Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona, Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg

CorkMan

Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Wed 27 April 2011
7:45PM GMT

Both teams have played each other twice in the last 10 days, with the 1st match being a 1-1 in Madrid and the 2nd being a 1-0 Madrid victory in The Mestalla. I believe Real Madrid will be slight favourites to get through this, based upon them keeping Barca scoring from open play for 210 minutes, having a much bigger squad, great players coming back and of course the last 2 matches we have seen.

Gonzalo Higuaín has been re-appearing in the last 3 weeks having been out since early December. Before he was injured he got 10 goals in 20 games, having scored 29 goals in 40 games the previous season, as well as getting 4 goals in the World Cup. He got a hat-trick against 3rd placed Valencia at the weekend and didn't get a niggle at all during the match. Expect him to come on as a sub. Also Kaká, he was injured last season but didn't get an operation straight after the end of the season, instead going on holidays before getting it done and arriving back only in pre-season to get it done. As a result he didn't come back until January. But he is hitting form in the last month, he scored 2 goals in the league match before Barca (2 league matches ago) and scored 2 at the weekend against Valencia and made 2.

Also coming back into the frame in Karim Benzema, he was superb before he got an injury last month, scoring 10 goals in the previous 7 games. He will be very dangerous too. The thing is Barca only have a 13 man squad and are very stretched ATM, they are down to their 3rd choice left back ATM. Their leader and best defender Carlos Puyol has been out since January but he was rushed back for the 1st game 10 days ago, but strained a muscle. With Puyol out Barca have had to stick a midfielder in as a centre back, with Mascherano being CB in the Copa Del Rey final. David Villa has only scored once in his previous 12 games too. I really do think Real Madrid will be favourites to go through. Barca are 10/11 to win the CL while Madrid are 3/1, which is lunacy TBH. Real Madrid have looked good in the last month, but on top of that are getting great players who have been out for a while back to good fitness. Real beat 3rd placed Valencia 6-3 at the weekend away.

Felt the need to create this thread because the Clásico superthread has massive amounts of pages, and I wouldn't want people to have to search through all the pages to get the details. The details I have given will remain rigid on this page, plus I can post the starting line-ups so they will be easily visible to everyone.

HALA MADRID!!!

Chnandler Bong

Lets just hope Sergio Ramos is'nt taking throws:rolleyes:

flahavaj

Barca will get at least one away goal and will go through overall.

CorkMan

[QUOTE=flahavaj;71882338]Barca will get at least one away goal and will go through overall.[/QUOTE]

Not so sure about that. That midfield trio of Alonso-Pepe-Khedeira seems to be pretty effective in breaking up Barca's passing game and stopping Messi.

eugeneious

Madrid will go through. Mourinho will just get them to kick Barca off the field and hit them with Ronaldo and Di Maria on the break. 1-0 Madrid.

flahavaj

CorkMan wrote: »

Not so sure about that. That midfield trio of Alonso-Pepe-Khedeira seems to be pretty effective in breaking up Barca's passing game and stopping Messi.

Just you watch. Ye can't stop Messi forever.

Headshot

Im shocked redout didnt start this, ure slipping mate

CorkMan

flahavaj wrote: »

Just you watch. Ye can't stop Messi forever.

A couple of tackles from Messi, property of Pepe, and Messi will be crying for his Mother and near identical Father. Mourinho will shut him out like he shutted him out over the 2 legs last year!

Plus C.Ronaldo is pretty hard to stop too. C.Ronaldo was in the EPL so he is used to the rough-n-tumble of harsh tackles.

1mcampo1

CorkMan wrote: »

A couple of tackles from Messi, property of Pepe, and Messi will be crying for his Mother and near identical Father. Mourinho will shut him out like he shutted him out over the 2 legs last year!

Plus C.Ronaldo is pretty hard to stop too. C.Ronaldo was in the EPL so he is used to the rough-n-tumble of harsh tackles.

:eek:

redout

Headshot wrote: »

Im shocked redout didnt start this, ure slipping mate

I thought that this one was doing all four

SantryRed

We have the superthread.

nullzero

1mcampo1 wrote: »

:eek:

UH-OH

CorkMan

Barcelona have suffered an injury blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid with Andres Iniesta ruled out.

The talented Spain international will not be available for the first leg clash at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night because of an injury to his right leg.

The Catalan side are already without Eric Abidal, Adriano, Maxwell and Bojan Krkic, while Carles Puyol and Gabriel Milito have both been struggling for fitness recently.

"Andres Iniesta is definitely out," confirmed Barca coach Pep Guardiola, who is yet to decide on a replacement.

Gifted playmaker Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in Spain's World Cup final success against Holland, is hoping to recover from the muscle problem in time for the return match next week.

"We hope to have him back for the second leg," added Guardiola.

Ouch, this will be a big blow for Barcelona. Wonder if he will miss the 2nd leg too?

Rojiblancos

CorkMan wrote: »

Not so sure about that. That midfield trio of Alonso-Pepe-Khedera seems to be pretty effective in breaking up Barca's passing game and stopping Messi.

Khediras injured, shouldnt play any part tomorrow night

Johner

Barca to go through easily imo.

Johner

CorkMan wrote: »

I believe Real Madrid will be slight favourites to get through this, based upon them keeping Barca scoring from open play for 210 minutes, having a much bigger squad, great players coming back and of course the last 2 matches we have seen.

Barca are favourites to go through.

Dave!

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2011/0426/1224295542802.html

The Barca coach said: “Tomorrow at 8.45 we will meet each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he has already won.

“In this room (press room), he’s the f*****g chief, the f*****g man, the person who knows everything about the world and I don’t want to compete with him at all.

“It’s a type of game I’m not going to play because I don’t know how. I won’t justify my words. I congratulated Madrid for the cup that they won deservedly on the pitch and against a team that I represent and of which I feel very proud.”

He added: “Off the pitch, he has already won, as he has done all year. On the pitch, we’ll see what happens.”

MisterAnarchy

Johner wrote: »

Barca are favourites to go through.

Hot favourites with most bookmakers

CorkMan

Well they would have been favourites to win the Copa Del Rey and they got beat.

For Khedeira being out, Lassana Diarra will fit in as a straight swap. They do the exact same thing and are around the same level. No where near the level of Iniesta being out for Barca.

Nailz

I hope Real go through, and I indeed think they will, I think Barça can only play one way, and at this stage there's no doubt that Mourinho knows their number, has Pep fairly discontent going by what he's done in the media, I by no means think this will be easy for Real, but I think they will have Barça found out here. Would actualy love to see a similar celebration by Jose at Camp Nou next week as he'd done last year with Inter.

CorkMan

Nailz wrote: »

I hope Real go through, and I indeed think they will, I think Barça can only play one way, and at this stage there's no doubt that Mourinho knows their number, has Pep fairly discontent going by what he's done in the media, I by no means think this will be easy for Real, but I think they will have Barça found out here. Would actualy love to see a similar celebration by Jose at Camp Nou next week as he'd done last year with Inter.

Ditto If Real get through i've no doubt we will see a similar celebration. If Real score in the Camp Nou Mourinho might even run down the sideline.

d22ontour

Is there some reason why i can't see a Madrid crest in the OP ?

CorkMan

d22ontour wrote: »

Is there some reason why i can't see a Madrid crest in the OP ?

this is my view:

Nailz

d22ontour wrote: »

Is there some reason why i can't see a Madrid crest in the OP ?

I can't see it either, thought it might be me browsing off my phone.

GavRedKing

Madrid are going to need a 2 goal lead going to the Camp Nou IMO.

Jose has his team setup to stop and counter and they have stuck to their guns it will be interesting to watch tonight.

In saying that I fancy Jose and Madrid to beat Barca at the Bernabeu and pick up a draw at the Camp Nou and to go through.

Predator_

Hope Barca go though. Proper football team

ShooterSF

CorkMan wrote: »

Well they would have been favourites to win the Copa Del Rey and they got beat.

Doesn't make your post any less wrong though. You can say you fancy Madrid to go through but can't say they are favourites when they're not.

Saying that I think it'll be a lot closer than the bookies have it and if I was betting I'd fancy Madrid at the odds going.

jesus_thats_gre

Hmmm would love Real to win this when taken in isolation. With United looking likely to go through to the final though, I am leaning towards Barca as I think United could very possibly beat Real whereas Barca would probably be too much for them.

CorkMan

Superb article by Graham Hunter on Barca-Real: (much too big to post here)

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/columnist/hunter_graham/id/6429945/jose-mourinho-deserves-credit-not-derision-challenging-barcelona

Some interesting facts:

There have been 22 shots on target over the last 2 games: Real had 12 while Barca had 10.
There have been 50 fouls: 26 to Real and 24 to Barca.
Inter Milan had 32% possession in total over the 2 legs when they knocked Barca out in the semi's last year. Real have had 29% so far.
Barca are missing Maxwell, Adriano and Eric Abidal, there 3 best left backs.

T-b0n3

Nailz wrote: »

I can't see it either, thought it might be me browsing off my phone.

Me either.

Anyway, Iniesta is a huge lose, who's likely to start with him out? Afellay? Keita?

CorkMan

T-b0n3 wrote: »

Me either.

Anyway, Iniesta is a huge lose, who's likely to start with him out? Afellay? Keita?

They can start either, but neither are near good enough to replace him at the end of the day.

The Floyd p

Keita

JP Liz V1

1- 0 to Real Madrid

gimmick

Pessimist default alert.

I think Real will kill off the tie tonight winning by 3 goals. Sickening thoughts indeed.

killwill

gimmick wrote: »

Pessimist default alert.

I think Real will kill off the tie tonight winning by 3 goals. Sickening thoughts indeed.

I would love to see RM up 2 goals anyway after tonight. Yes, I am a real fan, well, kindof!!!!! But I think it would lead to an intersting second leg. However if Barca are up going into the second leg it is game over.

Warper

gimmick wrote: »

Pessimist default alert.

I think Real will kill off the tie tonight winning by 3 goals. Sickening thoughts indeed.

If Real win by 2 goals +, be it 3-1, 2-0 etc. or even just 1-0 i cant see Barca overturning it. But any other score Barca would have to be strong favourites to qualify.

I'll go for 2-1 Real tonight with Barca scoring first.

s_carnage

Going to go with 3-1 to Madrid tonight. A Ronaldo double followed by a goal by Villa and then a final goal by Ade. Would get some odds on all that in the bookies!!!

Really think Madrid need to weather the storm in the first 20mins by Barca as can see them coming out with all guns blazing. Should be a great tie and really looking forward to it.

Panthro

the best thing about tonight's game is that it will be on the telly!
Us poor souls who don't have all the channels usually end up trawling the tinternet world looking for a live stream.
But not tonight, tonight we dine in front of the tellyvision.
yay

SlickRic

hmmm, it seems some of us are making the same mistakes we always do.

before these last 2 Clasicos, many thought Barca would find it relatively easy, and would get the best of most of these matches.

since then we've had a 1-1 at Real (which would be a fantastic result tonight for Barca), and a 1-0 Madrid at a neutral venue after 120 minutes, which Real just about edged.

Barca are still the better team.

the only thing that may make a difference is the respective squad depths.

even so, i do not for the life of me see Real scoring 2 or 3. José would be delighted with 1. at absolute best for them it'll be 1-0, but it would need another Pepe masterclass for that to happen. and having Messi struggle in one game does not mean you automatically own him forever.

i'm going for a Messi inspired 2-1 win to Barca. i struggle to believe that Madrid, with the players in the team, can both;

1) carry out Mourinho's instructions so perfectly again; and
2) in doing so keep 11 men on the field.

one of those two things will go wrong in this game IMO - they'll either overstep the mark and go down to 10 (probably Pepe), or Ramos or Marcelo will become overzealous and Barca will pounce, or Barca will simply wear them down.

fascinating match in prospect though.

CorkMan

A big difference SlickRic is that Real's confidence has grown a lot over the previous 2 games, so they will play good tonight. An important thing is that Barca didn't hammer Real in any of the said matches.

Barca beat Real 5 times in a row before the first 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu 10 days ago, Real last beat Barca then in May 2008. That how now all changed with the draw and victory. Plus Barca are depleted more and have a much smaller squad.

SlickRic

CorkMan wrote: »

A big difference SlickRic is that Real's confidence has grown a lot of the previous 2 games, so they will play good tonight. An important thing is that Barca didn't hammer Real in any of the said matches.

it will have grown, absolutely, so there's a decent chance Real could get the better of Barca.

that's just not what i personally think is going to happen.

Barca are the better team IMO, and over 2 legs, i hope that will show.

i've a lot of respect for Real, if only for the mentality José seems to have beat into them for these last few weeks, but i just think the superior class will tell.

Madrid have to be at their cynical best, while getting a bit of luck on the way, to do it IMO.

we'll see.

The_Kew_Tour

I will go for 1-1 tonight, think be good game.

Headshot

I think it will be a borefest

0-0 or 1-0 to Real Madrid

PHB

This possession stat is thrown around a lot.
Has anyone got any territory stats for the Cup final?

jameshayes

last 2 games have been dull affairs - wonder will this one be better... Barca be out for the win to pi$$ on the copa del ray?

As a utd supported, i'd prefer to play barca in the final.. what you see is what you get... never trusted that whiley genius mourinho

pierrot

I'd sooner have Thiago start ahead of Affelay but it'll surely be Keita for a more physical presence.

Paparazzo

I want to see 3 things in this game:
1. Barca to dominate and win 5-0
2. Ronaldo to have a strop because Real are getting outplayed, and get sent off for doing something stupid.
3. Jose to blame the ref for the 5-0 loss

eugeneious

The only thing i hope for from this game is a result which will mean the 2nd leg matters.

Liam O

Paparazzo wrote: »

I want to see 3 things in this game:
1. Barca to dominate and win 5-0
2. Ronaldo to have a strop because Real are getting outplayed, and get sent off for doing something stupid.
3. Jose to blame the ref for the 5-0 loss

you're going to be very disappointed then.

Jose will not make near the same mistakes as he did earlier in the season and while they may not come out on top what he has transformed Madrid into is nothing short of spectacular.

When I watched the 5-0 game earlier in the season I was shocked that Marcelo was being played in a Mourinho team. He was at fault for at least 3 of Barca's goals. The last 2 games he has looked a completely different player and up on a par with the Coles and Evras of the world.

Ramos was on a big slide the last one or two seasons and he looks like a world beater recently.

Nothing had to be done with the attack but the transformation in the defense is absolutely amazing considering what he had to work with.

CorkMan

Remember C.Ronaldo has got 2 goals in the 2 recent Barca games, and has scored in 6 of his previous 7 games. He has 43 goals this season so far.

Ush1

Liam O wrote: »

you're going to be very disappointed then.

Jose will not make near the same mistakes as he did earlier in the season and while they may not come out on top what he has transformed Madrid into is nothing short of spectacular.

When I watched the 5-0 game earlier in the season I was shocked that Marcelo was being played in a Mourinho team. He was at fault for at least 3 of Barca's goals. The last 2 games he has looked a completely different player and up on a par with the Coles and Evras of the world.

Ramos was on a big slide the last one or two seasons and he looks like a world beater recently.

Nothing had to be done with the attack but the transformation in the defense is absolutely amazing considering what he had to work with.

I don't think so. They have less points in La Liga than last season. They're more professional and have learnt to foul better when playing Barca. That's about it for me.