La Liga 2011-12: Real Madrid Vs Barcelona El Clasico Schedule
Real Madrid are set to host arch-rivals Barcelona in the most awaited match of the La Liga season, on Sunday, December 11, 2011.
To find out the time of the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, take a look at the La Liga schedule.
Jose Mourinho’s side have trumped league champions Barca on the points table and currently adrift of their Catalan rivals by three points at the top of the table. And they have a match in hand, to boot. Their dominance this season is underscored by their current run of 15 wins in as many games. Barcelona, by contrast, have not had the same kind of run, with a shock defeat to Getafe, a few weeks ago, spoiling the show. But that 1-0 loss has spurred Pep Guardiola’s side who have scored 13 goals in three wins on the trot, since then.
Against Mourinho’s rampant side, Barca will seek to exploit psychological advantage on the back of their head-to-head dominance over the Madrid squad, with just one loss suffered by Barca in the last 11 games between the sides.
Real Madrid’s marauding forwards have relied on Cristiano Ronaldo, who tops the goal scorers’ list with 21 goals in all competition this season. Their star striker apart, Mourinho’s wards will also look to the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria, for winning turns against their Catalan rivals, on Sunday.
Although Barca’s defence has been uncharacteristically porous this season, it has been a but more organised than Madrid’s; Mourinho’s side could rue the absence through injury of Ricardo Carvalho against Barca. Pepe and Sergio Ramos will probably be given the task of restricting the attacking space afforded to the Catalan fowards who rely on a fast-paced passing game, to dominate rival defences. the game will probably be won in the midfield and Madrid will single out Busquets among the rival midfielders to gain dominance in the centre of the pitch.
Despite 47 goals scored against only 7 shipped, in 15 matches this season, Barca have a must-win match ahead of them. The Catalans won 3-2 in the last game between the sides, in the second leg final of the Spanish Cup, with the previous match hosted by Madrid having ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
This promises to be a high-profile thriller between two potent attacks and despite Madrid’s form combined with the advantage of playing before home fans, they can expect to be given a run for their money.
Real Madrid’s probable eleven: Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Diarra, Khedira, Di Maria, Benzema/Higuain, Ronaldo
Barcelona’s probable eleven: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Cesc, Sanchez
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jinxatious is the Chief Editor of SportingAttitude.com
An avid writer, on an eclectic range of subjects, he brings to bear editorial experience garnered with a national newspaper in South-East Asia. He also has sportscasting experience, as a cricket commentator, and his passion for sport extends beyond Cricket, to Football, Tennis, and Olympic Sports.
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