The last time both teams faced off each other in the La Liga, Barcelona triumphed at the Nou Camp as they put five goals past Iker Casillas- a devastating result that left Jose Mourinho speechless after the clash. It was a match that ultimately proved that true champions are not only compact enough but also mentally matured.
Cristiano Ronaldo's childish push on Pep Guardiola and Sergio Ramos' cheap red card was the only things needed to be described as they perfectly summed up Madrid's pathetic performance on that day. Not only did they lose another Clasico, Los Blancos also lost their self-respect and dignity which left many wondering whether Jose Mourinho is really the right man to break the impeccable dominance of the Blaugranas.
Five months on now, things have definitely improved for Jose Mourinho and his gang. They have enjoyed some vast success in the Champions League so far and while they are some distance off Barcelona in the La Liga, Real Madrid have definitely look far more solid as a team nowadays- with their demolition of Tottenham Hotspurs being one evident example. And as they face the Catalans tomorrow, avoiding humiliation could possibly even be the highest target on their agenda. Nonetheless, Live Soccer TV provides five ways for Los Blancos to avoid any similar humiliation again.
Key No. #1 For Real Madrid: Be Patient And Maintain A Compact Midfield.
"Barcelona can pass the ball to death", is something that is very commonly heard among football fans around the globe. It simply justifies the massive domination Barca have over their opponents by just passing the ball around. Therefore, patience will definitely be the key for the Galacticos.
The Catalans will definitely be expected to enjoy majority of the possession but we all saw how Hercules kept a tight midfield to contain the Barcelona midfield last year. This is the perfect example for Jose Mourinho to refer to and considering how Madrid crumbled under pressure at the Nou Camp last November, this is not something to be taken lightly.
The best way for Jose Mourinho to set up his midfield would be to start with Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and Lassana Diarra in the defensive midfield section. The 'Special One' made a huge mistake in going all out to attack last November and they were pegged back massively as a result of that. While employing defensive tactics is not something anybody would love to see but it's the only way to agitate Barca's style of play.
Key No. #2 For Real Madrid: Do Not Squander Any Chance
How many times have we heard Barcelona being labeled as a "team from another planet"? Their unorthodox style of play literally suffocates any teams that goes against them on their day. Try playing in a match against the Catalans and you will definitely be aware of the limited amount of chances presented to you.
One simple fact shows that in the past five meetings between these two sides in the La Liga, Madrid have only managed to score 2 goals while Guardiola's Barcelona have a massive advantage with 16 goals. It clearly shows that Madrid have a poor goal scoring rate against the Catalans with a large part of it due to the limited opportunity that presents itself in matches against the best team on the planet. Nevertheless, their ability to make most of their chances will definitely come under question again and Mourinho will have to prepare a very robust answer for that.
Key No. #3 For Real Madrid: Start With Emmanuel Adebayor
One evident flaw in Madrid's attacking displays at the Nou Camp last November was the absence of a focal point in their attack. Cristiano Ronaldo was largely invisible during that match while Karim Benzema was so often helpless with the lack of support from their fatigued midfield. But Emmanuel Adebayor definitely has the perfect ingredients to start tomorrow.
Adebayor's abilities to hold up the ball is something very prominent in style of play and will definitely come into serious usage tomorrow. The midfield of Madrid will be busy accompanying the Barca attackers and there will be situations where Adebayor will be left without support up front. However, his height and physical advantage allows him to hold up the ball more effectively while waiting for more support to arrive.
Key No. #4 For Real Madrid: Use The Crowd At The Bernebeu To Perfection
Albert Einstein once famously said in his 3rd Law of Motion that for every action, there has to be a reaction. This principle literally explains that if Barcelona managed to use their fans to heap pressure on the Madrid players last November, the crowd at the Bernebeu can definitely do so too. Everybody knows the magnitude of impact that fans can bring in football matches and it's definitely not excused from the biggest football match of the year so far.
Go back two months and recapture the vivid images from Barcelona's defeat against Arsenal. Although Guardiola's men were far more superior in the first half, the terrific atmosphere at the Emirates prompted some magical reactions from the Arsenal players as they turned on a sublime display in the second half to emerge victorious from the tie. Create a similar or even better atmosphere in the Bernebeu and Mourinho might see the imminent difference between both teams.
Key No. #5 For Real Madrid: Stay On Your Feet Lads!
Robin Van Persie's simple dismissal against the Catalans virtually banished any hopes of a miracle for Arsene Wenger and his troops. Playing 11 vs 11 against Barca is already a mountain to climb and the last thing any Madritista would want is to see one of their players get sent off. Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo are the ones that need to more careful with their actions this time around as one silly mistakes could be seriously detrimental in a bid to salvage the pride that they lost at the Nou Camp.
