Real Madrid finished
preparations for tomorrow's much-anticipated Clásico against bitter rivals, FC
Barcelona, today at Real Madrid City.
Currently, Madrid has a four-point lead over Barça in the league tables. According to realmadrid.com, "spirits
were high throughout the session" and that the men were "incredibly
focused as they tackled the different workouts." It is my hope that this translates over come game
time.
Los Blancos and the Blaugranas will have their best players fit for the match,
with no major absences. Real Madrid's Ricardo Carvalho does not seem likely to
make the match, while Barcelona's David Villa, Eric Adibal, and Andreu Fontas
sit on the list of excluded players.
Furthermore, it has been reported that Alexis Sanchez is doubtful due to
injury.
Pep Guardiola faces quite the
dilemma. While his side has come a long
way in reducing the gap from 10 to four points in La Liga, reaching the UEFA
Champions League final is a priority.
Victory tomorrow will see the Catalans 84 points, however, they would
still remain behind Madrid. Losing could
mean an end for the league title race.
Additionally, he faces the possibility of injured players, which,
frankly, is a possibility given the nature of Clásicos.
José Mourinho, too, faces a
predicament as both teams have scores
to settle in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. A defeat against Guardiola's men would not
only increase the pressure to remain top dollar in La Liga, but may possibly
annihilate the team's momentum – i.e. confidence – for the return leg against
Bayern Munich next Wednesday.
Tomorrow's match poses a
must-win for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
However, playing brilliant football may not be in the cards, much to
this Madridista's chagrin (or relief, depending on how I look at it). While I am certain there will be drama on the
pitch, as there always is whenever these two sides meet, we may not experience
as high a tension as they have to face Bayern Munich and Chelsea, respectively,
in a matter of days. It seems whoever
takes full advantage of opportunities and plays smart will prevail as victor.
Tune in 2PM EST to GolTV USA,
ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3 USA to watch the match. And if you find yourself without a
television, tune in to ESPN Deportes Radio.
Subsequently, you can follow us on Twitter @OfficialFocus for live
updates, including links to live-streams to view the match via web browser.
written by Gail Hidalgo
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