Blogging Footy: Last Minute Build up to "El Clasico"

•Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

•October 25, 2014

•Referee: Jesús Gil

The Main Man

Recent Form

REAL MADRID - W,W,W,W,W

BARCELONA - W,W,W,L,W

Recent Clasico Results

La Liga (LIGA) 17-04-14 Barcelona 1 - 2 Real Madrid

La Liga (LIGA) 24-03-14 Real Madrid 3 - 4 Barcelona

La Liga (LIGA) 26-10-13 Barcelona 2 - 1 Real Madrid

La Liga (LIGA) 02-03-13 Real Madrid 2 - 1 Barcelona

La Liga (LIGA) 27-02-13 Barcelona 1 - 3 Real Madrid

Amazing Fact - Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have scored in each of the last 16 clasicos, the longest run in history

Some Quotes on build up to Clasico:

Ancelotti - On his remark on substituting CR7 without asking him "I have a lot of respect for the work done by Luis Enrique and all of my fellow coaches. If anyone took what I said as a provocation, they are mistaken. I didn't mean to provoke anyone."

Ancelotti - “I don’t know why the game is kicking off at 6pm and not 9pm but I don’t think it will affect us too much – we’re in great shape physically."

Luis Enrique - "Complaints Madrid about kick-off time? I agree there should be more games at the same time. I'd also prefer to play later."

Mathieu - "There was a lot of criticism because of my age and transfer fee, but I feel I'm changing people's opinion bit by bit."

Mendieta - “Unfortunately that is Madrid. It happened with Raúl, Guti and Morientes, now it is happening with Casillas."

Laudrup - “The Messi of the early years was a phenomenon, but he always wanted to finish the action. Now, he goes past one, two or three players and then gives a pass to a team mate. That makes him more dangerous and harder to stop than before”

Cristiano - During presentation of his new Nike Mercurial Superfly boots - “I don’t change boots for Clásicos or derbies. I’ve always liked to try out new boots, new collections, new colors. What I like the most is playing with boots that feel comfortable. It will be a special match. I hope people will enjoy it, and that I’ll be able to score goals.”

Schuster - “I think that Madrid will win. That’s my feeling. I have a feeling in my stomach that they’ll win, because of their style and high morale, and with Cristiano in a very good form. And thanks to a better midfield."

Iniesta - “We have to go with a winning mentality, not think that we’ll stay ahead of them whatever happens. I think that thinking like that would be a mistake."

Suarez has been one of the major talk in this past week ahead of his debut in Clasico.

Suarez - "The Suarez on the pitch is not the same as the Suarez off it. Off the pitch I am a calm person, a father and a husband"

Luis Enrique - "Luis Suarez will certainly play some minutes tomorrow, but I don't know how many."

Zidane - “Suárez is obviously a very good player, but he was not a player we felt we needed to add to the squad at any time. The targets we acquired in the summer were the ones who we wanted all along.”

Ancelotti - "Suarez' return is good news for football, he's a fantastic player. But him playing or not won't change our plans"

Squad List:

Real Madrid -

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Keylor Navas and Dani Pacheco.

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Raphael Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Arbeloa.

Midfielders: Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, James, Luka Modric, Asier Illarramendi, Isco.

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Chicharito.

Barcelona -

Goalkeepers: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo.

Defenders: Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano, Marc Bartra, Jeremy Mathieu, Jordi Alba.

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergi Roberto, Ivan Rakitic.

Forwards: Neymar, Munir, Pedro, Leo Messi, Luis Suárez.

Key Players -

Real Madrid - Ronaldo, Isco and Ramos

Barcelona - Messi, Neymar and Mathieu

Strength -

Real Madrid - Amazing Attacking Front

Barcelona - Telepathic connection between Messi and Neymar

Weakness -

Real Madrid - No Proper CDM, hence even the likes of Sociedad and Villareal walked past their midfield easily.

Barcelona - Pique losing concentration at times, Right flank might expose lots of space for Isco and Ronaldo to exploit during counters and Defending Set pieces