For the past two years, the Catalan giants have been under their former player Josep Guardiola who managed to become an amazing tactician after being appointed as the coach of the team that he used to play for. The Spanish player has often been compared to the current midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez and by this comparison everyone can imagine that Guardiola would be an extraordinary talent during his time - even though he was more of a holding midfielder rather than a centre midfielder - and that explains why he prefers to play Busquets in his side as well. On the other hand, Real Madrid have been in great form for the last two years but it is luck that has turned from their side and the “money spenders” Los Blancos haven’t won much for the past two years. Under Manuel Pellegrini, the Spanish giants did manage to achieve something but not a lot and even though the Spaniard tried his best last season and even managed to record the highest number of points in the Spanish La Liga in Real Madrid’s history, it was still Guardiola’s side who managed to emerge victorious and took the trophy to the Nou Camp.The Los Blancos managed to spend a lot of cash again and despite the fact that they keep on throwing money on expensive and good quality players, they simply don’t understand the fact that a team is made by team chemistry and not individual skill and this is exactly where Barcelona are much stronger than Real Madrid.
While Real Madrid have players like Ricardo Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema, Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso, they still haven’t played with each other since a long time. With their newly appointed boss – the coach who is supposed to be the best in the world at the moment, Jose Mourinho – the team was expected to deliver (and there is not a shadow of a doubt that they are definitely delivering), but the fact that Mourinho also brought in a few new players is something that might trouble the team’s unity as playing with each other as a team is very hard. Players like Ronaldo, Kaka and even Ozil were a “one-man show” while playing for their clubs but being a part of the same team is definitely hard as they all try to seek glory for themselves.
On the other hand, Barcelona are an altogether different side. Even though they have individual performers like Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa in their side, Guardiola still knows how to play his cards and places his players in a way that they can combine together as a team.
Everyone is aware of how Barcelona keep the possession of the ball and by taking advantage of keeping most of the ball to themselves, they penetrate defences in order to score goals. It is true that last year they could not find a way through Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan but on any other day, the Catalan giants could’ve won that game. Indeed, even though the Italian Champions looked to be strong, there was not a single player who was missing from Guardiola’s side and it was clearly seen that the Argentinean maestro Lionel Messi was having an off night as well.
With Barcelona being in their full stride at the moment, there is no team in the world that can stop them. However, most of Guardiola’s men became part of the most prestigious event of football, the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The team that managed to win the tournament, Spain, consisted of 7 Barcelona players and that is the reason why the Catalan Giants have been having fitness issues.
Their best midfielder, Xavi Hernandez, has been out of form because of his ankle injury and despite the fact that he needs rest, there are not many players who can replace his class in the centre of the pitch. Currently he is being rested by Guardiola and he is the one who can change things around against Real Madrid, who are also proving themselves this year round as Mourinho is the one in charge in Santiago Bernabeu.
Even since Mourinho has arrived, the Los Blancos haven’t lost a single game and despite the fact that the Portuguese coach has been involved in some controversial matters, there is definitely not a single reason why anyone would not agree to the fact that he is the best coach in the world right now. The former Chelsea tactician managed to win the UEFA Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan and now he is planning to raid the Spanish La Liga and by winning the local title and the European title, he is going to become the only manager in the history to win the European title with three different teams.
Where teams like Ajax, AC Milan and Auxerre couldn’t stop the Los Blancos, Barcelona definitely can. Despite the fact that the Catalan giants had a very odd start to the season and couldn’t find a win in their home ground the Nou Camp, the Spanish Champions have finally found their ground and are now in an all-winning form again; that explains their victory against the Greek Champions while being away from home as Guardiola took his men to face Panathinaikos in a game which was won 0-3 by Barcelona.
Now with Barcelona in their flow back again and with Real Madrid already pumping their fists with victory, the match between both teams is yet again going to be a thriller. It is recorded as one of the most ferocious rivalries in the history of European football and the rivalry between Rangers and Celtics is usually compared to the El Clasico; both these matches are simply great to watch as both the teams put in their best to win it for their sides.
Now with Mourinho and Guardiola coming face to face again, it is going to be a “must-watch” situation. Last season, Mourinho managed to shatter Barcelona’s dream by winning the UEFA Champions League semi-final from the Spanish Champions and later the final from the German Champions. Now with these two men coming head to head all over again, what is going to happen? Only time can tell.
However, considering the depth in the squad and the form of players, there is no doubt that both the teams are performing at their full stride; however, Barcelona is the side who are coming from behind and they are the ones who are trying their best to win it this time as well while Guardiola has managed to win all the four El Clasicos that have taken place during his career in Barcelona.
The only problem that the Catalan Giants are going to face is the fact that Xavi Hernandez is going to find it hard in the midfield as he is not fully fit while on the other hand, Mourinho has quick players like Ozil, Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso in the midfield - players who can definitely dispossess a maestro like Xavi Hernandez in the midfield. It was the Spaniard who managed to pull the strings of the El Clasico last season as he managed to pull off two assists and took his team forward to win the Spanish La Liga title; however, this time round it is definitely going to be difficult for him to dominate the centre of the pitch with such paced-up players in Real Madrid’s side.
With the bad news of the midfield coming Barcelona’s way, there is definitely good news on the right wing. Argentinean maestro and goal-scoring god Lionel Messi is going to be on the right flank against Marcelo who is definitely a piece of cake for a “special one” like Messi. The Argentinean mostly plays in a floating role but obviously with Marcelo being Real Madrid’s weakness, it is going to be very easy for Lionel Messi to cut past the Brazilian to find his way towards Iker Casillas, the goalkeeper who has been the victim of Lionel Messi for the second highest number of times. Messi has scored the largest number of goals against Diego Alves and the second highest number of goals against Iker Casillas and that is definitely something that pleases the Barcelona fans as the Spanish number 1 is actually considered to be the world’s best goal stopper. But with Lionel Messi coming towards him, even he can’t really do much to save the day for his side.
