Real Madrid vs Barcelona Part 3
April 27th, 2011
After verbal jousting, analysis of the ‘psychological edge’ and quotes from Albert Einstein, Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet for the third time in the space of 11 days tonight.
The Bernabeu will play host to the first leg of a UEFA Champions League semi-final El Clasico which has all the ingredients to meet the expectations and hype surrounding the build-up.
Jose Mourinho’s Real have emerged in the eyes of some as favourites to secure an aggregate win and book a place at Wembley after holding Barcelona to a draw in La Liga and defeating Pep Guardiola’s team in the Copa del Rey final earlier in April.
Real will be missing Sami Khedira through injury and Lassana Diarra is likely to provide cover, while Fernando Gago is also unavailable due to a fitness problem.
The hero from the quarter-final win over Tottenham, Emmanuel Adebayor, is expected to be back in contention after a groin complaint and Angel Di Maria is also in the squad following his recovery from a bruised knee.
Following his side’s win at Osasuna on Saturday, Guardiola has spoken of his concern that Real are in ‘their form of the season’ and he will also be hampered by the fact that one of his star men, Andres Iniesta (calf), will be absent in the Spanish capital.
In contrast, both captain Carles Puyol and Gabriel Milito have returned to training in the wake of injury scares, but Adriano is facing four weeks of rehabilitation for a torn thigh muscle according to skysports.com
