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Mustapha Kamaruddin
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Friday, 05 October 2012 14:48 |
 HOLA!
Get ready. It's that unique El Clasico again when Barcelona host Real Madrid at Nou Camp on Monday (1:50am)
This is the first of the two El Clasicos in the Premira Liga this season and as usual it promises to be a thriller and dramatic contest between these two Spanish giants.
What makes it even more exciting is that Barca are now enjoying eight points gap over Real. This means Jose Mourinho's men have no choice but to beat the Catalans in front of nearly 100,000 fans.
 And the encouraging factor is that Real are in great form with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (right) just scoring a hattrick in the 4-1 win over Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League at Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday.
Also in fine form is striker Karim Benzema who also found the net against Ajax. And the Frenchman is set to start the match as Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain seemed to have suffered a dive in form.
Ronaldo, after the hammering of Ajax, declared Real are confident of getting a result on Monday.
Why not?
 The Portuguese ace knows fully well Barca will have a depleted defense after captain and defender Carles Puyol (left) suffered a dislocated elbow in the Champions League match against Benfica on Tuesday where the Catalans won 2-0.
Also down injured is Gerard Pique. This means Barca will not have any established centerbacks for the clash and Real can take advantage of this especially through their lightning counterattacks.
Barca are poised to play Javier Mascherano and Alex Song – both defensive midfielders – in the heart of defence. These two look shaky when pressured even by lesser teams and they face hell against Real with attackers like Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Benzema around.
Pity Mascherano and Song, who has yet to impress since joining Barca from Arsenal. This is where seasoned campaigner in defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets has to play a bigger role in restricting Real.
And goalkeeper Victor Valdes tends to fumble if the defense is easily penetrated, too.
El Loco feels Real will be able find the net on Monday. The question is how many times... two or three?
Real are also poised to be in high spirits as well and work as a team after the 'feud'' between centreback Sergio Ramos and Mourinho has reportedly been settled.
Well... Ramos apologized to Mourinho for his shirt stunt last weekend.
Onda Madrid reported the Spain international made the gesture at the team's hotel in Amsterdam in midweek and did so in front of the entire squad. Real were in the Dutch city for the Champions League match against Ajax.
Ramos' decision to wear Mesut Ozil's shirt under his own in the second half of victory over Deportivo La Coruna was seen as a clear challenge to Mourinho's authority after he had substituted the German.
His apology was accepted by an appreciative Mourinho, who said in front of the squad and coaching staff that the issue was now closed.
All Real players are geared up, indeed.
With Ronaldo and company poised to get goals, it is vital for Barca to score as well. And the hosts can do that with Lionel Messi leading the cast.
Messi may not have scored in the last three games in all competitions but he is more capable of creating or engineering the goals for the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, David Villa and Cristian Tello.
It will be interesting to see who will be the two manager Tito Vilanova pick to partner Messi.
Messi will surely want to get the goals to see his team prevail and maintain their 100 winning streak to seven games! He does not like to lose, either.
So Barca are likely to score goals as well.
El Loco believes the clash can end up with a draw.
Also following this El Clasico with great interest are second-placed and Real's bitter across the city rivals Atletico Madrid.
If Barca lose, the still unbeaten Atletico will jump to top of the table if they beat the also unbeaten Malaga at home in a match played on Monday (3:30am).
Atletico, under Argentine manager Diego Simeone, have been doing well so far.
One of the reasons for this is none other than their prolific Colombia international striker Radamel Falcao, who is on top of the league's scoring chart with seven goals – one more than Messi and Ronaldo.
The match between Atletico and Malaga should also provide great entertainment as both sides are out to strengthen their positions in the standings
Not enough sleep for El Loco, yet again. But it's worth it.
Adios!
FIXTURES:
SATURDAY
Celta Vigo v Sevilla (3:30am)
Away win
Rayo Vallecano v Deportivo La Coruna (10pm)
A draw
SUNDAY
Real Zaragoza v Getafe (12am)
Home win
Valladolid v Espanyol (2am)
Home win
Real Betis v Real Sociedad (4am)
Home win
Levante v Valencia (8pm)
Away win
Mallorca v Granada (10pm)
Home win
MONDAY
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (12am)
A draw
Barcelona v Real Madrid (1.50am)
A draw
Atletico Madrid v Malaga (3:30am)
Home win
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
Barcelona 6 6 0 0 17 5 18
Atle Madrid 6 5 1 0 16 7 16
Malaga 6 4 2 0 10 2 14
Sevilla 6 3 2 1 8 5 11
Mallorca 6 3 2 1 7 4 11
Real Madrid 6 3 1 2 12 5 10
Valladolid 6 3 0 3 10 6 9
Real Sociedad 6 3 0 3 8 9 9
Real Betis 6 3 0 3 10 13 9
Valencia 6 2 2 2 8 8 8
Getafe 6 2 1 3 7 10 7
Levante 6 2 1 3 7 13 7
Rayo Valecano 6 2 1 3 7 13 7
Celta Vigo 6 2 0 4 7 8 6
Real Zaragoza 6 2 0 4 5 8 6
Deportivo 6 1 3 2 8 12 6
Granada 6 1 2 3 4 9 5
Ath Bilbao 6 1 2 3 8 14 5
Osasuna 6 1 1 4 7 10 4
Espanyol 6 0 1 5 7 12 1
- mD
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