the El Clasico.

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