Barcelona have cut Real Madrid's 10 point lead to just 4 in just one month one more defeat and Real could see their rivals 1 adrift with four to play.
It would be an understatement to say this is crucial in the La Liga title race. Barca at home would be favourites but in sport nothing is that simple, even for this Barcelona side. Pep knows nothing short of a win would suffice, Jose knows this and though underdogs Madrid do have a squad that can go and get a favourable result at the Camp Nou.
No El Clasico blog will be complete without a mention of the two goal scoring machines especially since each had below par performances in midweek. Christiano Ronaldo's 41st goal of the season (and 53rd overall) last weekend saw the Portugal forward surpass his record mark of 40 goals set last season and Lionel Messi, not to be outdone, scored a pair nearly two hours later to match Ronaldo and take his overall tally to 63, the best since Bayern Munich's Gerd Mueller scored 67 during the 1972-73 season.
Team News Barcelona could be without Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez for the match who suffered a right thigh injury and Madrid are said to have a clean bill of health. Kaka might start as he did not feature in Wednesday's loss at Bayern.
Madrid's trio of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain have combined for 107 goals in all competitions this season which is one short of breaking the clubs all time goals scoring record.
Barca are on one mean 11 consecutive wins since a February defeat and under Pep have lost only once against Madrid in 14 El Clasico's (Kings Cup Final last year). Real haven't been poor at all with only 3 draws since February and a draw would be good enough today.
I'm a firm believer that you can't always win and eventually a loss or draw might come, its just the law of averages it just happens to be so. If you ask me if todays' match will decide the La Liga my answer would be NO it would add excitement, intrigue and drama to an otherwise boring monotonous and expected two horse La Liga title race (year in and year out I might add) but for Madrid if we honest can afford to lose and still lead by one point and still lift La Liga (a win and then it's settled), on the other hand Barca must win another five out of five which would make their unbeaten run 16-0, I will say it again you can't always win and eventually a loss or draw might come its just the law of averages it just happens to be so.
Finally I agree with Pep Guardiola's thoughts on Friday "La Liga is in Real's hands. If they win tomorrow or draw, it's all over. If we want to continue to believe in our chances, then only a victory will be good enough," and Mourinho saying pointedly at a news conference after the Bayern game."He (Guardiola) is an intelligent lad and he knows exactly how he has managed to win so many games,"
"He knows perfectly well how he has done it," added the Portuguese.
Stats I acquired from www.supersport.com
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (JCBA)
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