Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi - Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clasico
As nowadays FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two biggest and most successful clubs in Spain, the rivalry is renewed on an almost annual basis with both teams often challenging each other for the league championship El Clásico Barcelona and Real Madrid 29/11/2010
El Clásico 2010 FC Barcelona - Real Madrid Monday 29th November 2010, El Clásico will Kick Off time 21:00 CET Camp Nou Barcelona, The world is waiting with baited breath for the latest edition of the Spanish football Clasico between record-breaking twin giants Barcelona and Real Madrid on Monday.
There is a special feel and intensity about this particular 'Clasico', for three main reasons.
In the first place, both of the 'Big Two' have set off like an express train this season, and have a combined points total higher than ever before at this stage of the season.
Secondly, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are both in astonishing form. Real's Ronaldo is top of the scorers' chart with 15 goals, Messi - who has scored in Barca's last 10 matches - is second with 13.
Ronaldo has never scored against Barca and was dismal in last seasons 'Clasicos', both won by Barca.
'I really believe that we will win in the Camp Nou. We know that it will be difficult because Barca is a fantastic team with a good coach, but I am sure that it will be an interesting clash,' he said.
But he added: 'This Madrid team is completely different from the one of last season, we have not lost a single match so far.'
The third factor which makes this particular 'Clasico' special is the presence on the Real bench of a certain Jose Mourinho, who has become 'Public Enemy Number One' in Catalonia.
On Monday, the loudmouth Portuguese coach said 'the Camp Nou will never forgive me for having eliminated Barca from the Champions League last season', when he was coach of Inter Milan.
Mourinho has been throwing his habitual poisoned darts in the direction of Barcelona for three months now, but Barca coach Pep Guardiola and his players have done well not to rise to the provocations.
All that Guardiola would say about 'El Clasico' after Wednesday's 3-0 romp away to Panathinaikos was that 'we are in good shape, but that is no guarantee. Every match is a test, and our opponents also have their virtues.'
'El Clasico' is scheduled for Monday because the Catalan regional elections will take place on Sunday.
One would be forgiven for thinking that Barca v Real is the only football match taking place in Spain this weekend - so much media attention is it receiving - but, believe it or not, nine other Liga games are scheduled as well.
On Saturday, third-placed Villarreal are away to bottom team Zaragoza, Valencia take on Almeria - now under new coach Jose Luis Oltra - and Atletico Madrid receive surprise package Espanyol.
Sunday's games are Athletic Madrid v Osasuna, Sporting Gijon v Real Sociedad, Hercules v Levante, Racing Santander v Deportivo La Coruna and Mallorca v Malaga.
FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clásico 2010 Preview La Liga 29/11/2010