‘El Clasico’ the game to watch this weekend

This Sunday one of the biggest games of the European season takes place. The game I’m talking about is ‘El Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou.

The game between the two Spanish giants is one my favourite games of the season. Its one of the first fixtures I look for on the fixture list.

Even as a foreign Barcelona fan I still get excited by the prospect of the fixture. Its also one of the glamour clashes in European football. Fans from all over the world will be tuned in to see who gets a crucial victory.

Barca not the same

Barcelona played fantastic football last season and got their reward with an unprecedented treble. They are still considered the benchmark for exciting attacking football. However this season the side doesn’t seem to have the same panache and style about their play. Last season’s play and achievements were always going to be a tough act to follow. They have produced some superb displays this season but have also produced some dreadful performances.

Barca need Messi and Ibrahimovic

Barcelona have been missing two of their star players in recent games Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Argentine sensation Lionel Messi. The pair are vital for Barca and will be key to victory if they are passed fit for the clash. Ibrahimovic has proved a success this season at Barca, to my surprise.

He has replaced Samuel Eto’o superbly and has added a different dimension to the team. This game is a chance for the Swedish striker to prove he doesn’t hide in the big games. He has been accused of going missing in the heavy clashes and the clashes don’t come any heavier than ‘El Clasico’.

Real improvement

Real Madrid spend big in the summer and everybody thought it would be easy for Los Blancos to gel. However the team has found it hard to find the right balance between defence and attack. In recent weeks and months they have found a better balance and the team looks like it could be gelling as a unit.

That balance has taken Real to the top of La Liga after Barcelona slipped up drawing 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao at the weekend. This game is a true test of Real Madrid’s new found balance. It will also test whether the team can really compete against the European champions. Real will be boosted by the return of World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo after the former United ace made his comeback from injury on Wednesday night.

Shame

The glamour of this game has been tinged by the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are not fully-fit. If the threesome were fully-fit this game would of been even more mouth watering. The fact that the trio aren’t fully-fit hasn’t taken anything away from my anticipation for the game and I’m sure it will be the same for lots of fans around the world.

Head-to-head

With Real one point clear of their big rivals this game is vital for the European champions. At the end of the season the head-to-head record could prove the difference between the two Spanish giants. The winners of the first ‘El Classico’ of the season wont necessarily win the La Liga crown but the winners will have a big psychological advantage.

The enforces must be on Barca as reigning champions and the home side to win the game. Real like to play on the counter attack, so being away from home will suite them. Barcelona on the other hand prefer to play a good passing game through the centre of the pitch.

This game is a really hard one to predict. Real will go into the game with more confidence but Barca will go into this game with home advantage. Barcelona are hard to beat at the Camp Nou and I would be surprised if Real manage to gain all three points in this one.

I’m going to sit on the fence here folks and predict the game will finish in a draw. However I’m expecting to see a fantastic game full of goals and talking points. Whatever the outcome the game is bound to be fascinating and I for one will be glued to my television screen on Sunday evening.