[CuleAngles]

Here we go again! 16 days till the first clasico of the season and Barça look the stronger side at the moment but with 2 big games for each side before the biggest of games everything could have changed by the time the sides run out at Camp Nou at 10pm on Saturday 13th December.

Madrid have a team with several long term injuries and doubts surrounding the future of their manager whilst Barça are still developing as a team under the new management structure but have managed to achieve some great results in La Liga and in Europe.

Barça's biggest worry ahead of the game will probably be the 4 bookings picked up by Etoo and Sergi/o Busquets which means that if they get a booking in the tough match against Valencia in the week before the clasico then they will miss the big match itself. Maybe Pep will rotate to ensure this isn't an issue.

By the way, I will be attending my 4th consecutive clasico at Camp Nou and I still haven't broken my duck which tells you something about recent results in this fixture. Barça fans have waited a long time to see the eternal enemy vanquished on Catalan soil; if the wait ends in a fortnight's time the celebrations will carry on long into the night!

This post has been edited by CuleAngles: 27 November 2008 - 03:36 PM

[Messidona]

Let's hope you are not an omen of bad luck

If there is any better time in the past two seasons to face Madrid i can't think of it. Iniesta might be back by this time, all of our key players should be fully fit (knock on wood) and Madrid are besieged by injury, negative press and internal fighting. The only negative note i will sound is the injury to Heinze means he won't be able to play in the game. He's been such a liability recently that i was looking forward to seeing him at the Camp Nou. I will be crossing everything i can in hope for a victory!

This post has been edited by Messidona: 27 November 2008 - 04:16 PM

[CuleAngles]

There's no such thing

Iniesta won't be back until the new year unfortunately, he's back in light training but he's a long way off returning to match action.

[Messidona]

CuleAngles, on Nov 27 2008, 04:19 PM, said:

There's no such thing

Iniesta won't be back until the new year unfortunately, he's back in light training but he's a long way off returning to match action.

Damn. I'd read that there was a chance he might be ready to be in the squad for the Madrid game as he was progressing faster than expected. Oh well.

P.S I always enjoy reading your comments on Sid's blogs Cule (on the Guardian site). Always good to see someone fighting Barcelona's corner.

[GJ17]

Iniesta CAN play in the clasico but it would rushing him and thus a big risk. I believe it will depend on who will be available by that time. If Messi, God forbid pick up something I can see Pep throwing Andres into action.

[CuleAngles]

Messidona, on Nov 27 2008, 05:21 PM, said:

P.S I always enjoy reading your comments on Sid's blogs Cule (on the Guardian site). Always good to see someone fighting Barcelona's corner.

Somebody has to stand up to that lying Periko

[Metaphysical]

wait... so you've been there for the 1-1, 3-3 and the 0-1?

STOP GOING TO THE CLASICO!!

in all seriousness, if heinze misses the game I'll be disappointed. he's magnificently error-prone and we're punishing errors well this season.

as for us, I'm feeling somewhat confident but real just know how to get results. being the better team can be irrelevant, but one hopes it isn't. a key is messi. he played two clasicos and shat on real both times (0-3 and 3-3) but then he wasn't fully fit in the bernabeu and marcelo kept him in his pocket. he's in great form this season so if he can stay fit I feel we have a great chance.

eto'o won't play against valencia for sure. busquets may because I think pep won't start him (even though he should).

[LaFuriaBlaugrana]

I can't wait to see what we can do to Cannavaro and Madrid's fullbacks

[Irish_Cule]

I don't feel too confident.....I just have this funny feeling that Madrid will play out of their skin. They're counter attacking style is something to be wary of. but still................BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!

[LaFuriaBlaugrana]

I'm worried, but more about the refs than Madrid themselves.

[Raed]

You have nothing to worry about.

[CuleAngles]

I'm slightly worried that we seem to have so little worry about!

[Beast]

should be an easy ride for Barca i expect a 5'er score line or more with the amount of injuries we have and the current situation Barca could beat Real with their youth team
imagine losing E2,Messi,Puyol , xavi,Basquetes,Toure ,Iniesta and playing an almost full squad and on form Real... its so easy for those who want to bet on the game

[CuleAngles]

Well we have lost Iniesta I understand your gripes and it is certainly unfortunate for you that the injuries have come at the one time of the season when you can't afford them but it must be said that you don't help yourselves by signing injury prone players i.e. Ruud, Robben, Sneijder, Metzelder and now it seems Pepe has to be added to that list. De la Red's situation is totally unforeseeable and very unfortunate however.

[Edward224]

I watched Madrid last night and couldn't believe how many ordinary players they have. Really unbelievable that.

For people who say Pepe is good or has potential, I'm sorry but he truly is crap. Just think for even less than half the money spent on Pepe Madrid could have bought superior defenders. Can't think of many names right now as its morning time though one that does spring to mind is Skrtel who we snapped up for £5m and is a much more solid defender than Pepe ever will be.

Also Van der Vaart is the definition of Average.