Sevilla and Valencia’s away games against Levante and Real Betis respectively will open La Liga’s weekend of action. However, it’s El Clasico that will put Matchday 15 on fire. Real Madrid vs Barcelona will kick-off at 22:00 CET, 21:00 GMT and 16:00 EST.
The match is sure to keep the public awake until the early hours of Sunday, at least. Two very different football philosophies will collide in the Spanish capital in a celebration of pure rivalry.
Barcelona have a great record in El Clasico and Pep Guardiola is yet to taste defeat against Los Blancos in La Liga. The Santiago Bernabeu is the ground where the Catalans recorded an emphatic 6-2 victory a couple of years ago. Barca faithful want the club to continue its dominance over Real Madrid.
However, one must admit that the Spanish giants have considerably improved since their last league triumph over Barcelona which dates from 2008. The latest meeting between both sides, which occurred in the Spanish Super Cup, ended in a 3-2 victory for the Catalans. In fact, Real Madrid lost only just.
Would we be talking about a successful revenge mission for Los Blancos at the end of El Clasico? How prepared are both teams? Which team should be considered as the favorite?
These questions, among many others, have been answered by illustrious people. Check out what they’ve been saying ahead of the big showdown.
1) Barcelona legend Ronaldinho, to El Mundo Deportivo:
“I wish you all the luck in the Clasico, Barca, and I hope you win. What the result will be, I do not know. I just want [Barca] to win. I will be encouraging them from a distance. Come on Barca!”
2) Barcelona Intersport captain Nagy, to Fcbarcelona.com:
“I think it will be a very tactical game from both teams. I think they, Real Madrid, will look to be effective with their chances and go for a draw or a win with few goals. I think it’ll be 0-1 for Barça.”
Will the game be tight as Nagy predicted?
3) Real Madrid assistant manager Aitor Karanka, to Realmadrid.com:
“We used all sorts of systems last season because we played all sorts of championships. We know which one we'll use tomorrow. We've designed our tactics to win.
“We will use a 4-3-3 system, with Cristiano and Di Maria down the wings and Benzema or Higuain as centre forwards. We have many options in midfield and we'll go all out for the game. People we'll see tomorrow.”
Real Madrid will use a 4-3-3 formation and a positive approach against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night? Now, that’s sounds more like what neutrals have been hoping for since quite some time!
4) Barcelona legend Carles Rexach, to El Mundo Deportivo:
“El Clasico will be more open than the last few encounters. The Real Madrid that we will come across are better than last year.”
Should we expect a game with a lot of chances for both Barcelona and Real Madrid?
5) Institutional relations director Emilio Butragueno, to EFE:
“We have made considerable progress and Saturday's match is the perfect test for us to see where we stand.”
Should Real Madrid stumble to an unfortunate humiliating result, it may be very difficult for pundits to define where Los Blancos really stand.
6) Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, to Marca:
“Certain behaviors are unacceptable at a big club [like Real Madrid], in terms of complaints towards the referees and Uefa and Fifa. [For Jose Mourinho] everyone else is guilty when he does not win. This attitude is typical of a mediocre team.”
Is Ramon Calderon expecting Real Madrid to lose to Barcelona again?
7) Ex-Barcelona president Joan Gaspart, to COM Radio:
“I will watch the game at home. I have nothing to gain by going to the Santiago Bernabeu, where they insult me. It is a very much a Madridista box. Now the fanatics, the passion and the rudeness has moved to the boxes.”
How many people would drop an invitation to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona from the VIP box?
8) Former Real Madrid and Barcelona manager Radomir Antic, to AS:
“I don't know who will play for Real Madrid, but Mourinho will have to come up with a plan on how to stop Messi. That's his biggest headache.”
No-one can deny Lionel Messi’s incredible force against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu and during Clasicos in general. However, would it be a smart decision for Jose Mourinho to create a special strategy to stop La Pulga?
9) Barcelona midfielder Xavi, to the press:
“Last season I was critical of Madrid but I think maybe this time, based on how the Super Cup went, that they will try take us on and pressure us in attack.”
Is Xavi trying to incite Real Madrid to have a positive approach? The last time Real Madrid went all out to attack, they ended the night with a miserable 5-0 defeat at the benefit of Xavi’s Barcelona…
10) Ajax coach Frank de Boer, to the press:
“It's difficult to predict the game. Both teams are very strong. I think Barcelona is better on a technical level, but Real beat Barcelona on physical level.”
Would agree with Frank de Boer on that?
11) Colombian pop star and Gerard Pique’s WAG Shakira, to Marca:
“Of course [I will watch El Clasico], because I am now officially considered a Cule!”
By fear of irritating Real Madrid’s home crowd, Shakira will reportedly follow El Clasico on TV.
12) Jose Mourinho (since Friday)
*Silent*
The “Special One” refused to exchange any word with the media and was absent from El Clasico’s pre-match press conference.
