Barcelona vs Real Madrid: El Clasico preview

In the last two seasons, Barcelona have won seven titles. Real Madrid have won nothing in that time. Barcelona have come out triumphant in the last four meetings between the two sides, including a 6-2 mauling at the Santiago Bernabeu last year. And yet, Real will not be short of confidence when they visit the Nou Camp on Monday night.

Real are unbeaten in 19 matches since Jose Mourinho took over the reins at the start of the season. They have scored an astounding 33 goals in 12 league matches and have their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo (14 goals) in scintillating form. Their defense too is looking solid with just 6 goals having gone past keeper Iker Casillas.

For the first time since the Galacticos era, Real are looking like a potent attacking unit. New signings like Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria have slotted in comfortably alongside Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain. Even Karim Benzema is recovering some of the form he flaunted at Lyon.

But it is their defense that is the biggest talking point this season. They have never looked so rock solid at the back and their attackers foray forward these days with an assurance that the defensive side of things are under control.

But all this will not worry Barcelona in the least. The defending champions have also managed 33 goals despite a slow start to the season. A solitary point is all that separates them and leaders Real in the standings. Their defense isn’t too bad either. They have let in only a paltry eight goals in the dozen matches so far. And Lionel Messi (13 goals) is right at the heels of Ronaldo. David Villa too has shrugged off his initial goal drought.

Though recent history might suggest that Barca are favourites, Real did not have Mourinho when they played their arch rivals before. The Portuguese manager got the better of the Catalans with Inter Milan in the Champions League last season and he will surely have a game plan for the Nou Camp tie.

But while Real are still getting accustomed to Mourinho’s style of play, Barcelona are already used to their own brand of ball possession. Besides it will take something special to beat a Barcelona side that will be looking to get the better of Mourinho after his recent jibes about the holders.

Ronaldo too will be looking to get the better of his arch nemesis Messi, who beat him to the topscorer’s award last season. The former Manchester United winger is still to score against Barcelona while Messi has 7 goals in 8 matches, including a hattrick, against Real.

But there is something else that tilts the tie in Real’s favour. Barcelona only know one way of playing, their tiki-taka passing game. Mourinho, on the other hand, will stop short of nothing for a win.