₦airaland Forum

AjanleKoko:
There is an interesting comparison of the Barca and Real sides, position for position, ahead of the Clasico, on Goal.com.
You can check it out here: http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2292/editorials/2010/11/22/2226086/have-your-say-who-has-the-better-starting-xi-barcelona-or

I made my comparisons like this:

1. Valdes vs Casillas: Casillas definitely takes this. He is a senior player and well-experienced. Valdes is not that far-off though.
2 Alves vs Ramos: I'd say at par, but I think Ramos actually plays better at national team level.
3. Maxwell vs Marcelo: Maxwell is better. Both are not great as far as full-backs go. Marcelo I think is ill-suited for that position, and defends badly. Though I suspect we will see Abidal here, since this is CR7's wing. Maxwell may not be able to hold his own against Ronaldo.
4. Puyol vs Carvalho: These are two great players. Tough one to call. But Carles would edge it slightly I think.
5. Pique vs Pepe: No comparison, Pique is way better. He has been careless this season though, but so has Pepe.
6. Busquets vs Khedira: You have to be kidding me. Sami who? Busquets is one of the best holding midfielders I've seen in a long time. Passmaster, crafty, imperious, and difficult to pass. He is way better than Khedira. Khedira is just coming up.
7. Xabi Alonso vs Xavi: Alonso is great but Xavi is better. This is not cule bias, these guys actually play together for Spain. Xavi is superb at what he does. His game is different from Alonso's though. He is more deep-lying, and doesn't tackle, but his passing accuracy is unrivaled in any league.
8. Iniesta vs Oezil: Just like the Busquets/Khedira comparisons. Oezil is great, up and coming, but Iniesta is probably the main reason why Pep passed on him. Iniesta edges this one for now.
9.Villa vs Higuain: Villa has a badder reputation, but I think Higuain is equally good as a goal poacher. Villa though slightly edges this one, for three reasons - speed, ability to let loose from anywhere in the final third, and working with the other guys up front. Even when he doesn't score, he hits the post.
10. Messi vs C Ronaldo: Messi is the fans favourite, but CR7 is pretty darned good. Forget that he has failed to find even a shot on goal in 5 meetings with Barcelona, he is a genius player and wonder boy. Not a playstation player like Messi, but a genius all the same. I would say this one's even.
11. Pedro vs Di Maria: Di Maria is more talented, but Pedro has the big game experience. Pedro can be a bit selfish sometimes though. Di Maria moves well. I think these two men are at par, at the very least.

As par the game proper, I believe the game will be won by either side if the other does this:

Barcelona: May win as a result of the possession game. RM need to get the ball to hurt Barca, and if they can't get it, they may get frustrated after a while, like it happened last year. Barca can knock the ball around for eternity, then in one playstation moment, get the killer pass through to Messi, Villa, or Pedro. Game over if that happens.

RM: May win as a result of Barcelona's insistence on playing a high line in defence. Di Maria on the right, CR7 on the left, might spell disaster, if any of those two find the ball, plus space to run. Barcelona's defence doesn't close down attackers on time, and usually pays for that. Mounriho doesn't play in the middle anyway, so I expect a lot of fast breaks from los blancos. At least one of them will likely end in the net.

I pray and hope it would be a masterpiece. I trust Mourinho anyway, he won't come without a plan.