November 28th, 2009 | 
Author: 
El Clasico
Another Clasico special for all of you out there who think time cannot pass any slower. I personally cannot wait for Sunday (YES I KNOW ITS A DAY AWAY 
) Anyhow, lets get started shall we..
1993/1994: Barcelona 5 – 0 Real Madrid – The Night of King Romario
An unforgettable game for Romario, the Brazilian who scored a hat-trick and lead Barcelona to the second biggest scoreline that was ever inflicted by Barcelona on Real Madrid. Johan Cruyff coached this Barcelona and the work he did was evident by the scoreline at the end of the match. The most notable names played in that match including the Bulgarian player of the century Stoichkov as well as Michael Laudrup. Zubizarreta, Bakero and Guardiola also played alongside each other. On the other end players like Ivan Zamorano, Luis Enrique (who would eventually switch sides) and the current sports analyst and former goalkeeper of Real Madird, Paco Buyo. Here’s a video this match
Raul: "Please Stop, It's already 5 - 2" Puyol: "Aww, Common Just 1 More"
Welcome to the biggest game of your lives people. This is the one and the only “El Clasico.” The match where everything is possible and which, in my opinion, is more important than any Champions League, World Cup or Beach Soccer (:P) game. It’s that time of the year where people gear up for the most exciting, adrenaline rushing game in the world. What’s at stake? Pride, Glory & Bragging rights until the next match. It’s the “my team’s better than yours” ass kicking action that we get to see twice every season (unless the footy Gods are generous and draw us against Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup and Champions League. That would mean 6 Clasico’s in 1 season. WooWee! But let’s just turn out attentions to the one that is going to be played on Sunday 
. The origins of this rivalry comes from the mere fact that Barcelona and Madrid are the two largest cities in Spain and they both vie to beat each other in terms of football (and politics if you want to look at it that way ) You have Madrid, Barcelona. FCB, RMCF. Spanish and Catalan. These 2 clubs are the most successful clubs in Spain (mind the fact that Real Madrid won half their titles when Monsieur Franco was still alive ) Football in Spain began in the late 1800’s by British immigrant workers, visiting sailors and Spanish students returning from Britain. Ever since, both clubs were seen are representatives of the Spanish Centralized State and Catalonia. The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid intensified during the 1950’s when the clubs disputed the signing of Alfredo Di Stefano. This little dude impressed both clubs while he was playing with another club, and both clubs attempted to sign him. There was a little confusion that led both clubs to believe that they owned his registration (in slave terms: They owned him ) After the Spanish FA interfered (of course by means of Franco although Madrid claim they acted by themselves pssht.) Barcelona backed down and Alfredo Di Stefano moved to Madrid.
Di Stefano was the man with the plan and the reason why Madrid were so successful at the beginning of the UEFA Champions League (previously known as the European Cup; and what an ugly name that was!) Now it’s no coincidence that with Di Stefano Madrid won their first 5 Champions League trophies, they came at the time when Franco was ruling and football was played with skulls . El Clasico also was staged on the European front in 1960 and 1961, Madrid coming out on top in 1960 and Barcelona winning in 1961. The next time they would meet in the UCL was in 2002 when they beat us 3 – 1 in the semifinals. They would eventually go on and win the title.
Common Man!! We Used To Play Together !
Review
You stare in awe as you watch the ball move from side to side, players moving on and off the ball and passing it in ways that make you think the trade is easy. It’s not.. We are (of course) talking about Barcelona, the team that has captured people’s hearts left and right, from Russia to China and from China to America, after having played their way to 5 titles in a single year with exhilarating displays of total football. But all is not well for such a team, because once the admirers sniff the scent of failure, or glimpse a slight case of under-performance, then all the admiration disappears and criticism appears. Such was the case for us after a 2 – 1 loss to a certain Russian team, but order was restored after half a dozen goals were thumped into the net of one Real Zaragoza. Consequently, a 2 – 0 win over Cultural Leonesa further erased doubts of our capabilities; however, it was not long before the critics returned to have the last word after Gerard Pique secured a draw for Osasuna in the dying moments of the game, leaving Barcelona with a 1 – 1 draw which was followed by a 0 – 0 draw with Rubin Kazan in Russian. A 4 – 2 win over Mallorca (again) silenced the critics and if there was any doubt remaining about whether or not we could exhibit the artistry of last season, a 5 – 0 win over Leonesa should have done it. But, alas, it was not to be because after the players returned from overseas to play against Bilbao, they secured a 1 – 1 draw which brought the doubts back, and allowed Real Madrid to leap frog them to first place.
What: UEFA Champions League, Group Stage – Round 4. Barcelona vs. Inter Milan Where: Camp Nou When: Tuesday, 24th of November 2009. 19:45 GMT
The Prematch Conference
Preview We’re currently entering the most important run of matches that we will have for some time. 2 matches, to be precise, although one not as critical as the other. We face Inter Milan on Tuesday in a match that could well decide our current season in this competition. The last time Mourinho was at the Camp Nou (with Chelsea of course) the game ended in a 2 – 2 draw because of a 90th minute strike by Drogba. Eto’o is Mourinho’s new Drogba, and we all know that Eto’o has a tendency to score last minute goals when they really matter (although not as much as Messi ) I was supposed to write an article about why I think we shouldn’t worry about the next 2 matches, but sadly I had exams. I’m hoping I can summarize it a little bit in here. We need to get these 3 points, if we don’t and Rubin Kazan pull off a win, we’re either out or have as much chance of going through as do pigs flying. Let’s keep our hopes up for now, because the football is played on the pitch and not on this lovely blog. It’s funny how people claim that we’re the best side in the world, that we play the most entertaining football in the world and we’re unstoppable, but because of one draw and falling behind Real Madrid by one point, we are in trouble. Kaka says it, Mourinho says it and Goal.com’s writer (I prefer not to mention any names ) says it. I remember how bad we were last season, we lost to a newly promoted side and drew against Racing. Guardiola didn’t have any experience and thus we were doomed. A year later, Barcelona’s trophy cabinet is 5 times shinier. The Champions League, La Liga, The Cup, The UEFA Super Cup and The Spanish Super Cup were all won under his tenure at the club Why should we stop worrying and love Guardiola? Well, for one reason. Because he’s Guardiola, he has never let us down nor will he ever let us down. A perfectionist is a person who believes perfection can be and should attained. According to Guardiola (after a 6 – 0 mauling of a certain side), we made some mistakes and there still is a lot of things that need improvement.
At that time I though, what more does this dude want… 10 – 0? I realized over time that yes, that’s exactly what he wants and if possible, why not 20 – 0 or 30 – 0. His theory is: when we score all the shots we take and make every pass we attempt without losing the ball, then we are at the peak of our abilities. Guardiola took a side of youngsters to play against Leonesa and both times they came out on top, with a 7 – 0 aggregate. It’s meaningless right? I mean common, it’s an inferior team we’re talking about so even Wigan (who got mauled 9 – 1 ) could’ve beaten them. Right? Wrong, wrong and oh yeah.. WRONG!!
That Wasn't An Accident!
Review
I am utterly speechless. It’s so funny how its all sunshine for us, but when it rains, it becomes a freaking downpour! We are currently losing players at the rate of 1 player a day. So far, here is our list: Ibrahimovic, Abidal, The Yaya, Marquez & Messi. Messi was taken off 15 minutes before the end of the match because he was complaining about some pain in his left leg. To all the people who might have a little hope that Messi might be able to make it back in time for Inter, I’m sorry; but I’m going to rain on your parade. According to Dr. Ricard Pruna,( Barcelona’s medical team doctor) Messi will not be able to participate in the crucial tie that will decide our course in this year’s Champions League. To further add to the grief I’m feeling right now, he is also doubtful for El Clasico. Now, I do have some hope that he might return for El Clasico, I really do, but the fact that Guardiola said that the early signs don’t bode well has got me nervous. What’s even more ironic is that he got that smack, kick or whatever you want to call it to the face (image to the left) and he was able to get up and continue playing until the 75th minute!! Speaking of that incident, that was no accident! It really was not an accident. YOU CLEAR THE BALL! YOU DO YOUR BEST TO AVOID THE PLAYER!! YOU DON’T SWITCH TO FREAKING SLOW MOTION MODE. THIS ISN’T THE MATRIX 
!! The calmest person of us all is Guardiola who says he isn’t worried about the slip up even though it’s before El Clasico. He IS worried, though, about whether or not his players recover, do well on Tuesday and be prepared for El Clasico. Guardiola said something that basically sums up why we didn’t get all three points. He said: “When we took the lead through Dani Alves’ goal, the team simply forgot how to play.”
Will our flag fly high in the cathedral come weekend?
After a week of dramatic Internationals and some English press’s bullshit, we are back in action this weekend with a trip to the Cathedral, one of the most intimidating atmospheres in Spain. If we go by recent history then it would tell us a different story with Barca winning around 7 out of the last 11 league games at San Mames. The most recent encounter being the Spanish Super Cup one where we prevailed 1-2 thanks to goals from Xavi and Pedro! Another statistic in favor of us is Pep 5-0 Caparros. Every time Guardiola came up against Caparros during his tenure at the club, he prevailed (5 times! )
However statistics do not accurately reflect the current state we are in, considering our injury ravaged squad. Ibra has been ruled out of the game with a thigh injury and so is Abidal who has swine flu in addition to the injury he picked up. Yaya has also been ruled out of the game this weekend and scientists from all over the world have been called up to diagnoze whether the Yaya has become human all of a sudden . But all’s not bad because Keita and Jeffren have been given the green light and will travel to San Mames. Johnathon Dos Santos, another breed of wonder kids from our youth academy will also travel to San Mames and hopefully we will get to see some of Johnny.
Doh!
What is swine flu? Many people are told to run the other direction when they see someone exhibiting the symptoms. Let me be the first to tell you that unless you’re an old man with a really really bad medical history or a little toddler with a crappy immune system, you don’t have to worry. I know countless of people (^.^ no names mentioned) who had it, and got rid of it in like 3 or 4 days. YES! What I’m trying to say is, if these mere mortals got cured in a matter of days; who’s to say that The Yaya won’t get cured in an hour or two?? Just saying . Abidal wasn’t going to play our crucial week anyways, so all the best to him. What really bothers me is that we had the FIFA virus to worry about, but it now seems that the FIFA virus and the H1N1 virus are collaborating with each other to form a new string of deadly viruses (put together ) that will affect all the traveling footballers in the world. The Barcelona official website says that Abidal and The Yaya have viral-like symptoms, a fever and are feeling discomfort. The tests have been carried out and it is has been asserted that Abidal does indeed have the swine flu virus. The test by the way is a very uncomfortable one which involves sticking a cotton bud (or an ear bud ) right up your nostril and waiting for a few minutes before finally pulling it back out and dropping it into some cool chemical thingamagig. If it turns to color A (mind you I hate chemistry ) then you have it if it doesn’t your clear and ready to pounce on some ThongBoi (that’s if he’s even going to feature in the Clasico)
The Yaya, on the other hand, seems to have this thing that prevents normal “human” tests from finding out whether or not he has it, so we’ll have to wait on that one. It’ll probably take a day for the chemicals to decompose his ora (that’s the thingie inside of him that makes him so big and scary) and indicate whether or not he has it. Whether he has it or not, he is going to be sidelined for the match against Bilbao. He is also a huge doubt for the crucial Inter match on Tuesday, but he may be back in time for El Clasico. I want to stress on what Pique said. INTER > REAL MADRID!!! I’ll say it once and only once: We need to remain in the Champions League. We have proven that we can hop on a plane, go to Madrid, pound their goal with half a dozen goals and win the league. The league can’t be won in November, the Champions League can’t be won either but it can be lost..
The Yaya apparently caught the virus while in Africa. A couple of weeks ago, swine flu was rocketing in Spain as a huge number of Osasuna players had been infected. The germs (Abidal and Toure ) have been isolated and none of the other Barcelona players are expected to be infected; but then again, none of us expected Abidal and Toure to get infected either… just saying . The medical team has issued a formal statement saying: “We are working by following the protocols that have been set by the health department. We are isolating the players, carrying out treatment and taking appropriate hygienic measures.”
