EL CLASICO 2011 PREVIEW

THE REMATCH

THE RIVALRY

REAL MADRID vs BARCELONA 

Part II

4.16.2011

After previously getting thrashed 5-0 at Camp Nou this past November, Real Madrid look to seek revenge on Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. The Catalans hold an 8-point lead in La Liga over Madrid. A Pep Guardiola managed Barcelona side is a perfect 5/5 (5 wins, 0 losses) against Real Madrid in La Liga play. The goal differential in those five matches is 16 for Barca, only 2 for Madrid. Exactly half (8) of the goals FCB have scored have come at the Bernabeu in Madrid. Don't expect Barcelona just to protect and defend that 8-point difference.

"It doesn’t matter what condition we are in. What matters is mentality and desire. This is a gift that any sportsperson would be delighted to accept. In this situation, all we can do is thank the players, and treat what’s happening as a gift.” Pep Guardiola said when asked on what will happen from here on out on Barcelona's web site.

On the prospect of possibly have four Clasicos (Liga, Copa del Rey Final, 2 Champions League Semifinal matches) in 18 days, Guardiola says its “the chance to compete with the most powerful team … No matter how many times we play them, they are still the most powerful team in every sense, the strongest, the ones in the best form, the ones with an unstoppable squad. We shall accept the challenge and go for it."


Dealing with pressure is nothing new to Barcelona as this team has been labelled as one of the all-time greats and has delivered week in and week out with amazing results. 


Pep continues on to say "The interior peace that comes from knowing that we have taken this institution so far in all three competitions [Liga, Cup, Champions] is indescribable. Now we just have to enjoy it. It is a pleasure to be able to enjoy this opportunity.”


As a Barcelona fan, these next few weeks are going to be extremely nerve-wracking, high-tension building and nail-chewing times just trying to will my favorite club with each and every pass, goal, and performance. 


However, as a football fan in general, it's going to be a overwhelming pleasure to watch these two clubs play so many times against each other with each squad performing at an extremely high level. We should try to enjoy this as much as we can knowing that events like this don't happen so often. 


Here are some of the best previous Clasicos trailers to get your blood pumping and more excited for Saturday.