Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: Why Barca Needs Fast Start in Spanish Super Cup

Following a victory in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona would seem to have a decided advantage over Real Madrid heading into Wednesday's second leg. But looks can be deceiving, which is why Barca needs to come out of the gate firing on all cylinders. 

Barcelona had the first leg won, 3-1, before a mental breakdown late allowed Angel di Maria to score a goal, closing the gap to one goal and putting all the pressure on Barca in this match. 

That one-goal advantage is going to play a critical role in the way that both squads play this match. Madrid, despite the loss, would seem to have all the momentum.  

Madrid has the luxury of playing this match at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. It can win the match by a score of, say, 2-1, which would be enough to give Los Blancos the Super Cup. 

Given the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo did not play his best game only adds to the pressure that Barcelona will be feeling in this match. Having said that, he still managed to score the first goal in the first leg. 

Ronaldo is like a ticking time bomb. He has been going virtually nonstop since the first of the year, so there is some obvious fatigue, but he is so good and talented that eventually he is just going to explode.

Like a thoroughbred in the Kentucky Derby, Barcelona has to get out of the gate quickly. Barca needs to figure out a way to play the way it did early in the first leg of the Super Cup. 

Barca stormed back from a 1-0 hole after Ronaldo's goal to take a 3-1 advantage, after Xavier Hernandez put one in the back of the net in the 78th minute. 

While it would not be impossible for Barca to make another comeback in this match, doing so on the road with all the pressure on its shoulders would seem to be too great for it to conquer.

That final goal had to get in Barcelona's head, because it can't afford any mistakes in this match if it wants to knock off its rivals and capture the Spanish Super Cup. The easiest way to do that is put Madrid back on its heels. 

Lionel Messi has to play like the superstar he is. The early minutes of the match will tell you all that you need to know about who has the advantage. 

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