On the face of it this weekends upcoming Classico goes against the gradient of the previous few, because the winner takes all aura does not surround it. It is of course the biggest game of the season thus far but you get the feeling the two sides will meet again when the stakes are all together more precarious.
That is a superficial view of the game, but in reality every Classico has the potential to have far reaching consequences. Should Madrid win they would go six points clear with a game in hand, effectively clinching La Liga before the New Year. The win would be the single biggest statement thus far that the Barcelona era of dominance is over. Real Madrid are in scintillating form and deservedly sit atop the league. They look as efficient and robust as any Mourinho team but have greater firepower than Porto, Chelsea or Inter ever did. The team has evolved from an over reliance on Ronaldo and the likes of Higuain and Benzema have come to the fore. Mourinho`s boast that his teams always perform better in the second season is looking ever more verifiable.
Barca by contrast, have struggled to find their best form due to a variety of factors. They have not hit the heights they are capable of and in a league where 90 points is not enough to win the championship, every slip up is magnified. They know they cannot lose this game, and Guardiola`s sentiment that the Euro summit on Friday whilst true, was classic diversion strategy. He often downplays these games in public but him and his players despite their somewhat erratic form (by their standards not anyone else) will be psyched to go the Bernabeu and win.
So Mourinho is faced in all too familiar dilemma. Should he set his free scoring machine to beat Barcelona and clinch the league right now? Or should he play it safe in the knowledge that a draw will see Madrid retain their sizeable lead. He will be wary of leaving even the slightest gap for Messi and co, particularly when he played the all attack approach in August and fell short to a sub far Barca. However playing it too safe will allow Barca to monopolize possession and we could have a re run of last years meeting at the Bernabeu where Mouriniho`s tactics were lacerated by no less than Di Stefano himself.
Mourinho has to assume Barca will improve as the weeks go on and they will eventually shake of the effects of a poor pre-season. He has to strike while the Iron is hot and take down the Catalans while they are on the ropes. He is a defensive coach by nature but he is not averse to playing a bold formation in a big game. Indeed one of his most memorable strategies came when his set out Inter to attack Chelsea at the bridge. As a result his team produced an awesome display to swamp a team who would go onto win the domestic double. Overcoming Barca is somewhat different but bearing in mind he has to go to the Nou Camp (where he has never won) later on, he should recognize the importance of home advantage.
Barcelona only know one way to play and Guardiola will have an easier team talk as he instructs his team to win the game. Their 5-0 thrashing of Levante was good preparation but their troubles have come away from the Nou Camp. At least they will have a full squad to choose from and Sanchez and Fabregas are showing signs they are beginning to fully understand how to play in this team. It is selection, which will be intriguing as Pep muses over dropping Villa or Pedro (or possibly both).
So we have another Classico to anticipate and this writer is going for the Barca win although the smart money should be on a draw. If the match resembles the last one (without the histrionics) it promises to be quite an occasion.
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