EL CLASICO: FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid

The mind games continue

Realistically, it should be a high scoring game. Barca's defense is weak with Mascherano and Song at CB. And Barca's attack can shred the Madrid defence when clicking. And they have been clicking lately. The game will come down to who can finish their chances.
Also, I think Tito uses his subs very well to influence the outcome of the game. He's learned well from Guardiola's mistakes in substitutions. I think Barca have the advantage there.

Maybe Sanchez shouldn't start?

_LMG_10_ wrote:Realistically, it should be a high scoring game. Barca's defense is weak with Mascherano and Song at CB. And Barca's attack can shred the Madrid defence when clicking. And they have been clicking lately. The game will come down to who can finish their chances.
Also, I think Tito uses his subs very well to influence the outcome of the game. He's learned well from Guardiola's mistakes in substitutions. I think Barca have the advantage there.

fully agree......Tito's subs so far were spot on.....thats one advantage
messi not scoring for long, so he must be hungry-----another advantage
ramos, this time wearing kaka's jersey -------another plus

Yohan Modric wrote:Maybe Sanchez shouldn't start?

Sanchez is essential in this game for our counter-attacks.

For the record I think our winning streak will end here. Guti said that for us this is another league game, but for Madrid this is a final. I agree with that. I think they will want the win more, and perhaps we will not be at 100% because we know that in the worst case scenario, we have 5 points to fall back on.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:For the record I think our winning streak will end here. Guti said that for us this is another league game, but for Madrid this is a final. I agree with that. I think they will want the win more, and perhaps we will not be at 100% because we know that in the worst case scenario, we have 5 points to fall back on.

Guti, a madrid player, talking on behalf on Barcelona. . . What?
A barcelona vs madrid in the CAMP NOU is never just a league game . . It's always been much more

BarrileteCosmico wrote:For the record I think our winning streak will end here. Guti said that for us this is another league game, but for Madrid this is a final. I agree with that. I think they will want the win more, and perhaps we will not be at 100% because we know that in the worst case scenario, we have 5 points to fall back on.

so atlast Guti convinced you that we will lose.....

I believe we have a less chance of winning and it all depends on whether or not Xavi Iniesta and Messi decide to show up big time.

Madrids midfield will be interesting. I really can't see Madrid playing a holding mid, central mid and attacking mid. Be glory for us lol. According to some site, Khedria probably won't be match fit so maybe Essien?

So I heard certain Barça employees would be on strike today (at the ticket boxes and others as well) and possibly also during the game against Celtic. Is it actually going to happen? I checked the official site but I don't seem to find anything about it.

The Sanchez wrote:I can see a really big upset. Don't underestimate Tito Vilanova. Im sure he has a way to defeat Madrid as much Mou does against us. The pressure is on him and he will produce the odds. He will work on the defense for sure.

Hmm... can't really agree. but an upset is probable...

alexjanosik wrote:Puyol must play even if coming back from injury.With him there I am confident we will win.Our defense improves considerably.
So Puyol must start along with Masch.So should the Don.
Its frustrating that over the past 10 or so Clasico's we have never played them with our best 11.Always 3,4 major players are missing.With our best 11 I am confident we can smoke them.
With Puyol and Iniesta,we will have close to our best 11.Only Pique will be missing.

Jinxed it.
It seems the higher powers know that best 11 vs best 11,Madrid stand zero chance and so before every Clasico,we get 3,4 of our crucial players injured.
With Puyol out and Pique not making it,I would like the 3-4-3 to be played.
More defensive stability with the formation I posted.
Valdes
Masch Busquets Adriano
Alves Xavi Fabregas Iniesta
Pedro Messi Alexis
Alexis because he works hard and we will need defensive help down that flank.
I belive with this formation we will be defensively much better than with a
4-3-3 involving Song-Masch as a CB pairing.The possession will actually be
better.Plus with Busquets playing sweeper we will be better playing out of the back.
If Pique is even 80% fit,then he should play imo.Its a big game and we need hm.

I also think both iniesta and cesc will play and this way we will have more possession and threat. However i have very little doubt that busquet will not be removed from midfield. He cuts most of the attacking threats(built up in the ground) so with fragile defense , moving busquets out of position is like double loss. then how can cesc fit, i am thinking playing him in the left up front with pedro on the other side......

Double pivote looks a more liker option than 3-4-3 Alex imo though Tito will definately use 4-3-3. I agree about Pique. Even if 80% fit he should definately play. His aerial presense and positioning is SO MUCH better than Song's. I for one really think that Barca will do well against Madrid. Tito will probably have tried to fix the problems to the best of his ability and I can see this as a great result for us. If Song plays, I have confidence in him.

Reports out of Spain suggest that Cesc and Iniesta will both start. One will play in the forward line, alongside Pedro and Messi.

BarcaKizz wrote:Reports out of Spain suggest that Cesc and Iniesta will both start. One will play in the forward line, alongside Pedro and Messi.

Possession game. Fabregas will make attackig runs whilst Iniesta will come to the middle and control the game with Xavi leaving either Adriano or Alves to cover that space though they will need to be on their guard for the counter...

I wonder how this will pan out.

Shit, this probably means Iniesta in wings. I think most of the times when they played together Iniesta was placed in the wings. If we play 4-3-3 i prefere Don to play in center. Also i would switch Cesc for Vila.

dont think iniesta will play on the wing. as i said earlier may be Cesc,Messi,Pedro would start while keeping our best mid trio in position. This way we can enjoy a lot of possession.
Villa for Cesc??? are you sure he can run for 60-70 mins??

Cesc was a forward against Benfica. Keep that in mind.

Piqué definitively out for tonight. BIG bummer, hopefully Song steps his game up.

Valdes, Pinto, Alves, Montoya, Song, Bartra, Mascherano, Alba, Adriano, Busquets, Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Iniesta, Cesc, Alexis, Pedro, Messi, Villa y Tello.

Madvillain wrote:Piqué definitively out for tonight. BIG bummer, hopefully Song steps his game up.

Valdes, Pinto, Alves, Montoya, Song, Bartra, Mascherano, Alba, Adriano, Busquets, Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Iniesta, Cesc, Alexis, Pedro, Messi, Villa y Tello.

I think its fair to say, it'll be damage limitation in this match. I will gladly take a draw, hack even a 0-1 or 1-2 loss, just no manita please. If we get beat 0-5 at home, I swear I will be on antidepressants for the next 2 weeks.

Barcelona trained this morning with a three-man defence according to Cat Radio.

Interesting. How could we make this work?

3-5-2?


or

3-4-3

??

No idea... This is going to be very interesting at least!

so pique out and iniesta or fabregas on the wings?
I have a bad feeling for tonite

gondov wrote:

Madvillain wrote:Piqué definitively out for tonight. BIG bummer, hopefully Song steps his game up.

Valdes, Pinto, Alves, Montoya, Song, Bartra, Mascherano, Alba, Adriano, Busquets, Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Iniesta, Cesc, Alexis, Pedro, Messi, Villa y Tello.

I think its fair to say, it'll be damage limitation in this match. I will gladly take a draw, hack even a 0-1 or 1-2 loss, just no manita please. If we get beat 0-5 at home, I swear I will be on antidepressants for the next 2 weeks.

Gladly take a draw.Damage limitation.Come on man.We are still favorites for this match.We just have to be intense throughout the match,instead of sleepwalking for the first 20 min,as we have been doing for the past few meetings.
That and no slipups from Valdes.