Real Madrid vs Barcelona preview - El Clasico saga begins

Posted Saturday, April 16, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in the first of four mouth-watering meetings between the two arch rivals in three different competitions over the coming weeks as `El Clasico' fever grips Spanish football.

The first showdown is in the Primera Division, and just four days after that the European superpowers meet again in the Copa del Rey final before then doing battle twice more in the Champions League semi-finals - all four games coming in the space of 18 days.

Looking ahead to the four matches, Barca defender Gerard Pique told El Mundo Deportivo: "It's something that hasn't happened in recent history, but the team and the fans have to be ready for it. We have to take it step by step, game by game."

Barca have held the upper hand in recent clashes between the two, winning each of the last five meetings, while the Catalan giants have also left their arch rivals lagging well behind in the race for honours over the last few years.

Madrid have not tasted success since 2008, when they won the Primera Division and Spanish Super Cup, while in stark contrast Barca have walked off with a remarkable eight trophies since Pep Guardiola took charge in the summer of 2008.

Both Barca and Madrid can still claim the treble this season, although the race for the league title is currently firmly under the control of the men from the Nou Camp.

Barca are eight points clear of second-placed Madrid with seven games remaining heading into tomorrow's match at the Bernabeu, while they also won 5-0 in the first meeting between the two at home .

That was Jose Mourinho's heaviest-ever defeat as coach and something that would prove decisive if the two teams finish level on points and Madrid do not record an equally one-side victory tomorrow.

When asked about his side's chances of winning the league, cup and Champions League for the second time in three years, Pique said: "I wouldn't like to talk too much about the treble because there is still some way to go.

"The situation is very good in the league with an eight-point advantage, we are in the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semi-finals, but there are still many important games to come.

"We have a lot of confidence about winning the treble, we know that it's difficult as it has only been one once in history but we have a chance of doing it and we need to aspire to that."

Both Barca and Madrid go into the first `Clasico' in buoyant mood after this week progressing through to the last four of the Champions League.

Nine-time European champions Madrid, who had failed to get beyond the last 16 in any of the last six editions prior to this season, completed a 5-0 aggregate win over Tottenham with a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane.

Barca, meanwhile, followed up their 5-1 first leg win over Shakhtar Donetsk with a 1-0 victory in the return meeting in the Ukraine.

That triumph was Barca's 10th win in their last 11 games in all competitions, with the other result being a draw, while in La Liga Guardiola's men have won 27 of 31 matches this season, with their only loss coming back in September.

Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo said following his side's win over Spurs: "Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world, but so are we. We have to believe it's possible for us to beat them. We are having a good run and feel confident."