Real Madrid strive to end Barcelona jinx
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
MADRID, Nov 29 (AFP): In-form superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo showcase their talents on Monday night as league leaders Real Madrid travel to defending champions Barcelona bidding to beat their bitter rivals at Camp Nou after four consecutive losses in the Clasico.
Real are one point ahead of title holders Barcelona at the league summit and there has been immense hype for the first Clasico of the campaign with Real coach Jose Mourinho poised to renew his rivalry with Barcelona, who were eliminated by his Inter Milan side in last season's Champions League semi-finals.
It will be a first Clasico for Mourinho, who worked as a translator at Barcelona under former coach Bobby Robson, and the Portuguese will hope to fare better than his predecessors Juande Ramos and Manuel Pellegrini, who both lost on two occasions to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side.
"It was nice going back to Barcelona with Chelsea and Inter but going back with Real will be even sweeter," said Mourinho. "I beat Barcelona with Chelsea and Inter Milan and now I am in charge of their biggest rival in Real Madrid so all this combined means I will get a hostile reception."
Real have not beaten Barcelona at Camp Nou since December 2007 when a Julio Baptista goal secured a 1-0 win and their last victory was the infamous guard of honour in May 2008 when Barcelona had to pay tribute to Real as champions at the Santiago Bernabeu and were then thrashed 4-1.
Real are one point ahead of title holders Barcelona at the league summit and there has been immense hype for the first Clasico of the campaign with Real coach Jose Mourinho poised to renew his rivalry with Barcelona, who were eliminated by his Inter Milan side in last season's Champions League semi-finals.
It will be a first Clasico for Mourinho, who worked as a translator at Barcelona under former coach Bobby Robson, and the Portuguese will hope to fare better than his predecessors Juande Ramos and Manuel Pellegrini, who both lost on two occasions to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side.
"It was nice going back to Barcelona with Chelsea and Inter but going back with Real will be even sweeter," said Mourinho. "I beat Barcelona with Chelsea and Inter Milan and now I am in charge of their biggest rival in Real Madrid so all this combined means I will get a hostile reception."
Real have not beaten Barcelona at Camp Nou since December 2007 when a Julio Baptista goal secured a 1-0 win and their last victory was the infamous guard of honour in May 2008 when Barcelona had to pay tribute to Real as champions at the Santiago Bernabeu and were then thrashed 4-1.