“Sh*t Barcelona, you’re just a sh*t Barcelona” was the, hands down, favourite chant of Spurs fans last night. It bought a smile to my face but, in hindsight, it wasn’t the worst insult in the world. Watching them first hand last night really was something special. They way they moved the ball, the control of the game which such ease and their calmness in possession are traits any team would love to include in their open play. Unless, of course, you are Barcelona.
In every essence of the phrase, Madrid are just a sh*t Barcelona and they confirmed this when the Catalan giants smashed their rivals 5-0 at the Nou Camp. The defending Spanish champions made a star studded Galactico side look like an amateur Sunday league team. Yet with four encounters in a little under three weeks, the footballing world will get the chance to see whether Barcelona are five times the team Madrid or if the latter are catching up on the former.
Guillem Balague wrote an excellent piece on Sky Sports about the forthcoming fixtures and he has every aspect of the four games spot on. Personally, without Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol, Barcelona have looked suspect at the back especially when you consider Gabriel Milito is no replacement for the Barca captain. Even if he were fit, the likes of Adebayor, Ozil, Ronaldo and Marcelo to name but a few would prove a handful for any defence.
It’s much the same case for Barcelona who have household names David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and none other than Lionel Messi to give the Madrid back four a similar run around to the one they gave them back in November. Personally, the best game will be saved for the Copa Del Rey final. Madrid will go all out for the Champions League knowing that catching Barcelona now could be considered verging on the impossible. With Madrid resting key players for the double header European encounters, Barcelona may find it hard to afford the same luxury.
This is all down to the fact the Catalan outfit are suffering injuries to big players at the worst possible time, Madrid have key players returning. Kaka, Benzema and Higuain were all on the subs bench in their match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane with two of the three, Kaka and Benzema, both making appearances in the 65th and 75th minute respectively.
The set of El Clasico’s will also be won and loss in the dugout. In recent weeks, Pep Guardiola has looked a shade of his usual, confident self and is, in fact, looking tired and weary as their long season drags on. Against Jose Mourinho, it will be the Special One who capitalises on this change in character from his opponent with his world famous mind games coming into play in the days and hours leading up to the first El Clasico.
With Saturday hosting the first showdown between the two in this world class fixture, it could prove the psychological blow from either side and play an important factor in who progresses in the Champions League and wins the Copa Del Rey. Granted, Barcelona will be looking harder to pick up the three points and wrap up the title sooner rather than later but with the match taking place at The Bernabeu, we may be seeing Madrid pick up the confidence boosting victory to take into the European ties. Either way, 360, maybe 420, minutes of world class football will be on show over the next three weeks and it will go a long way to proving who is the world’s best football team.
Follow Ben on Twitter @BenMcAleer1
