In a match between two of the world’s biggest clubs there is little margin for error. With so much at stake, and Barcelona already trailing a point behind leaders Real Madrid, it could be the small details that will win three points for one of these sides. Barca and Real meet on Monday evening, and guest poster Suhail Seedat has previewed the Clasico for twofootedtackle.com.
Barcelona
It would be unusual to expect anything other than Barcelona playing their natural game. A high-pressing, quick-touch, incisive passing game is what will be demanded from not only manager Pep Guardiola, but also the Catalan fans and press. In the past two games at the Nou Camp, Guardiola has reigned supreme over Juande Ramos and Manuel Pelligrini, albeit against two different types of teams in style terms. Nonetheless, Barcelona got the deserved three points playing the football that they consistently play over the course of the season.
Predicted team: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Puyol, Maxwell; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa.
In terms of flexibility, style and recognition, this is the only team that could be predicted. The injury aggravated by Eric Abidal doesn’t help Guardiola’s options, as Abidal was expected to start to help match the opposing Angel di Maria in pace. Regardless, Maxwell provides an engine, though one lacking the pace and thrust of Daniel Alves on the opposing full back position.
Certainly in a game like this some may think Mascherano is ideal to play against Real Madrid, but the given Mourinho’s past record at the Nou Camp, Barcelona will look to have Busquets’ ability to cover and maintain the tempo rather than sacrifice that for Mascherano’s combative approach while arguably lacking the composure to assist Barcelona in controlling the game.
Xavi and Iniesta will maintain the flow in their telepathic manner ahead of Busquets, who will play as more of a third centre back, or like a traditional centre half, as Maxwell and Alves operate further forward like wing backs as opposed to full backs. In the final third of the pitch, Villa has shown reasonable form playing from the left wing position, always looking to cut in in order to check back for a quick one-two with either Messi or Iniesta. Pedro has continued his form where he left off last season, playing more in between the opposing full back and centre back than as a traditional winger. This manipulation of position helps Alves to go forward especially when looking to switch the play.
It’s surprising to see the best Spanish striker ever (according to strike rate ratios) on the left wing for a winger to play in his central role, but Lionel Messi won’t be complaining. Playing as more of a ‘false nine’ role - meaning not as advanced and more in line with the wingers and therefore difficult to track by the opposition - Messi has scored a barnstorming twenty goals in fifteen games for Barcelona this season. It’s likely Messi will be deployed in a similar position against Real Madrid on Monday given that he was marked out of both games against Inter Milan in the Champions League playing from a right wing position.
Real Madrid
Though José Mourinho started the season quite slowly, he has managed to win the admiration of the Madridistas playing a very effective, direct style of play, though this week’s shenanigans will have encouraged some of the minority to perk up slightly. The Portuguese’s last visit to the Nou Camp was Inter’s 1-0 loss to Barcelona, described as the ‘most beautiful defeat’ as the defensive organisation of Inter that day was enough to see them through. Mourinho should expect to be persona non grata but having watched the man in England and in Italy, I doubt he would want it any other way.
Predicted team: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe, Marcelo; Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, C Ronaldo; Higuain.
This has been the team Mourinho has picked for most of the games in the league and Champions League, albeit with a few replacements around the central ‘spine’ of the team. The team is based solidly to perform the structure that Mourinho demands but also the explosiveness which the impatient Madrid fans crave. There has been some speculation in the Spanish press that Ozil may be sacrificed for this game for Lassana Diarra in order to have further protection in front of the back four. The impression many have gathered is that Mourinho is approaching this as a Champions League two-legged game, where he would look to draw this game and win the reverse fixture and starting with Diarra would certainly indicate that.
The back four of Real will stay solid and won’t look to venture forward. In a very prudent move the team won’t encourage the full backs (Sergio Ramos and Marcelo) to go above and beyond di Maria and Ronaldo to widen the field. The idea, for most of the game at least, would be to frustrate Barcelona and look to penetrate the Barca defence with long, raking diagonals exploiting the Barcelona full back areas as they venture forward in their usual fashion.
Khedira (who is a doubt for the game) and Alonso don’t tend to move further than fifteen yards ahead of the defence against some of the weaker opposition in the league. It’s highly doubtful that would change for this game. Their game will be as risk averse as it is for the defence.
The four attacking players will give Mourinho some food for thought. Either Higuain and another are camped on the half way line or they all play behind the ball. Certainly Ronaldo isn’t known for his defensive graft, so it may be worth Mourinho perhaps switching him into a central role like he was used to at Manchester United - especially away from home - when they mastered the 4-6-0. Higuain, like Khedira, is considered a doubt for the game which may make the decision for Mourinho.
Di Maria has surprisingly been playing on the right side of the attack, always cutting in on his left foot, similar to how Barcelona will operate with their wide men. While Villa and Pedro will look to create different angles for themselves, di Maria is far more direct and will look to score from open play by cutting inside. Ozil has been the catalyst for a lot of Real’s play and, as demonstrated in the World Cup, he has the pace and skill to really cut open the opposition on the counter attack. As mentioned beforehand, sacrificing Ozil for the less attack-minded Diarra may make the spectacle less intriguing if they are to threaten on the counter. Given Barcelona’s monopolisation of the ball in most games, it’s unlikely Higuain will get many opportunities coming his way. It’s possible his biggest contribution will be to win free kicks in the Barcelona half or to surge deep and wait for the counter-attacking support.
These teams are chalk and cheese - on and off the field. Guardiola has continued the Barcelona way, heavily influenced by the Dutch, whilst Mourinho has always maintained a very pragmatic brand of football throughout his career. Both are fantastic tactical managers in their own right - Guardiola has changed the shape of the team throughout his tenure at Barcelona, mainly because of the focal point in attack changing from Eto’o to Ibrahimovic and, now, to Messi. Mourinho has always been able to take risks which change the emphasis, especially with regards to the shape of the team.
Mourinho has been quick to start the mind games off the pitch, but all the talking will be ended with the chess game on the pitch.
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Tags: Barcelona, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Real Madrid