Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: 8 Important Battles Including Ronaldo vs. Alves
Barcelona will entertain arch-rivals Real Madrid on Monday in what could turn out to be a season-defining fixture. La Liga has been dominated by these two teams in recent history, and it is because of that fact that these two possess the strongest squads in Spain and arguably Europe. El Clasico has historically been one of the most entertaining encounters and is followed all over the world with avid interest.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have been in good form leading to this encounter, and they will fancy their chances to gain the bragging rights for the rest of the season till the return fixture at the Bernabeut. Barcelona will be the favourite going into the contest considering both their recent success against Los Blancos and their home advantage. They have strengthened their team in the summer with the acquisition of the impressive David Villa, the versatile Adriano and the hard-working Javier Masherano.
Real Madrid brought in Champions League winning Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho, and he has been calling the shots at Madrid. He has signed some young, talented players like Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon, in addition to bolstering their defence with the addition of the experienced Ricardo Carvalho who had played under Mourinho for Porto and Chelsea before rejoining him in Spain.
Mourinho has made Real Madrid into a compact unit, which also has the flair and ability to create a number of chances in a game. They have conceded very few goals in the league and have qualified with ease for the next stage of the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain have been prolific and have helped the team to lead the table ahead of El Clasizo.
Barcelona made an uncharacteristically slow start to their season, which included a surprise loss to Hercules at home and a draw against Mallorca. But they have since been in excellent form and have conquered many of their opponents with ease, showcasing their true potential in huge wins against Sevilla and Almeria. With winners like Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez in their ranks, they will feel confident when they play in front of their huge home crowd on Monday.
The game will see some of the best players involved in many interesting duels, and both managers will try to implement the best tactics for their side to conquer this important fixture. In this article, I shall elaborate on some interesting battles to watch out for, and after the game is over, the winner will be named at the end of each slide.
Cristiano Ronaldo Vs. Daniel Alves and Gerard Pique
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Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as Real Madrid's main goal scorer for the second successive season at Madrid, and he will have to shoulder the responsibility of creating opportunities for Los Blancos. He has been in scintillating form this season, having notched 14 goals in the league alone, and is in the running for the Pichichi trophy. He has got pace, power and the creativity to trouble any defence in the world. He arrives at the Camp Nou on the back of a string of impressive performances for Los Merengues.
He is expected to play on the left flank and test Victor Valdes with fizzing shots after cutting in from the flank. Daniel Alves, the right back, will have a tough task to keep Ronaldo quiet and must be cautious of Real Madrid's pace on the counter attacks. He should not get out of position when he is up against a player of Ronaldo's class and should be provided with enough support by Gerard Pique. Pique is one of the coolest defenders on the planet and does not look hurried on the ball, but he must be on hand to cover for Alves and prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from inflicting any damage.
Ronaldo will look to exploit Alves' mentality to join in the attacks and try to get behind the Brazilian, but Guardiola should make it clear to Alves that he needs to curtail Ronaldo's influence on the game. Moreover, Pique is a superb defender who can control the area well and will cover Alves for any error from the Brazilian. This could be a game-defining battle, and if Ronaldo is able to exert his influence, then the Blaugrana could be in for a long night.
Winner:
Lionel Messi vs. Marcelo and Ricardo Carvalho
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Lionel Messi has had some very happy memories of El Clasico in recent years, and he will look to continue his good record against Los Merengues. Messi has also been in scintillating form, scoring 13 goals and assisting in numerous other goals. His wizardry will be hard to handle, and he could be the difference for Barcelona. It is extremely difficult to defend against the diminutive Argentine because of his ability to wander all over the pitch and wreak havoc for the opposition.
Marcelo is probably one of the most improved players for Real Madrid this season and has established himself as the first choice left back this year. He has drawn praise from Jose Mourinho and has proved to be a valuable asset to their side. His overlapping runs on the left flank have caused a lot of trouble for opponents, but on Monday, he will have the unenviable task of stopping Lionel Messi from weaving his magic.
Marcelo's attacking mentality might be one that Messi and Co. look to exploit, but the experience of Ricardo Carvalho will be the key to curtailing Messi's chances. Carvalho will provide more than adequate cover for the Brazilian, and being an experienced campaigner, he will be unfazed under immense pressure. Mourinho has great faith and respect for Carvalho, and the Portugal international will be the key to ensure Messi remains a peripheral figure in the game.
Winner:
David Villa vs. Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho
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David Villa was Barcelona's biggest summer acquisition, and it proved to be a smart buy considering he had an exceptional World Championship. The Blaugrana would have had to shell more millions if they had not made a swift move for him before the start of the World Cup. Villa has had a relatively slow start to his Barcelona career, but it is only a matter of time before he finds his shooting boots and rises to the occasion. Villa is comfortable with Barcelona's style of play, and he will be difficult to stop if he is in form.
Real Madrid brought in Ricardo Carvalho in the summer, and the experienced defender has brought a sense of experience and calm to this defence. He has an excellent understanding of the game, and even though he is on the wrong side of 30, he remains one of the best defenders on the planet. He will be partnered by his compatriot Pepe, who is also a quality defender. Pepe has a tendency to make rash tackles at times, but there is no denying his quality.
El Guaje would love to inscribe his name on the score-sheet in El Clasico, and it would surely endear him to the Barcelona faithful. Carvalho and Pepe will have to deal with many potential threats, but if they fail to deal with Villa, then the Spanish striker will make Real Madrid pay.
Winner:
Gonzalo Higuain vs. Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique
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Gonzalo Higuain was expected to be the second choice striker behind Karim Benzema when the Frenchman was signed by Real Madrid last year, but the Argentina striker has more than proved his worth for Los Blancos, scoring more than 20 goals last season, and has again started strongly this year. Higuain has been criticised for some of his displays against quality teams, but he has the talent to make it count in what will be one of the most important matches of the season.
Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique are one of the most established centre back pairings in the world today, and they have been integral to both Spain's and Barcelona's success. Puyol, an extremely talented and hardworking defender, is one of the most passionate footballers and is the leader and captain of the side. Pique has drawn comparisons with Franz Beckenbauer for his defensive style.
Pique and Puyol have excellent chemistry on the pitch, and it is difficult for any striker to score goals against Barcelona because of these two dominant centre backs. However, Higuain will be eager to score in El Clasico, and he can create a lot of problems for any defence in the world with his runs and quality finishing. He will also get some space and probably some chances because of quality players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil who will take on defenders.
Winner:
Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta vs. Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira
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Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta form the crux of the midfield for Barcelona and Spain, and they share a chemistry like no other pair in the world. Xavi is the orchestrator for Barcelona, while Iniesta glides and dribbles the ball with ease. Together the pair is very hard to stop if they do find their rhythm. Barcelona's strength lies in their dominance of their midfield, which is provided by the trio of Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta.
Mourinho was impressed by Sami Khedira's performances for Stuttgart and Germany and secured his services in the summer. Khedira has been a regular for Madrid and forged a strong partnership with Xabi Alonso at the heart of midfield. Khedira will lie deep and make vital interceptions and tackles, while Xabi Alonso will direct play as a deep lying play-maker. He is also extremely good at making important interceptions and winning possession back for his team.
Both these teams play attacking football, and dominance in the midfield will be a huge factor in deciding the outcome of the match. Xabi and Khedira will have their work cut out against the likes of Xavi and Iniesta, but they will have to concentrate and focus throughout the match to cut out the dangerous through balls from the duo to Messi and Villa.
Mesut Ozil vs. Sergio Busquets
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The German International was excellent in the World Championship, and Mourinho wasted no time in bringing the young midfielder to Madrid. The injury to Kaka has meant that Ozil has taken the role of the attacking midfielder for the team. He is at the hub of the attacking play by Los Blancos, and his vision, passing range and distribution has been superb, enabling him to settle into the Real Madrid team with considerable ease.
Sergio Busquets has been one of the most under-rated players in the Barcelona squad, but Pep Guardiola knows his importance in the team, which is why he has kept his place in the team even with the addition of Javier Mascherano. Busquets will lie deep in midfield and look to distribute the ball to the creative Xavi and Iniesta to set up attacks. With attack-minded midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta, it is up to young Busquets to ensure that the team is not caught under counter attacks. He must also make vital interceptions and tackles.
Busquets is not very confident when he is under pressure, and Ozil will try to exploit that. Ozil has impressed for Los Merengues, but he will face his toughest test of the season so far against Busquets and Barcelona. If Busquets does not provide much space for Ozil, then Real Madrid's impressive forward line could have their supply considerably reduced, which could give a massive boost to Barcelona.
Winner:
Iker Casillas vs. Victor Valdes
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Iker Casillas has established himself as one of the world's best keepers over the years and has been integral to Madrid's and Spain's successes in the last decade. He is one of the best shot stoppers, his reflexes have saved a number of goals for Madrid and he has won points for his team with his impressive performances.
Victor Valdes' abilities between the sticks are rather underestimated considering he is one of the most consistent keepers in the world. He has also has good reflexes and has provided stability for the Blaugrana. He played an important role in the historic triumphs of recent seasons and has established himself as one of the best keepers in La Liga.
Goalkeepers are sometimes left helpless due to slack defending and world-class finishing, but a good goalkeeper has often been instrumental in earning points for his team. When two attacking teams with world-class talents face each other, the goalkeepers will have to be alert, and it might be an amazing save which makes the difference in a closely fought encounter.
Jose Mourinho vs. Pep Guardiola
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Pep Guardiola has been integral to Barcelona's successes, and under his stewardship, the Blaugrana have created history. They have enthralled football supporters over the world with their wonderful attacking play. He is highly regarded by the Barcelona team players, and his tactics and motivation have instilled a confident approach from his side.
Jose Mourinho has been one of the most successful managers in the last decade, winning a number of league titles with FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, in addition to the two Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan. He is one of the most intelligent managers and has amazing single-minded focus and vision to achieve trophies. He came to Real Madrid with a vision to conquer Spain and Europe with Madrid and has instilled that belief and confidence in their young side, who are yet to lose under the Portuguese tactician.
El Clasico will see two of the best and most successful managers pit their wits against each other. Both will try to implement tactics that would earn their teams the three points they crave. Mourinho has never won at Camp Nou which is why he will be even more determined to win at the home of the Barcelona faithful.
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