Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will go head to head for the first time this season in the El Clasico today. PHOTO: AFP
The Catalans currently hold a three point lead over Madrid at the top of the table, but it is Carlo Ancelotti’s men who have enjoyed a significantly better week in the run up to the match.
Barca dropped their first points of the season with a 0-0 away at Osasuna last weekend and were then held 1-1 by AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday.
Madrid took advantage of that rare slip-up by their rivals with a 2-0 win over Malaga and just about sealed their place in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday by beating Juventus 2-1.
The Malaga match in particular saw a marked improvement in Real’s performance to those earlier in the campaign and Madrid haven’t been beaten in their last five encounters against Barcelona.
However, Real defender Sergio Ramos doesn’t believe last season’s meetings between the two will be a big factor come kick-off at the Camp Nou.
“We have an important game and it would be a notable step to win in the Camp Nou, but we know meetings there are always difficult and anything can happen,” he said.
“When evaluating a Clasico you don’t have to look at the previous results, nor even the last one. These games are always of the highest level and intensity.
“There are things that we have to continue improving, but it is always nice to arrive at the Clasico after a victory.”
There is no doubt that Neymar will join world player of the year Lionel Messi in attack for the hosts and the Brazilian admitted that it is for this kind of game that he swapped Brazil for Barcelona in June.
“A Clasico is the most important game for any player,” he told Barca TV. “It is the game that every player wants to participate in and show their best football. This will be my first one and I want to make a great debut, preferably with a victory.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2013.
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I believe its a win for barca