So here it is. The finale to the much awaited El Clasico marathon takes place today. Experts might say that not much is expected of this match. Barcelona are in a commanding position with a 2 away goal lead and play the match in their backyard. However , if something is at stake in this match it’s pride. It’s the pride which has always been involved in Catalan – Madrid rivalry. Both the teams might have a lot of friends amongst the rival camps but on the pitch nothing evokes as much pride , passion and possibly hatred as the match in contention. Xavi , Villa and Casillas may be the best of friends but when they play, Xavi and Villa would love to put the ball past their captain. And after the last match theatrics, if there was some love between the sides left , even that has been washed away. As expected, in the series of El Clasico’s we have seen a lot of violence , playacting and bull fighting. On the other hand , we have missed the flair and attacking football which is reminiscent of both sides. With this being the last match of the El Clasico will we see more of football and less of acting ?
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BARCELONA TEAM NEWS
The Champions
Barcelona have been having a lot of problems in defence of late. With Eric Abidal and Adriano unavailable , Puyol might have to play in the left back position again. Following Javier Mascherano’s clumsy concession of a penalty at the weekend, Sergio Busquets may be preferred in the heart of the defence. Iniesta should be available for this match and that should boost the Barcelona midfield and give it a lot of impetus. In the attack Villa and Messi are available to lead the line but Bojan is unavailable due to injury.
Injury : Adriano, Abidal , Bojan
Suspension : Pinto
Probable LineUp : Valdes , Alves , Pique , Busquets , Puyol , Mascherano , Xavi , Iniesta , Pedro , Villa , Messi
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS
The Contenders
Real Madrid will be having their own share of defensive problems in this tie as well. With Pepe and Ramos suspended , there are not many reliable options available in defense for Madrid in this tie. In the midfield they would miss the services of Khedira who is out with a calf injury. Madrid will have plenty of attacking options available but will they use them will be a mystery. However , the most notable absentee from the coach’s box will be the enigmatic Jose Mourinho who was suspended for dissidence in the last match. With reports of Ronaldo being axed for the last match emancipating from the Madrid camp all might not be well in the Madrid camp. On top of that Mourinho has been criticized by past presidents and players for last match histrionics’s.
Injury : Khedira , Gago
Suspension : Ramos , Pepe
Probable Lineup : Casillas , Alberloa , Albiol , Carvalho , Marcelo , Alonso , Lass , Di Maria , Ozil , Ronaldo , Adebayor
SUMMARY
Being the last of the series of El Clasicos played this season both the teams will be desperate to win this tie. Both the teams lost their matches in the La Liga this Saturday and would be itching to get back to winning ways. After the last Clasico a lot of bad blood has been spilled between the sides with both camps reporting each other to the UEFA for different reasons. Barcelona know that Madrid won’t be giving up on a chance to go the Wembley in any way and much of what Jose Mourinho had said about the tie being over was mind games than anything else. With the first El Clasico drawn , the second one won by Madrid and the third one by Barcelona , this El Clasico would be a fitting finale to the end of the season. The last time Madrid played at the Nou Camp they were thrashed 5-0. Don’t expect such a scoreline this time.People might say that Barcelona don’t lose too often in the Camp Nou. However they have been beaten by Hercules and Zenit by two goals in the Camp Nou this season and the last one , which shows what a quality Madrid side on the attack can achieve.
Apart from the teams , it will also be a a match between the world’s two best players. With Messi taking the honors in the last match and Ronaldo in the one before that , it will be interesting to see who leads his side to victory in this finale. Moreover with the last three Clasicos exhibiting anything but beautiful football, football is what spectators will be itching to see this time. With Madrid needing to score at-least twice , we might just see the kind of open attacking football we have been waiting to see. For football fans all over the world there is only one thing to say “Let football prevail and anti-football be damned”.
PREDICTION
Barcelona 2 – 2 Real Madrid
Who is going to win the finale ?
