Some interesting information for tonight's classico

[Kraghen]

The most eagerly anticipated Clasico in recent years is finally upon us. Real Madrid visit Barcelona on Monday in a one versus two battle that will also see some of the biggest names in football go head to head.

The league by no means comes to an end following Monday's match and the winner will not be crowned champion, but football fans around the world will still gather around television sets to watch one of the most evenly-balanced and eagerly awaited matches in recent years.


By kraghen at 2010-11-29

A victory or even a draw will keep Real Madrid's unbeaten steak intact and see the Whites keep hold of the top spot in the table. A win, however, will give the Whites a four-point cushion over Barcelona with three matches to play before the winter break.

Twenty players including Higuain and Khedira, both of whom recovered from injury, made the trip to Barcelona. All that remains unknown is whether Jose Mourinho will start the same eleven that Madridistas have grown accustom to seeing for the opening whistle.

Barcelona are also in fine form in both La Liga and Champions League. Already a one seed heading into the knockout stage, all that's left for the Cules to do is take over first place in La Liga, which Real Madrid have held onto for several weeks now.

Guardiola's only player unavailable for the Classico is Gabi Milito, but the Barcelona manager still has to scratch a player from the squad list, which he will do on Monday morning.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have met 160 times with the Whites holding a slight edge. With six more wins than Barcelona, Real also hold the upper hand in goals scored, 262-246.


By kraghen at 2010-11-29


By kraghen at 2010-11-29

Real Madrid PK is the best pick IMO.

[pinnerpsk]

This is great info. Thanks for posting!

[squintz4]

Here is some more info, Higuain will not start after failing a late medical.

[Kraghen]

Here is some more info, Higuain will not start after failing a late medical.

Are you sure about it? when I check up Real Madrid's website, I noticed that list for tonight :

Goalkeepers
Casillas, Adan, Dudek

Defenders
Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo

Midfielders
Lass, Diarra, Khedira, Granero, Xabi Alonso, Ozil, Di Maria, Pedro Leon

Forwards
Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain

[Kraghen]

Clasico could determine league winner
By Paul Carr, ESPN Stats & Information

The first Clasico of the season is Monday, as Barcelona hosts Real Madrid (2:55 p.m. ET on ESPN3.com and ESPN Deportes). Some notes on the biggest match in the world:

• Real Madrid and Barcelona have combined to win 51 of the 79 La Liga championships. Madrid has the most titles with 31. Barcelona has 20, and Atletico Madrid is a distant third with nine titles.

• Real Madrid and Barcelona are already pulling away from the rest of the league. Entering the weekend, Madrid led by one point over Barcelona, with Villarreal another seven points behind. Madrid and Barcelona have finished as the top two teams in La Liga a total of 24 times, including the past two seasons. Madrid has been second to Barcelona 11 times, while Barcelona has finished runner-up behind Madrid 13 times.

• Not only is first place on the line, but the league title could be decided Monday, as well. In each of the past six campaigns, the winner of the season's first Clasico went on to win the championship.

• The game will feature arguably the world's two best players, who are both are in peak form. Barcelona's Lionel Messi has scored in a ridiculous 10 straight matches for club and country, racking up 16 goals during that stretch, including 10 goals in league play.

• Despite Messi's impressive tear, he isn't even the leading scorer in La Liga this season. That honor is currently held by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has tallied 14 league goals and holds a one-goal edge over Messi. Ronaldo has five goals in his past two matches for Madrid and 19 goals in his past 16 games for club and country.

[Kraghen]

Higuain to miss El Clasico clash
November 29, 2010
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By ESPNsoccernet staff

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has failed a late fitness test and will not start in Monday night's El Clasico against arch-rivals Barcelona, according to reports in Spain.

Real coach Jose Mourinho had hinted that Higuain, who has scored seven times in the Primera Liga this season, would start as a lone striker at the Bernabeu.

However, it seems the Argentine has failed to recover from the back injury that ruled him out of Real's 4-0 thrashing of Ajax in the Champions League last week.

Higuain could feature on the bench and is expected to be replaced by French striker Karim Benzema in the starting line-up. Although Spanish daily Marca report that Mourinho could bring in midfielder Lassana Diarra and play a 4-3-2-1 formation with top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo as the lone forward.

Liga-leaders Real are unbeaten so far this season but have lost their last four matches against Barcelona.

[Kraghen]

Mourinho plays down Clasico

By ESPNsoccernet staff

Jose Mourinho insists a defeat for Real Madrid at Barcelona on Monday would not be "decisive" in the title race.

Jose Mourinho faces his toughest test yet as Real Madrid boss

Mourinho, still unbeaten as Madrid boss, takes his side to the Camp Nou looking to preserve their advantage at the top of the table, but he stressed that there is a lot more to the season than El Clasico.

Speaking at his press conference on Sunday, he said: "Every game is important. Every point that you lose could be key at the end, but after tomorrow`s game there will be 25 matches left and there are a lot of points in play and so many factors.

"It's an important game but not decisive. If we win, the following morning will be Tuesday, and if we lose, it will also be Tuesday."

He added: "I hope that if my team loses, it won't change either their confidence of self-esteem and, if they win, they will continue with their feet on the ground. I will continue to be calm after the game whatever the result.

"We need to be aware that the season is played over ten months at a very high level. I'm sure we will continue with calm, regardless of the result."

Mourinho, accused of adopting a negative approach in his previous encounters with Barca, said he would be looking to help create a enjoyable spectacle.

"The world is waiting for this game and we have the responsibility to give the world the game that expect," he said. "These are two teams who could be the best, with top players, and everything is in place for it to be a great game.

"I hope that the players help the referee and that it`s a game where they only talk of the football and nice things."

On who he considered favourites for the game, Mourinho said: "Many times in Clasicos and derbies it isn't the best team or the one ahead in the table who wins. These matches provide a different motivation - we can have ten points more or ten less, but in these games it's very difficult to say who is better and who is favourite."

Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira are included in the 20-man Madrid squad after recovering from injury.

[Powderguy]

Good stuff

[squintz4]

El Clasico: LIVE!

Karim Benzema starts in place of the injured Gonzalo Higuain as Real Madrid face Barcelona at Camp Nou in Monday's much-hyped match.

[Wilforth]

Clasico could determine league winner
By Paul Carr, ESPN Stats & Information

...
• Despite Messi's impressive tear, he isn't even the leading scorer in La Liga this season. That honor is currently held by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has tallied 14 league goals and holds a one-goal edge over Messi. Ronaldo has five goals in his past two matches for Madrid and 19 goals in his past 16 games for club and country.

Yes, Ronaldo has 14 La Liga goals compared to Messi's 13. But
4 of Ronaldo's goals have come from the penalty spot while all of Messi's 13 goals have come from open play.

[Munjoz]

C. Ronaldo will score a goal

[Kraghen]

The Barcelona team is: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Villa, Pedro.

The Real Madrid team is: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Khedira, Alonso, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo, Benzema.

[radishman]

thank you for all the info!

[BL]

interesting match for sure

[dee_jas]

lets hope for a great game, and it doesnt get decided on a soft penailty. Both teams have players more than willing to go down at a touch of a feather.

[Wilforth]

The Barcelona team is: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Villa, Pedro.

The Real Madrid team is: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Khedira, Alonso, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo, Benzema.

I see plenty of goals in these lineups.

[Kraghen]

I prefer Higain than Benzema. Benzema doesn't have the killer instinct as would Mourimo'd say. Would have prefer Ronaldo forward instead of Benzema to expect some goals lol....

[Kraghen]

Some betting news now and Sky Bet report that most money has been for Jose Mourinho's men to come away with a vital three points. Barcelona are evens to win while Real Madrid are 11/4, with the draw priced at 12/5. Both sides look full of goals with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both 4/1 to open the scoring. My tip is a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid, which is 11/1. Head now to www.oddschecker.com to place your pre-match and in-running bets.