Spanish PM predicts Barcelona will crush Real 4-2

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero predicted on Friday that Barcelona will crush Real Madrid 4-2 when the two sides meet next week in their first classico of the season.

The prime minister, a longtime Barcelona fan, told Catalan radio RAC 1 that he would not be able to watch Monday’s match as he will be attending and EU-Africa summit in Libya but would ask someone to send him a text message with the result of the game.

He also heaped praise on Barcelona’s short-passing playing style.

“Barcelona caresses and cultivates the intelligence of football and converts it into something more than a physical contact sport. Sometimes it recalls a game of chess,” Zapatero said.

Zapatero, a socialist, said while he “respected” Real Madrid’s tough-talking Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, in terms of personality he prefers Barcelona’s Catalan coach Josep Guardiola, who came up through Barcelona’s youth ranks.

He also said he prefers Barcelona striker Lionel Messi’s “dribbles” over the playing style of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real go into the fixture one point ahead of Barcelona, but Barcelona’s double victory in the fixture last year was crucial in determining the outcome of La Liga, which Barcelona retained by just three points.

The much anticipated match will be held one day after Catalonia votes in a regional election which polls suggest will oust the Socialist-led coalition in power there since 2003.