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Today, on Saturday, for the second time this season all the streets of Spain will be empty, and bars will be overflowing - the whole country will be watching the second "El Clasico" of the season. These highly anticipated matches between Madrid's "Real" and "Barcelona" are known for their great excitement.
Although every year "El Clasico" is a match of special importance, this year it will have even more spice: if "Real" loses this match, "Barcelona", which is ahead of "Real" by 11 points, will be practically assured of the Spanish champions title; if "Real" does not avenge the humiliation at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium in the first "El Clasico" of this year, it will be more than a tragedy for the Royal club.
As always, the players of both teams talk about the special significance of these matches.
"We have to be realistic," says "Real" goalkeeper Iker Casillas. "Our goal is to win against them at the 'Nou Camp' stadium and thus distance ourselves from the other teams fighting for second place. We have to win at all costs. If we lose, they will take a huge step towards the title."
Meanwhile, "Barcelona" will likely view Wednesday's return UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against "Benfica" as more important. In the first leg in Lisbon, "Barcelona" had to settle for a goalless draw.
"The match against 'Benfica' is more important to us," said Portuguese player Deco to the Spanish sports newspaper "Marca" on Thursday. "We don't have to beat 'Real' to win the Spanish championship, but we must beat 'Benfica' if we want to win the Champions League."
"But no one doubts that we want to win these matches for our honor and for the fans," continued the Portuguese player. "Also, we understand that if we win against 'Real', we can become Spanish champions in two or three weeks."
In the last matches of the Spanish league, the teams played very differently: "Real" crushed one of the stronger Spanish teams, La Coruna's "Deportivo", 4-0, while "Barcelona" failed to beat the tournament underdog, "Malaga".
In the first "El Clasico" of this season, "Barcelona" simply dominated their opponents in their own stronghold. Two goals were scored by the world's best player of the year, Ronaldinho, and one was added by the top scorer of the Spanish championship, Samuel Eto'o.
The Royal club's midfielder David Beckham, recovered from an ankle injury and playing in today's match, said he has not forgotten the duel in Madrid.
"Our pride was hurt when they managed to come to the 'Bernabeu' and defeat us in that way," said the Englishman. "Today we have to fight for our honor and earn three points with beautiful play."
"I think it's impossible to match them anymore, but in football, stranger things sometimes happen," the Englishman added hopefully.
"Barca" will have to play in these matches without injured defenders Rafael Marquez and Edmilson, as well as young Argentine defender Lionel Messi. However, the team will have their captain Carles Puyol back for this match, who missed the last game due to a one-match suspension.
According to the predictions of the Spanish sports newspaper "Marca", "Barcelona" will play in a quite unusual tactical formation in this match: the Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the Spaniard Oleguer will play on the defensive flanks, while Puyol and Thiago Motta in the center will play a bit more on the attack. In the center of the field, Andres Iniesta and Mark van Bommel will play, Portuguese Deco will distribute the ball in the attacking midfielder position, and as usual, three players will play in the front - Ronaldinho on the left, S.Eto'o in the center, and Henrik Larsson on the right.
Meanwhile, the predicted tactical formation for "Real" seems much simpler: Sergio Ramos and Raul Bravo will play in the center of defense, while the Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Cicinho will play on the defensive flanks eager to join the attacks. Danish Thomas Gravesen will hold the defensive midfielder position, attacking midfielders Baptista and Guti will play, and on the wings - Robinho and David Beckham. Up front, we should see the team's top scorer Brazilian Ronaldo.
The match will be played at 23:00 Lithuanian time.
Predicted line-ups:
Barcelona: Victor Valdes; van Bronckhorst, Motta, Puyol, Oleguer; Iniesta, Deco, van Bommel; Ronaldinho, Eto`o, Larsson;
Real Madrid: Casillas; Roberto Carlos, Bravo, Ramos, Cicinho; Gravesen; Robinho, Guti, Baptista, Beckham; Ronaldo;
