It all starts with the League
Jordi Clos
Madrid and Barça begin the series of four clásicos in the coming days with a potential league decider (22.00, TV3, La Sexta and R@dio Barça). With Puyol in the side, they go to the Bernabéu as leaders, eight points ahead of the all-whites.
The time has come. The carousel of games between Real Madrid and Barça begins today with a clásico that should have a massive bearing on the ultimate destiny of the Liga title. Four days later, the same two teams will go head to head in the cup final in Mestalla and in eleven days come the semi finals of the Champions League. The madness begins today with the second clásico of an incredible league season. Barça on top
The initiative is with Barça, who won 5-0 last time the two sides met. With seven games left in the season, and an eight point lead, Barça are very much in the driving seat, and also have the psychological factor of having won the last five clásicos, and are now chasing three wins in a row for the first time at the Bernabéu. The only trips to Madrid of the Guardiola era have ended 2-6 (09/08) and 0-2 (10/09). Puyol and defensive target
The reigning champions go into the game with the boost of having Carles Puyol back in the side. The captain was declared fit on Friday after three months on the sidelines with a knee injury. Puyol could even join Pique in the centre of defence, a position where there has been much uncertainty of late. Thiago and Dos Santos are also in the squad, as Mascherano is suspended and Bojan and Abidal are out through injury
Scores to settle
Barça have been unquestionably dominant in recent years, and played Madrid off the park earlier this season to the tune of a 5-0 win. So, Real Madrid have an account to settle. Jose Mourinho’s only concern is the absence of the suspended Granero as he seeks to improve his club’s poor record in recent years against the Catalans. Madrid have a lot of ground to make up, and it all starts today with the league fixture.
