Preview
28 November 2009
Barcelona - Real Madrid
- Realmadrid.com
The Clasico to decide the top spot in La Liga
Laura Navas / Translation by realmadrid.com
There is more than just three points at stake on Sunday when Barcelona host Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season. Also in play is the top spot on La Liga, which the Whites currently hold but by the narrowest of margins. A victory will by no means determine the outcome of the competition, but it would serve as a big morale boost as the season rolls on.
It's the start of an intense week for both teams, who in nine days will have three matches to play. Real Madrid took control of the league table last Saturday by defeating Racing Santander 1-0 at the Bernabeu. Four days later, the Whites found themselves in the driver's seat of Group C in the Champions League after beating Zurich. The stretch of matches now passes through the Camp Nou, where Real Madrid hope to earn three points, maintain the top spot in the table and distance themselves even further from their closest pursuer with another three league matches to play before the Christmas stoppage.
| CURRENT STANDING | POSITION | POINTS | P | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| REAL MADRID | 1st | 28 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 8 |
| BARCELONA | 2nd | 27 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 8 |
The Whites made the trip to Barcelona with Cristiano Ronaldo in tow. After playing the last 20 minutes of Zurich match on Wednesday, the Portuguese international made his first league squad list in 59 days after falling injured against Olympique de Marseille. Raul Albiol was also included on the roster despite dealing with an injured right knee, but whether he plays or not will be a game time decision.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Leo Messi are also available for the Clasico, but it still isn't known whether either or both will be among Barcelona's starting eleven. "We will see how they feel and talk to the doctors," said Pep Guardiola during his pre-match press conference. On the positive end, it's the first time all season that the Catalan coach has all 21 players available, meaning that on Sunday three will have to be scratched from the roster.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have met on 158 occasions with the Whites holding a narrow advantage of 68 wins, 30 draws and 60 defeats. Real Madrid also hold the upper hand in terms of the number of goals scored, 262 compared to Barcelona's 243.
| HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| REAL MADRID | 158 | 68 | 30 | 60 | 262 | 243 | ||
| BARCELONA | 158 | 60 | 30 | 68 | 243 | 262 | ||
MATCHDAY 12
| Match | Score / Day & Time |
| Sporting - Villarreal | 1-0 |
| Valencia - Mallorca | 1-1 |
| Sevilla - Malaga | 2-2 |
| Valladolid - Tenerife | Sun. 29, 17:00 |
| Getafe - Xerez | Sun. 29, 17:00 |
| Racing - Deportivo | Sun. 29, 17:00 |
| Almeria - Athletic | Sun. 29, 17:00 |
| Zaragoza - Osasuna | Sun. 29, 17:00 |
| Barcelona - R. Madrid | Sun. 29, 19:00 |
| Atletico Madrid - Espanyol | Sun. 29, 21:00 |
Sunday 29 November
BARCELONA
REAL MADRID
SQUAD LIST
- Goalkeepers
- Casillas, Dudek
- Defenders
- Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Garay
- Midfielders
- Diarra, Kaka, Lass, Drenthe, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Van der Vaart
- Forwards
- Raul, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain
NEXT MATCH
- First Team
- Liga BBVA
- Match
- Real Madrid - Levante
- Date
- Sunday 12/02/2012
- Time
- 21:30
- Venue
- Santiago Bernabeu
- Matchday
- 23
- Champions League
- Match
- CSKA Moscow - Real Madrid
- Date
- Tuesday 21/02/2012
- Time
- 18:00
- Venue
- Luzhniki
- Matchday
- Last 16 (1st leg)
- Liga BBVA
- Basketball
- Endesa League
- Match
- Banca Cívica - Real Madrid
- Date
- 12/02/2012
- Time
- 18:00
- Venue
- Palacio de Deportes San Pablo
- Matchday
- 20
- Copa del Rey
- Match
- Real Madrid - Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
- Date
- Friday 17/02/2012
- Time
- 21:30
- Venue
- Palau Sant Jordi
- Matchday
- Quarterfinals
- Euroleague
- Match
- Real Madrid - Unicaja Malaga
- Date
- Thursday 23/02/2012
- Time
- 20:45
- Venue
- Palacio de los Deportes
- Matchday
- 5 (Top 16)
- Endesa League
- Real Madrid Castilla
- 2nd Division B-Group 1
- Match
- Getafe B - RM Castilla
- Date
- 12/02/2012
- Time
- 12:00
- Venue
- Ciudad Deportiva Getafe
- Matchday
- 24
- 2nd Division B-Group 1
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