The Real battle

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The beauty of El Clasico lies in the utter seriousness of what is so very obviously a pulsing, throbbing, screeching pantomime act. At no point is an Clasico pointless. Not when Barcelona are winning 5-0, not when Madrid are winning the league the very next game, not even when Barcelona are already eight points clear at the top of the table. No.

The Clasico is serious business, and the hacking, diving, baiting, gouging, thrusting, embracing and steady stream of Spanish invective is all part of this ritual that takes place far too many times in a season, nowadays.
Supporters shout traditional abuse, building their blood pressure up over the course of the week, primed to peak on that very Sunday.
Which is not to say that it isn’t a complete spectacle every single time. Oh yes it is, as Barca with their 2-7-Messi formation play their own brand of Playstation football across the deck and Madrid, with the sulky Jose striding across the length of the touchline, displaying their array of superstar talent.
Cristiano Ronaldo may be sad, Kaka may be disturbed, Karim Benzema may be unsettled, Luka Modric may be frail, but be assured that they will turn up for this particular game all guns blazing, akin to industrial, evil Microsoft ready to blitz precious, posh Apple, reducing their whip and snap to a mere facade or conversely, having to frantically press control, alt and delete on themselves.
Madrid head into the game tomorrow knowing well that they might end up 11 points behind their rivals this early in the season. It may prove to be unassailable against an indignant Barcelona side who feel a sense of entitlement to the title and to the crown of ‘The best team that ever.. ever played.’
Benzema was in hot form against Ajax in midweek European action, and he could start ahead of Gonzalo Higuain, with Ronaldo, Angel di Maria and possibly Mesut Ozil behind him.
David Villa has regained his scoring touch quite rapidly after months out with injury, and he may start with Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi up front for Barca.
Cesc Fabregas’ happy habit of scoring vital goals for the club means he will take his place in the middle with Sergio Busquets and Xavi.