Spanish giants and Champions League favourites Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the third of four El Clasicos within the month, but there’s plenty on the line in this one.
It is only the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final clash, but gaining an upper-hand in the tie will be important as they gun for a spot in the final.
Memorably, Jose Mourinho knocked Barcelona out at this stage last season when managing eventual winners Inter Milan. He’ll be looking to do the same again with Real.
And despite Real going down 5-0 to Barca earlier in the Spanish La Liga season, the recent clashes have been much closer with a 1-1 league draw followed a 1-0 Real win in the Copa del Rey.
*Real Madrid v FC Barcelona’ @ Santiago Bernabeu *Road to Semis’’‘Real Madrid’’
-1st in Group G, above AC Milan, Ajax & Auxerre -Round of 16, defeated Lyon 4-1 on aggregate -Quarter Final, defeated Tottenham 5-0 on aggregate
FC Barcelona -1st in Group D, above FC Kobenhavn & Rubin Kazan, Panathinaikos -Round of 16, defeated Arsenal 4-3 on aggregate -Quarter Final, defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 6-1 on aggregate
Form Real Madrid -Currently 2nd in La Liga, eight points behind Barcelona -Won 6-3 at Valencia on the weekend, with Gonzalo Higuain hitting a hat-trick, while Kaka found form with a brace -Won the Copa del Rey last week after defeating Barcelona 1-0 in the final -Drew 1-1 with Barcelona in the league 10 days ago -Los Merengues have won every home game in the Champions League this season and boss Jose Mourinho has an exceptional 10-year home record which was ended a few weeks ago when Gijon stunned Real 1-0
FC Barcelona -Currently 1st in La Liga, eight points ahead of Real Madrid -Won 2-0 over Osasuna on the weekend, with David Villa ending a goal drought while Lionel Messi was on the scoresheet again -Lost last week’s Copa del Rey final 1-0 to Real Madrid in extra-time -Barcelona have won just two of five away matches in the Champions League this term
Danger man Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo The Portuguese attacker has been trying to match World Player of the Year Lionel Messi’s feats in recent times so defeating Messi’s Barca in the UEFA Champions League semis is something he’d love more than most. He’s scored in Barca’s past two matches against Real too.
FC Barcelona Lionel Messi No prizes for guessing this one. The sensational Argentine scored his 50th goal of the season on the weekend, proving how unstoppable he has become. Real will try to negate Barca, but Messi’s individual brilliance could be the joker in the pack.
Team news Real Madrid -Midfielder Sami Khedira is unavailable for Los Merengues due to an adductor tear, so Lassana Diarra is his likely replacement. -Emmanuel Adebayor (groin) and Angel Di Maria (knee) are fit despite recent worries.
FC Barcelona -Key midfielder Andres Iniesta is ruled out for Barca with a calf injury. -Defender Carles Puyol should be fit to take his place after training earlier in the week after knee and hamstring problems, while Maxwell and Adriano miss out.
Coaches Jose Mourinho: “Before coming here today I told someone I am the same coach that lost 5-0 to Barcelona a few months ago. I haven’t changed. I don’t possess a magic potion to beat them; I only know that it takes hard work. Since that defeat we played a great game against them in the Liga and drew 1-1. We then won 1-0 in the Copa del Rey final but this is a different game and anything can happen.”
He added: “I told my players before the final of the Copa del Rey that there was someone called Albert, Albert Einstein, who said that there is a force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy: will. And this guy Albert was not stupid.”
Josep Guardiola: “We are facing a team who are in their form of the season. We are in a UEFA Champions League semi-final and for us it’s a big task facing Real Madrid, one of the best teams in Europe. It’s a great challenge as we are just one step away from Wembley.”
He added: “I’m hugely satisfied to be at this stage of the competition, it’s a success. If you come here to defend they will roll over you because the pitch is very wide and they have very good players. We will compete as we know how and with what we have.”
Sports Pundit prediction; Real Madrid 2-2 FC Barcelona