Barcelona - Real Madrid anticipation thread (December 23rd)

golsud wrote:Doesn't really matter who it is he is going to favour Madriz anyways.

Feeling a bit delusional today are we?

kas wrote:They did announce it...can't remember now, but it definitely wasn't Cantalejo

For Barcelona-Real Madrid?

Mejuto will be the ref... doesn't really matter who is the ref, they are bound to f@ck it up..

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:Mejuto will be the ref... doesn't really matter who is the ref, they are bound to f@ck it up..

Yup that's the one.

Mejuto Gonzalez is a pretty good ref I think.

Jaime wrote:Mejuto Gonzalez is a pretty good ref I think.

by Spanish standards

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:

Jaime wrote:Mejuto Gonzalez is a pretty good ref I think.

by Spanish standards

Claro...

Jaime wrote:Mejuto Gonzalez is a pretty good ref I think.

¿Porque os ayuda más que los otros?

golsud wrote:

Jaime wrote:Mejuto Gonzalez is a pretty good ref I think.

¿Porque os ayuda más que los otros?

No, porque os castiga mas que los otros.

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:

Jaime wrote:Mejuto Gonzalez is a pretty good ref I think.

by Spanish standards

You have strange standards in Spain. You didn't bother to watch the video I posted, did you?
Accidentally there's Mejuto in it. Let's hope he's not as reliant on his linesmen anymore

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/otras/es/desarrollo/1068695.html

The-Frankinsense-Tavern wrote:http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/otras/es/desarrollo/1068695.html

Yes!!!!!!!! Will get to see live in the end!

is the match on friday or sunday?

Sunday!

Jaime wrote:Sunday!

Primera División. 17ª jornada

Sábado 22 de diciembre de 2007
20:00 Zaragoza-Valencia
20:00 Almería-Getafe
22:00 Sevilla-Racing*

*Este partido se retransmitirá en abierto conforme a la Ley de Retransmisiones Deportivas

Domingo 23 de diciembre de 2007
17:00 Valladolid-Betis
17:00 Villarreal-Recreativo
17:00 Atlético de Madrid-Espanyol
17:00 Levante-Deportivo
17:00 Osasuna-Mallorca
19:00 Barcelona-Real Madrid
21:00 Athletic-Murcia

Knowing Sky Sports, the match may not be shown in its entierety...

yeah it will this is one of a few matches that will make them to the right thing and show the whole match even if its only on the red button

Jaime wrote:Nice recap of last year's 3-3 draw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbAfbTqbzVU&feature=related

Games don't get much better.

With Messi's injury and Gudjohnsen's performance today, I think we will see the following lineup for Barça for El Clasico:

----------Valdes------------

Puyol---Marquez---Milito---Abidal

-------------Toure------------------

--------Xavi-----Gudjohnsen------

Iniesta------God-------Ronaldinho

What sort of injury did Messi pick up?

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will miss the 'clasico' against Real Madrid next weekend after picking up a thigh injury in Saturday's 3-0 win at Valencia.

The Argentina international pulled up in the 42nd minute holding his left thigh and was substituted soon after.


The club's initial diagnosis was that he had torn a muscle and would be out of action for about a month.


"It's the worst thing that could happen to Barcelona. He is a player who can turn a game and is in form. We hope he recovers as soon as possible," sports director Txiki Begiristain told the club's Web site (www.fcbarcelona.com).


"It's bad news for him and for the team," coach Frank Rijkaard said after the game.


The 20-year-old is Barca's leading scorer in the Primera Liga with eight goals. Second-placed Barca host arch-rivals and league leaders Real at the Nou Camp next Sunday.



Bah, he wouldnt have done much anyways.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zinedine Zidane admits he wants to join the Real Madrid coaching staff.

The French legend revealed: "I would like to get into youth football. To teach kids would be the best. I want to give back to football everything that football has given me."


Zizou actually has a son currently playing for one of Real's youth teams.


Would be a good move, Zizou teaching younger players technique etc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dutch winger Arjen Robben's desire to impress his new club Real Madrid is hindering his return to full fitness, their coach Bernd Schuster has said.

He joined the Spanish champions from Chelsea in August, becoming one of their most expensive signings at 36 million euros ($52.32 million) but has been prevented from establishing himself in the side by a string of physical problems.


The 23-year-old was left out of the squad to face Osasuna in the Primera Liga on Sunday after picking up a muscle strain in his left leg following a substitute appearance in Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League win over Lazio.


"He's had a couple of problems this week, but he trained with the rest of the team today and feels much better," Schuster told a news conference on Saturday.


"All this is simply a result of anxiety. He wants to play and demonstrate why he is here. That anxiety has worked against him. It's nothing serious, but we have to try and control it."


Robben has only made two league starts since he arrived in Spain after struggling to recover from knee surgery he had had earlier in the year.


He was sidelined for five weeks with a torn thigh muscle in mid-October and had just returned to action again before the latest setback.


Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze returned to the squad after recovering from a knee complaint but German defender Christoph Metzelder was left out with a left foot injury.


...Or maybe he's just made out of glass

I just heard about Messi and I am really sorry. such shame that he will miss the derby, not to mention stay way a month. Wish all the best to him.

kas wrote:With Messi's injury and Gudjohnsen's performance today, I think we will see the following lineup for Barça for El Clasico:

----------Valdes------------

Puyol---Marquez---Milito---Abidal

-------------Toure------------------

--------Xavi-----Gudjohnsen------

Iniesta------C***-------Ronaldinho

Sorry to hear about Messi, truly. He's a great player and it definitely will take away from the spectacle. Plus, if you lose without him now you have a perfect excuse.

Jaime wrote:

kas wrote:With Messi's injury and Gudjohnsen's performance today, I think we will see the following lineup for Barça for El Clasico:

----------Valdes------------

Puyol---Marquez---Milito---Abidal

-------------Toure------------------

--------Xavi-----Gudjohnsen------

Iniesta------C***-------Ronaldinho

Sorry to hear about Messi, truly. He's a great player and it definitely will take away from the spectacle. Plus, if you lose without him now you have a perfect excuse.

juligen21 wrote:I just heard about Messi and I am really sorry. such shame that he will miss the derby, not to mention stay way a month. Wish all the best to him.

It was a bit unfortunate to lose him for el clasico, but on the other hand it was fortunate as with the winter break, he will not miss many matches. (May be he wanted to have a long break. )

As for the match, even without Messi, I still think Barca is in better form, and I'd gladly take a draw. though I hope we'll somehow come out as the winner.

From La Liga Loca:

Pepe

Still not worth 30 million euros - but it's doubtful that Porto received even half of that - but the latest Real Madrid centre back looks to be very good indeed. But after years of expensive experimentation with the likes of Samuel and Woodgate, they had to find a good'un at some point.


****************

I think many of us have said just about as much but I think he's is going to be a real key if we are going to be able to have success at containing Eto'o. His anticipation and reading of the game will be essential.

La enfermería se queda vacía; gimnasio para los titulares y campo para el resto del grupo

Pase lo que pase en la última jornada de este 2007, el Real Madrid cerrará el año siendo el líder indiscutible y merecido de Primera División. La victoria ante Osasuna asegura la primera posición de la tabla antes y después de visitar el Camp Nou el próximo domingo. ¿Más buenas noticias? Con el regreso de Metzelder y Balboa al grupo, la enfermería madridista se queda vacía. Los titulares ante el conjunto rojillo completaron sesión de recuperación en el gimnasio; el resto del equipo se ejercitó sobre el verde.

Sólo falta una semana para que la plantilla disfrute de unas más que merecidas vacaciones de Navidad. Por eso, tras el último partido de Liga ante Osasuna, disputado el domingo, el plan de trabajo ha sido el habitual para los madridistas, que han regresado este lunes al trabajo. Restan menos de siete días para visitar el Camp Nou y Bernd Schuster quiere preparar a conciencia el choque ante los azulgrana, que además se convertirá en el último compromiso liguero del año 2007. Los blancos sólo piensan en la victoria ante los culés, a pesar de que sea cual sea el resultado en Barcelona, el Real Madrid cerrará el año como líder indiscutible gracias a la ventaja de cuatro puntos que hasta ahora mantiene con el segundo clasificado.

Pero antes, un envite más. Y es que los madridistas disputarán este miércoles el partido de ida de los 1/16 de final de la Copa del Rey ante el Alicante. Una competición que sigue siendo la espinita clavada de los últimos años y que el Real Madrid sueña con conquistar esta temporada. Con argumentos más que de sobra, y dos importantes compromisos por delante, los blancos volvieron a ponerse el mono de trabajo para completar la primera sesión de trabajo de la semana. El orden del día fue el habitual tras día de partido: jornada de recuperación para los titulares ante Osasuna y trabajo sobre el césped para el resto de la plantilla.

Así, a las 11:00 horas saltaban al campo 3 de la Ciudad Real Madrid 14 efectivos madridistas: Codina, Higuaín, Torres, Dudek, Drenthe, Metzelder, Balboa, Gago, Salgado, Guti, Saviola, Heinze, Soldado y Robben se pusieron a las órdenes de Jordi García en la mañana fría de Valdebebas. Para empezar, ejercicios de movilidad para calentar músculos, que fueron precedidos de carrera continua a intensidad media. Los porteros se desmarcaron entonces del grupo para trabajar junto al preparador de porteros Pedro Luis Jaro.

Mientras, el balón entraba en escena para que el resto del grupo completara distintos ejercicios y ensayara diferentes aspectos técnicos. Formando parejas, los doce jugadores de campo practicaron los pases cortos y el control de balón tanto con el pie como por el pecho. Mención especial para Metzelder y Balboa, que regresaron al equipo después de haber trabajado la semana pasada en solitario.

El central alemán ha estado aquejado de una fascitis plantar que le ha impedido trabajar junto al resto de sus compañeros. Tras ejercitarse en solitario el pasado sábado junto al recuperador José Luis San Martín, Metzelder regresó este lunes a la dinámica de la plantilla y completó la sesión sin molestias. Por su parte, Javier Balboa fue el segundo protagonista de la mañana. Recuperado de un esguince lateral interno en su rodilla izquierda, el canterano también se unió al trabajo de la plantilla y completó la jornada sin problemas. Dos buenas noticias que dejan la enfermería vacía.

http://www.realmadrid.com/articulo/lider_descanso_45281.htm

Good to see that we have recuperated all of our players. Will be interesting to see the squad of 18 that Schuster selects later in the week to travel to Barcelona.

Marca reporting that Rijkaard could well leave Ronaldinho out of the match on Sunday. Fine by me. The other possibility, allegedly, is for Ronaldinho to play as centre forward and push Eto'o out to the right wing and Iniesta on the left wing. I've never understood why Rijkaard insists on wasting Eto'o so far wide but if he wants to, also fine by me.

also fine by me as well, take him away from what he's most dangerous at

Dinho not playing with Messi out would be a very bizarre move, but i could see him doing it since it worked against Valencia and maybe a few previous games before that. Could backfire for Frank and put his own ass in the firing line.

Ronnie will play imho, he's been decent-ish at home and sh¡t away much like the team for much of the season.