AjanleKoko:

Ehn, Alhaji . . . and you be my guy na! No vex

FIFA Ballon D'Or Update: Penaldo joins Leo and Xavi in the top 3 , Moanrinho battles Pep and Fergie Baba once again for Coach of the year

Stealthy:

Here's the line-up I expect Pep to use for the classico:

Valdes

Alves-Puyol-Pique-Abidal
Xavi-Busi-Iniesta
Fabregas-Messi-Villa

Subs: Pedro/Alexis, Masch (for Puyol) & Keita/Cuenca, depending on how the match goes.

I don't see Alexis starting as Pep will not want to use 2 newcomers in the classico. That Villa was rested last weekend is a pointer that he will play against Madrid.

Mcleo007:

Alexis and Fab will make d list. Their current form can't be ignored, and I trust Pep to that. Iniesta might play up front with Messi and Alexis while Fab partners Xavi in a box-to-box playing pattern.

Stealthy:

Form is not everything. Coaches like Pep tend to be conservative and go with the tried and trusted, especially in high pressure matches like El classico. Villa is an almost certain starter and I see only one of Cesc & Alexis starting.

Stealthy:

Form is not everything. Coaches like Pep tend to be conservative and go with the tried and trusted, especially in high pressure matches like El classico. Villa is an almost certain starter and I see only one of Cesc & Alexis starting.

medjai:

From the games I've seen of Madrid, they look jittery against teams that hold the ball and are very vulnerable when you take the game to them.
Most teams have been afraid to attack them and are quite comfortable staying behind and defending.
Madrid will crack when they're attacked.
The game against Atleti for instance, they were all over the place until Courtois' red card. It was only after the red card which forced Atleti to sit back and defend that Madrid could get going.
Bar Alonso, their midfield isn't so great. Khedira isn't top notch and their attacking trident of Ronaldo, Ozil and di Maria are too lazy to help the team out at the back when they don't have the ball.
What they have going for them is a very good attack, but once their midfield capitulates, we've pretty much won.

My preferred line-up:
-----Valdes-----
----Alves---- Masch ---- Pique---- Abidal----
-----Busquets----
-----Xavi----- Iniesta-----
----Messi----- ^Cesc----- Villa-----

On current form, Villa doesn't deserve to start but then, every big game needs a David Villa. He always shines in the big games.
Pedro and Cuenca can come on as subs when the Madrid players must've gone dizzy from chasing triangles.

usbcable:

if this post was from anybody else I would not mind but medjai this your analysis is sooooooo off target and incorrect that i dont even know which part to comment about.
jittery
afraid to attack them
courtois red card(this may be partly true)
midfiled isnt so great
ozil and di maria are too lazy
them is a good attack

Mcleo007:

Alexis and Fab will make d list. Their current form can't be ignored, and I trust Pep to that. Iniesta might play up front with Messi and Alexis while Fab partners Xavi in a box-to-box playing pattern.

AjanleKoko:

Villa needs to get his form back. He looked awful in the few minutes he played.
But hey, who cares?

Stealthy:

So now here's my analysis:

1st I have to admit that we were quite fortunate in this match. I've hardly seen Barca get so many lucky breaks in a match. Madrid could have run ahead in the 1st half due to many defensive mistakes.

Iniesta was great as usual - he is one of our most critical players as we over-depend on Messi when Ini isn't playing. Sanchez is impressing me more and more everyday. To think I complained about him just a few weeks ago.

Messi was unselfish in this match - was it Pep's doing or just the fear of Pepe? This allowed the other players to take initiative and this really helped us.

Finally, I say this shows money well spent: our goals were scored by our new boys: Cesc, Alexis & Marcelo (lol).

It's funny how the last few seasons have panned out. We tend to lose a match early in the season to a very lowly team. Then we all get worried, especially as Madrid starts to thrash all comers. Then the classico comes along and we beat Real silly and regain the lead. Then we refuse to hand the lead back and retain the league.

RuuDie:

i don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind FCB are still years ahead of RM. . . . .all the noise about how much they've improved, they still haven't learnt how to play football without the ball!