Real Madrid started the current season in exemplary fashion and went on a winning run which almost resulted in them breaking a world record for the most number of consecutive wins. Their good form was more or less down to their incredible trio of Ronaldo, Benzema and Gareth Bale who were unstoppable for the first half of the season.
'BBC' as they are nicknamed bagged 57 goals in just 71 appearances before the winter break helping their club in lifting the Uefa Super Cup as well as the Club World Cup. The trio averaged 2.41 goals per game as Madrid cruised in the European competition as well as the league.
However since the turn of the year, Real Madrid have been a completely different side, unfortunately for their well wishers their performances have taken a downward spiral. Madrid's form has been hampered largely due to their front three misfiring in 2015. The formidable trio had led with authority in the first half of the season but average just 1.3 goals per game since the winter break.
This has massively effected Madrid's performances with the Castilians having suffered five defeats in 16 games, a run which saw them lose their top spot in the league and nearly saw them being knocked out of the Champions League.
Since then Real Madrid superstars have seemingly been more focused on settling personal scores rather than working together for the good of the team. Cristiano Ronaldo just like every season is once against involved in an on-field feud with Lionel Messi. The Portuguese was comfortably the favourite for the golden shoe and was virtually scoring for fun. Three months back Messi was 12 goals behind his Portuguese rival and no one could predict the Argentine could catch up, owing to his on and off the field issues then.
However as things stand Messi has over taken Ronaldo in the race for the golden shoe leading Europe's domestic scorers chart with 32 goals to his name. This is something Ronaldo has not responded particularly well to and the former Man United man was seen rather agitated when Gareth Bale scored after the ball rebounded from a Ronaldo shot in the 2-0 win over Levante.
The 30 year old also did not appear pleased when his goal bounded shot was deflected into the goal by Bale, with the Welshman ultimately awarded the goal. There have been a few moments on the pitch which have shown a friction between the world's most expensive players. Ronaldo was quite expressive in displaying his anger when the former Tottenham man took a shot at goal which he missed, rather than opting for the easier option of passing the ball to a through on goal Cristiano Ronaldo back in January in the match against Espanyol..jpg?q=75&w=634)
The Real Madrid faithful have not responded well to that and the Welshman has been routinely jeered since then. Even a brace against Levante could not bring an end to the barrage of boos and Bale's discomfort is very evident on the pitch. He is a player who performs best when full of confidence, but in recent games has been making more efforts to keep the people around him happy, namely Ronaldo and the fans.
Barcelona's front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar on the other hand has taken Europe by storm and their willingness to contribute for one another has been one of their strengths. Messi who had made the false nine role his own for quite some time has sacrificed his goal scoring exploits for the better of the team by starting from the right side of the front three. That said, he has had a growing influence on the game when operating from the right and has remained a goal scoring threat at the same time.
The trio referred to as "MSN" scored 52 goals before Christmas averaging 2.3 goals per game. In 2015 their goal scoring ratio has been even better and stands at 2.42 per game, with their good performances having earned Barcelona the top spot in the league.
They have supplemented this with 24 assists among each other in the year 2015 and their willingness to play for each other has been admirable. The outcome of this match will be decided by fine margins but it must be said that Barcelona have been operating more of a team in recent games as opposed to Real Madrid players who have been focusing on individual goals. This will bode well for Barcelona who are the team in form and will be hoping to use that in their favour.
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