The Barcelona vs Real Madrid fixture will decide which team has the edge ahead of the 2011/12 season in Spain. For quite a few years now, the Catalans have had the upper hand and Florentino Perez’s millions of Euros have yet to generate success.
But as they say a team is not created overnight, so could Barca’s reign come to an end at the disgust of faithful Blaugrana supporters. In fact, there’s so much involved in Wednesday night’s Superclasico at the Camp Nou.
The managers—Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, the superstars—Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as the stadium factor are a few things among many that are getting football fans and pundits on their feet.
In some sort of match preview, we ask 3 questions of which the answers could each have a serious impact. Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho? Who will inspire the result of this titanic encounter?
Can Pep Guardiola bite Super Cup football expert and Camp Nou loser Jose Mourinho?
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will clash against each other one more time in a cup final. The first time both men battled it out at such an occasion, Mourinho came out victorious as Real Madrid lifted the 2011 Copa del Rey trophy for the first time in 18 years.
But the 2011 Spanish Super Cup is a two-legged affair and Guardiola seems to have the edge so far thanks to Messi and Villa’s away goals. The other aspect which puts Jose Mourinho under Pep’s feet is the Camp Nou factor.
This mesmerizing stadium’s scoreboard has never indicated a 90-minute win for Mou. During his time at Chelsea, the best the controversial coach could get on his trips to Catalonia was a draw. With Inter, he lost 1-0 and his triumph was a matter of aggregate score line.
Since joining Real Madrid Jose Mourinho has guided Los Blancos at the Camp Nou twice. His first encounter away to Barca as a Madrid manager is one he’d rather forget as the Spanish giants were totally humiliated by a 5-0 La Liga defeat.
The second encounter—which occurred in Europe—was marred by controversy and ended 1-1 at the delight of eventual Champions League winners Barcelona. Jose Mourinho’s first 2 tries with Real Madrid at the Camp Nou haven’t been positive.
Will he get lucky on his third try? Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola has the task of preventing his rival from clinching his 4th Super Cup trophy as a coach.
Could Cesc Fabregas “bring bad luck” to Barcelona?
Tonight, Cesc Fabregas (if he indeed features in the match) will be the only top star on the field to have won nothing in terms of silverware in over 4 years. The midfielder endured a title drought during his time at Arsenal.
Just like Rafael Benitez following his switch from Liverpool to Internazionale in summer 2010, Cesc Fabregas has the opportunity of winning a trophy instantly after quitting the Gunners. But who knows if the “routine of missing out on a title” will follow the player and prevent him from making a fabulous start at Barcelona?
Will Cristiano Ronaldo finally break his Camp Nou jinx?
Real Madrid’s superstar winger Cristiano Ronaldo is improving his games against Barcelona, it seems. But the Portuguese still has some points to prove against the Catalans. During last season’s Clasico series in the Champions League, he complained about Jose Mourinho’s negative tactics.
This time, Real Madrid have promised their fans to go all out to attack at the Camp Nou following their promising display in the first leg of the Supercopa de España. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Cristiano Ronaldo was only inches away from deceiving Victor Valdes at several occasions.
In the 81st minute of the match, the Real Madrid attacker even had a penalty call turned down. This happened after it appeared Valdes had blocked his run in the box by grabbing his legs.
The revenge is on for the man that has never hidden his desire to be the best in world football.
Messi helped Barcelona get 2 away goals ahead of the 2011 Supercopa de España second leg match. Will Cristiano Ronaldo cancel La Pulga’s achievement by leaving his mark at the Camp Nou?
Check out what both camps have been saying by clicking on this link: Top 8 Barcelona and Real Madrid quotes - 2011 Supercopa de España second leg match.
