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Motivated for the clásico |
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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
Barça tonight tackle the latest edition of the clásico against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu (20.45 h, Telecinco and R@dio Barça). Rijkaard’s side face the new league champions in need of three points to continue their fight for the second place.
This may not be the most decisive clásico of recent times, for Real Madrid have already mathematically won the championship, so the only team that really needs the points is Barça, who are locked in a battle with Villarreal for second place and a direct route into the Champions League group stages. All that’s missing in this encounter between two bitter rivals is the fact that Madrid are now free from pressure. Nevertheless, there will still be emotion, passion and thrills, as well as one aspect that has given the press plenty to talk about in the build-up to Wednesday night's match, the fact that Barça will offer a guard of honour to the Madrid players as they tackle to the pitch as dictated by a long-kept tradition in Spanish football.
Rijkaard seeks third win
Both sides have just picked up important league wins. Madrid’s 2-1 win at Osasuna meant they could finally celebrate the league title, while Barça’s spectacular 6-0 win against Valencia was the ideal response to the criticism the team has been facing in recent weeks. And there could be no better way of following up a win like that but victory away to the club's biggest rivals. Lest we not forget that the Santiago Bernabéu has been a happy hunting ground in the past for, who is the only Barcelona manager to have ever won there twice on league visits.
Major absences
The game will be played immediately after Recreativo v Vila-real. The Yellow Submarine are Barça’s only rivals for the runners-up spot in La Liga, and whatever they have achieved, Rijkaard’s side will still need points from their visit to Chamartín. But he has some important players missing. Touré Yaya may be fit again, but both Deco and Eto’o are suspended, while Iniesta, Milito, Ronaldinho and Jorquera are all injured.
Whites on form
Real Madrid, meanwhile, also have player out through suspension in Cannavaro, but the game may mark the return from injury of the much-missed Van Nistelrooy and Guti. But although they have nothing to play for, they will be keen to get a win in front of what will be a packed Bernabéu hoping to celebrate their fifth win in a row. |
