FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Make no mistake about it, this Barcelona team is as good as advertised.  Many friends of mine, Spanish all, knew this would happen.  They saw the injuries, the defections, and the animosity at Real last season.  They also saw Pep Guardiola take charge at the Nou Camp and turn Barcelona around before they had hardly deviated off-course.

Do I think Real Madrid will win this game?  You bet.  My personal opinion, as biased as it is, tells me that Real blanks Barcelona 2-0, both goals from Higuain.

Now here comes the (misguided) logic.  If the lineup is going to include players like Gago, Higuain, Van der Vaart, and Metzelder then the reason is simple.  To them the game is just another game where people are writing Real Madrid off.  These players don't care about Joao Laporta's pedantic separatista nonsense.  They don't care if catalan is a language or a dialect.  These players want to play.  These players want to win.  They have nothing to lose.  They have everything to gain.

Juande knows this.  What Juande also knows is that this game cannot be won by individual effort alone.  No amount of yelling and instigation by anyone will bring home the 3 points for Madrid.  The only way Madrid wins this game is by playing together, as a team, for two consecutive 45 minute games.

Raul has to do what he does best - everything, all the time.  He has to throw everything he has against a defense that includes the unbeatable Carles Puyol and the vicious Rafa Marquez.  He has to make them think he will zig when he zags.  He has to pass when they think he should shoot, he has to cut when they think he will step-over.

Higuaín just has to be Higuaín.  He cannot do anything but smile when he is fouled and he will be fouled.  He is the player that Barcelona has to contain and everyone knows it.

Sergio Ramos needs to step up his leadership skills.  He needs to enjoy his defensive responsibilities and ignore his desire to try and score.  He is not Maldini, no matter how much Milan wants him to be.  He is not Gento, or Gordito either.  He is Sergio Ramos and if he is playing in the center-middle, which all indicators say that he will be, then Real Madrid's defense will not be the porous defense that it has been.

These are the only insights I can offer.  There is no speculation that will make the clásico any better than it can become.  However, what is important to remember here is that this game is what sports are all about.  Hype, gossip, press, and predictions (especially mine) do not matter.  This game is going to be an impressive display of soccer.

Even moreso when Real Madrid wins.