El Clásico

2100 hrs GMT...SAT 10/12/11.......Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

On Saturday night the first Clásico of the league season takes place in the Bernabéu.
Madrid have not won against Barca in the league since Spring 2008, when the Barca players famously had to observe the Spanish tradition of forming a line of honour for the newly crowned League champions, Real Madrid.
Madrid totally outplayed Barca that day and won 4-1.
Since then Barca have totally out shone Madrid and have had 3 seasons of amazing football and trophies and are now widely regarded as one of the greatest footballing sides of all time...

But the tide may be turning....a much improved Madrid are ahead in the league and a jaded Barca look for the first time in 3 seasons, vunerable...

How will the match be played ?
Will Madrid adopt last seasons tactics of defending deep and hitting on the counter, or the tactics used in the summers Super Cup encounters...taking the game to Barca, trying to press them high up the pitch ?

Will Barca find their form away from home when it really matters ? Will the problems they've had in recent months hinder them again ?

And most importantly, will Mou behave himself, or will he make a disgrace of himself and Real Madrid again !


Stats (courtesy of Wiki):

league head-to-head:

Real Madrid wins 68
FC Barcelona wins 63
Draws 31
Real Madrid goals 259
FC Barcelona goals 252
Total matches 162


All -time competitive head-to-head

Real Madrid wins 86
FC Barcelona wins 84
Draws 45
Real Madrid goals 354
FC Barcelona goals 347
Total matches 215