Putting Some Pep In Their Step: Guardiola Has Barcelona In Form to Romp Madrid

This Saturday's soccer match between F.C. Barcelona and Real Madrid F.C. is set to be a real humdinger. This biannual confrontation, otherwise known as "El Clasico" puts all other major sports rivalries, like Bears vs. Packers, Yankees vs. Red Sox, to shame.

The Barca vs. Madrid grudge was forged in the fires of a Civil War. This game is Big (capital B intended).

Josep "Pep" Guardiola, the Barcelona manager, who particpated in 10 "Clasicos" as a Barca midfielder, is trying to play down expectations for the game. He said on the club's website, "we must not forget that it is the current league champions we are playing and...we will not win by five or six goals". Truth of the matter is that Barca is looking dangerous lately. So why is Pep worried?

What Pep might be looking at is Madrid's success in attack. This season Madrid have scored 33 times (tied for second most goals in La Liga), but they have let in a dismal 24 goals. Guardiola might be worried that the Barca defense will be pushed harder than they have been in this campaign, but certainly he should be giddy with the prospect of unleashing his own attack on Madrid's leaky backline.

Barcelona is in the top spot of the La Liga table and nine points ahead of Madrid. Their season has started impressively with a goal differential of 35, with 44 goal scored and only nine allowed.

Barca also has on their squad La Liga's top goal scorer, Samuel Eto'o, and the currently lethal Messi and Henry. Barcelona were able to train almost their full squad today with Gabriel Milito being the only player injured and on the sidelines.

Real Madrid are limping into this weekend. Mid-week they fired their manager Bernd Shuster. His replacement, Juande Ramos, was himself recently canned after a dismal start to this season at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Madrid will be missing many starters starters through injury or suspension including Robben, Marcelo, and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Pep might be playing it close to his chest leading into tomorrow, but playing with a hand as loaded as his, you know he has got to be feeling good. My bet is on Barcelona to take the pot 4-2 over Madrid.