Months ago, back in November 2010—previous to the Barcelona vs Real Madrid match that resulted in a 5-0 triumph for the Catalans—Live Soccer TV brought you 16 numeric facts that were strangely coinciding with this season’s first Clasico. The numbers 33, 13 and 31 were all highlighted, but notably, the number 11 was underlined.
This time around, prior to the Barcelona vs Real Madrid encounter in the 2011 UEFA Champions League semis, we turn our attention again on the game of numbers, as we look at how numerical facts have popped out of the on-going Clasico series. For the readers’ information, the next lines of this article only present clear facts—and do no give out any judgment of any kind. Although one could look upon the truths below as the effects of outlandish fixings, they remain “coincidences”, though readers are allowed to form any sort of ideas.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: El Clasico Number 11
Opening leg, 27 April 2011
It is understandable that April 27’s showdown did not end up without any strange fact. In a match where Barcelona made 11 shots on goal, 11 minutes separated the 2 goals they scored. Messi first put the Blaugrana in front on 76 minutes, before doubling his side’s lead on 87 minutes. This achievement now cements the Argentine’s position at the top of the goalscoring rankings in the Champions League with 11 goals.
This controversial game also marked Jose Mourinho’s 11th Champions League match against Barca in his career as a manager. The Portuguese coach, who left Los Cules’ family 11 years ago, first came up against the Azulgranas at European level in February 2005, and has since then faced them with Chelsea, Inter Milan, and just recently with Real Madrid.
The historic Real Madrid vs Barcelona Champions League semi-final match also came 11 days after the kick-off of 2011’s 4-match Clasico series. The first showdown took place on April 16 at the Bernabeu in La Liga.
Other Clasico facts on the number 11:
Barca have heavily been criticized lately by a good number of football fans who are yet to appreciate their lack of honesty, and April 27 further emphasized the Blaugrana’s malice. Already, Pep Guardiola and his men had angered English fans back in March during their controversial return-leg encounter against Arsenal in the Champions League’s Round of 16, (a match that saw striker Van Persie get sent off by Referee Massimo Busacca for no reason). In fact, El Clasico III was Barca’s 11th match since the “Busacca-Persie incident”.
Furthermore, Real Madrid have not been capable of facing Barcelona in an entire meeting with 11 players this season. In the 4 Clasicos that have passed by so far this season, Real have always ended their battles with 10 players following red cards, while the Catalans have always managed to keep their 11 performers after the referee’s final whistle.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man United and Schalke Lose – More Numeric Facts
Outlandishly, all 4 Champions League semi-finalists lost at the weekend in their respective league games. Were they keeping their strength for their mid-week challenges? Perhaps not, but in any case, few numerical facts seem to emerge from their score lines.
Actually, together, the teams of each Champions League semi-final match-day conceded 5 goals over the weekend. While Madrid and Barcelona conceded 3 and 2 goals respectively, Schalke and United allowed 4 and a single one in their nets respectively. Below are their results with additional facts:
Real Madrid 2-3 Real Zaragoza: Lafita, who netted Zaragoza’s opener 11 minutes after the half-hour mark, scored his side’s third goal at the Bernabeu on 77 minutes (11 x 7 = 77).
Real Sociedad 2-1 Barcelona: 11 minutes separated Sociedad’s 2 goals against Barca at the weekend; as they came from a goal down to dominate in the end. Diego Ifran equalized for the hosts on 71 minutes, before Xabi Prieto scored from the spot on 82 minutes.
Bayern Munich 4-1 Schalke: The Royal Blues suffered another humiliation on Saturday, and this means they still have only 11 victories in the Bundesliga this season.
Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United: Aaron Ramsey scored 11 minutes into the second half to give Arsenal a precious win over Man United.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: El Clasico And Predictions
A 1-0 result in El Clasico?
10 goals have been scored this season in the 4 Clasicos that have already passed. Barcelona won the first clash 5-0, then drew the second one 1-1, then lost 1-0 in the Copa del Rey final before finding back their energy with a 2-0 triumph in their 4th meeting with Real Madrid. This consequently means that only a single goal remains for the number 11 to rise again. With this in mind, would it be right to expect a 1-0 end result at the Camp Nou in the Champions League semi-finals?
Lionel Messi to score again?
Whatever is anticipated by the Madridistas, the Mourinho-less side will have to be alert, as Messi could get the final say on another occasion. As indicated above, the Ballon d’Or winner currently has 11 goals in the Champions League this season; yet, another goal in the imminent Clasico would not destroy the game of numbers in any way, considering that it would mark his 11th goal against Real Madrid in all competitions in his career at senior level.
Real Madrid to hit 2 goals?
Real Madrid have hitherto clinched 9 goals in the knockout phase of the 2011 Champions League. 2 more goals at the Nou Camp would allow them to reach the mystic number 11, and factually, success in this undertaking along with a clean sheet would noticeably place them an inch away from a qualification into the Wembley final.
