Matchday 16: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona (Sat 10/12 22 CET 16 ET)

~ Current Form ~

`La Liga STATS ( Week 14 ):

- Standing Table
1 Real Madrid CF 37pts +39
2 FC Barcelona 34 +40 (+1 match)
3 Valencia CF 30 +9
4 Levante UD 26 +6

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- Real Madrid played 14 League matches (12W, 1D, 1L) this season scored 49goals & conceded 10.

- Barcelona played 15 League matches (10W, 4D, 1L) this season scored 47goals & conceded 7.

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`Goals Scored:

~ Barca (47 League Goals):
- Open Play 36
- Set Piece 6
- Own Goal 2
- Fast Break 2
- Penalty 1

~ RealMadrid (49 League Goals):
- Open Play 28
- Fast Break 9
- Set Piece 6
- Penalty 6

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`Possession (average):
- RealMadrid: 63%
- Barcelona: 71%

`Passing Accuracy:
- RealMadrid: 86%
- Barcelona: 90%

`Shots on Target per Game:
- RealMadrid: 8
- Barcelona: 8

`Fouls commited per game:
- RealMadrid: 17
- Barcelona: 14

`Shots conceded per game:
- RealMadrid: 10
- Barcelona: 6

`Interception/Tackles per game:
- RealMadrid: 16/23
- Barcelona: 17/20

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>>> Players Stats <<<


` TopScorers (2 goals or more JUST in the League):

- FCBarcelona:
1- Leo Messi 17goals
2- Cesc Fabregas 7
3- David Villa 5
4- Alexis 4
4- Xavi 4
6- Cuenca 2

- RealMadrid CF:
1- Cristiano Ronaldo 17goals
2- Higuain 12
3- Benzema 7
4- DiMaria 3
4- Kaka 3
6- Marcelo 2

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` Top Assisters (2 assists or more JUST in the League:)

- FCBarcelona:
1- Leo Messi 7assists
2- Fabregas 5
2- Xavi 5
2- Alves 5
5- Iniesta 4
6- Thiago 2
Abidal 2
Pedro 2
Adriano 2

- RealMadrid CF:
1- DiMaria 11assists
2- Cristiano 6
3- Ozil 5
4- Ramos 3
4- Arbeloa 3
6- Benzema 2
Kaka 2
Alonso 2
Coentrao 2

Formation: 4-3-3
Starting 11:
Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquests, Xavi, Inestia, Alexis, Messi, Villa.
Subs coming on: Fabregas, Pedro/Cuenca, Kieta. Other options: Maxwell, Thiago, Mascherano
Real Madrid:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting 11: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Ricardo C, Marcelo, Alonso, Conetrao, Ozil, Ronaldo, Di Maria, Benezma
Subs Coming on: Huagain, Kaka, Arbeloa, Other options: Nuri, Albiol, Altintop
Scoreline: 2-1 Barca way (of course) goals from Messi from assist of Xavi and Fabregas assist on the left hand side (last minute goal) and Ronaldo scoring for Madrid, with an assist from Benezma

How do you guys think Mourinho will make his team play? My gut says they will actually attack but my brain says he will probably play for the draw - they only need a draw to keep a 6 point margin, whereas winning would be quite harder.

paxtonpale wrote:Formation: 4-3-3
Starting 11:
Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquests, Xavi, Inestia, Alexis, Messi, Villa.
Subs coming on: Fabregas, Pedro/Cuenca, Kieta. Other options: Maxwell, Thiago, Mascherano
Real Madrid:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting 11: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Ricardo C, Marcelo, Alonso, Conetrao, Ozil, Ronaldo, Di Maria, Benezma
Subs Coming on: Huagain, Kaka, Arbeloa, Other options: Nuri, Albiol, Altintop
Scoreline: 2-1 Barca way (of course) goals from Messi from assist of Xavi and Fabregas assist on the left hand side (last minute goal) and Ronaldo scoring for Madrid, with an assist from Benezma

Ricky hasn't played in a long long time no chance he starts against Barcelona. Ramos won't be moved from CB now, expect to see Arbeloa or Lass at RB imo.
Khedira will start in midfield I just don't see Coentrao starting unless its a 4 3 3 that Mou opts to play.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:How do you guys think Mourinho will make his team play? My gut says they will actually attack but my brain says he will probably play for the draw - they only need a draw to keep a 6 point margin, whereas winning would be quite harder.

Go hard in the first 45 and try and get the jump on Barcelona and hope not to concede in the process if that doesn't work play for the draw in the next 45 and if it does put the wall up

ONE SEC

Must check to see if ESPN3 is covering...

Doesn't say, just 2 spanish primera games.

I must pray now. And if they cover it, then "everything went better than expected!"

Of course, what is expected is a Barca win for me

Strangely enough I am very confident that we will win going into this game.
The big question is 4-3-3 vs 3-4-3 and ofcourse
Pedro vs Alexis.
Just for the pure excitement of it I want us to play 3-4-3 but my brain says too risky.
On the game I am fairly certain that Mourinho will go with 3 in the middle so it makes sense for us to play one extra man in midfield.
But that would mean Alves having to play out of position at forward.
If Alves plays as part of a back three then only 2 of Pique,Masch,Puyol and Abidal can play.

So I will just give my lineups for the 2 formations.
3-4-3

Masch Pique Abidal

Busquets
Alves Xavi
Iniesta

Thiago Messi Villa

Alves to play RM with Thiago infront of him.They can swap places the entire game.I was tempted to play Alexis or Pedro in place of Thiago but I went for maximum possession.
With this lineup our possession will be maximised and our right flank will be iron clad.I am confident Abidal can deal with anything on the left.
The one major problem is the lack of goals.We would be solely reliant on Messi and Villa to score the goals.

4-3-3
Alves Pique Puyol Abidal

Busquets
Xavi Iniesta

Pedro Messi Villa

Standard formation and sort of picks itself.The only question mark was Sanchez or Pedro.Sanchez has played well the last few games and on current form is probably the better player to pick.
But Pedro has been an important player for us in big games and has delivered on the big stage.I have a hunch he is going to score in the Clasico.

Overall if asked to predict I have a feeling that we will play 3-4-3.I am almost 100% sure.
My prediction-Xavi to put on a masterclass at the Bernabeau for the 4th year in a row and for us to win 3-0.

Go and destroy thee sc*m please.

GO BARCA !!!!

Yeah, like Alex. Im confident, surprisingly.

Madrid and their form dont scare me, we still have the better players. I am bold enough to say we have the 3 best players on the pitch, at least for big games anyway.

Only negative is we are not getting results away from home, and this is away.

Sepi has deceived me

Personally, I would be happy with a draw as well, considering our away and RM form. However, i think we will manage to win

I'm also confident. Maybe we are all confident because we are second and we have nothing to lose. I think its mourinho who is scared. His Madrid gained a good reputation in last weeks they can ruin it in 90 minutes

I am just confident because we are playing well.

In my mind, no question we are the better team and have more quality. The problem is they are playing very well and if we are not at our best we will lose.

But we are playing well too, so im confident.

I would take a draw still though.

Some great comments guys. Particularly liked Alex's two lineups. Pedro and Alexis is a big question and I also have that feeling that MVP will come up trumps in a big game again. However, Alexis has also been excellent.

Both players can be good off the bench too. It would be ideal if Pedro started, we scored and then we brought on Alexis for Villa late on, his pace, dribbling and energy would be useful on the counter.

I'm too nervous to think too much about this game lol... Might try to head into a pub in the city for it.

Kizz with Pedro starting the CL game it's almost guaranteed that Pep has settled for Alexis.

I'm not sure why Dani and Alex are so confident. This is the least confident I've been for a clasico in a long time.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Kizz with Pedro starting the CL game it's almost guaranteed that Pep has settled for Alexis.

I'm not sure why Dani and Alex are so confident. This is the least confident I've been for a clasico in a long time.

Yeah, I'm well aware of this. I'm sure Alexis will start in reality, but just saying that would be ideal.

I'm nervous, but I am usually before Classicos. I have no less faith in the team than usual. Madrid are tearing teams to pieces, but their game won't work against Barca, it will be the same old same old. They will get the odd chance to steal the game, we need to do our best to stop them and make sure we convert our chances.

I'm not confident. In fact, whenever I want to go to the toilet, I think for a while in this match. It's very useful for my routine morning bowel movements.

Off I go. True story.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Kizz with Pedro starting the CL game it's almost guaranteed that Pep has settled for Alexis.

I'm not sure why Dani and Alex are so confident. This is the least confident I've been for a clasico in a long time.

Why not?

Do you believe Madrid have better talent? Do you think we are playing bad at the moment?

This is the strongest Madrid we have faced in years...alot of years actually. But I wouldnt swap our players for theirs.

I am never sure we are going to beat them and im not sure now either, I will also be worried when the game gets closer, but I dont have a bad feeling coming into this game. Madrid and their form dont scare me.

They can destroy as many teams as they want, but none of them are us.

To be honest, I kinda have the feeling that the consecutive success they have currently will make them more complacent than they should be when they will face us

Real madrid preparing for clasico:

Adriano & Tito back

http://www.totalbarca.com/2011/news/wednesday-training-vilanova-back-adriano-cleared/

Wow they're really polishing their rugby tactics

They are definitely getting better at it.

Martial arts courses

My Vid!

good job Kizz