PBP: La Liga J35 | El Clásico | FC Barcelona v Real Madrid | 21 April 2012 [R]

I don't really by this "Moanhio is going to park the bus" theory. Bear in mind that even if LPB lose they can still go on and win the title, so why play for a draw, if they go for it and score then the worst that could happen is they may end up drawing the game, which effectively means the title is won (bear in mind LPB have the incentive of wrapping up the title at the Nou Camp), so why put men behind the ball and risk losing the game 1-0?

There is no way Moanhio is going to rest players either, for his ego beating Barca to the title is more important than winning the CL.

Because they're cowards

True.

Yes but we have to remember that we were leading 2-0 at half time, and we were practically defending our lead in 2nd half where they were attacking us relentlessly and scored those goals. Im confident that it wouldn't have played out like that, if the game was tight and we didn't take our foot of the gas.

Seems about right.

The Iniesta injury in the first-half also made a big difference. Xavi + Iniesta is Barca's best way to defend a lead. It's certainly not because of Pique and Mascherano that Barca have had the best defensive record in La Liga over the past 2-3 seasons.

Can anyone translate what does it say?

Mourinho to play dirty.

I'll do my best translation. Sorry I think someone else can do better.

Mourinho will play dirty!.

1. Recover his 'trivote'(3 DM) to look for the 0-0.
2. Will harrass the referee with complaints.
3. Wants a violent match with no football.
4. Continues his 'rule of silence'.

I think he won't play the attacking game for the sole purpose of not dainting his team's confidence further. There is still a possibility for el clasico CL final and if they get thrashed tomorrow, their players will be shitting their pants on the tunnel itself.

Because a draw for them is as good as a win.

Would be aweome if Affellay gets into the starting 11, dunno if Mourinho would expect it either and he's actually fit to start

Mourinho definitely wouldn't expect, but would you seriously want someone making their first appearance in so many months against Real?

didnt Barca being held draw in last 2 meets at Camp Nou?

No only last meeting. 2-2 in CDR ..

Ahh up early on the morning of El Clasico. This match is so big that ESPN put it on it's lead in the scroll bar and promoted it during the Chelsea/Arsenal game even though they don't even have the TV rights. I think our guys will come out motivated because they know these next 2 games are basically the season. I expect RM to play defensively and just hope for a draw. They won't park the bus because they know they can't first off and because Barca will score on them anyway.

Don't know who starts today, but I have a feeling that Pedro may just start as one of the forwards and I don't expect Alexis to play at all.

Yea but it was 1-1 at Camp nou in Champions league last season though
I'm certainly hope not a another draw now

In between was 3-2 in Supercopa.
In the 2-2 Copa and 1-1 Champions Barca were able to afford a draw while LPB had to win. Today the situation is reversed. Barca will be hell bent on getting 3 points.
I also feel LPB are looking more towards Bayern. They want to go down in history as the team that won La Decima so that they can act like they were the group who lifted all ten.

ESPN may not have TV rights but they are streaming it live online in English and Spanish - ESPN3 fka ESPN360 - that's probably the reason for the adds and a good place to look for a stream.

Glad Mourinho thinks he can play us head to head. Their best lineup.

This is going to be a blast.

Anyone see the "probable" lineup? 3 man backline with Tello and Thiago starting as well.

official:


--tello------messi------dani--
-------------iniesta------------
------thiago-------xavi--------
-------------sergio-------------
--adriano---masch--puyol---
---------------VV---------------