Here we go again, Round 3 of the El Clasico World Series. After a dull draw in La Liga, a painful defeat in the Copa del Rey final, FC Barcelona are in dire need of a clear victory. Even though their season is far from derailing, let alone a disappointment, something is way off in Catalunya. Just a week ago there were talks of a second treble, but within a matter of days the world of FC Barcelona has been turned upside down.
The momentum has shifted towards FC Barcelona’s eternal rivals, Real Madrid. While it is admirable how Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola goes about his business, he has yet to find an answer to Jose Mourinho’s defensive set-up. I’m not suggesting a radical new game-plan, just a couple of adjustments here and there. Twice did Pep Guardiola name the very same starting XI, to no avail.
Furthermore, the confidence of Los Blancos and their supporters is sky-high whereas Culés have a rather cautious than convinced outlook on the immediate future. It’s not all lost in Barcaland but it could be A LOT better. Let’s see how the Blaugranes team (Arron Duckling, Paul Udani, Gabriel Roberts, Bostjan Cernensek, Shehryar Khan and moi) evaluates FC Barcelona’s chances for tomorrow’s game.
Will FC Barcelona be able to tackle Real Madrid into submission, at the Santiago Bernabeu no less?
Arron Duckling: In a nutshell, no. I think Real Madrid are close to unbeatable, given the current circumstances. Many of these Barca players are feeling the effects of 3/4 full years of non-stop playing, with little to no rest in between. Not only are key players injured or working their way back to full fitness, but Los Blancos are peaking, operating at the peak of their powers under a manager who has successfully installed a siege mentality.
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