This was not the news that Real Madrid and its fans were hoping for, hours before the kick-off with ‘˜rivals’, Barcelona.
This was not the news that Real Madrid and its fans were hoping for, hours before the kick-off with ‘rivals’, Barcelona. The Los Blancos take on Barcelona in the final of the King’s Cup and the former’s star player will be unavailable. The forward failed to recover from a leg injury and the Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was hopeful that the Portuguese would recover in time, but later announced his absence.
Even though Madrid has won two games on the trot and lost one (vs. Borussia Dortmund) since Ronaldo’s injury, the game against the Catalans remains a crucial one. Madrid will enter this tie as ‘favourites’ since Barca are not in prime form. Even though the Ballon d’Or winner leads the men in whites with 45 goals in all competitions this season, Leo Messi will look to take control of the ‘El Clasico’.
As the stat suggests, Real and Barca have played each other 22 times in the Spanish Cup with Barca having registered 10 wins to Real’s six. But let’s not get carried away with the stat! Lionel Messi and his side have found wanting in certain league games this year and also were knocked out from the UEFA Champions League by league rivals, Atletico Madrid.
But, Barca can get their old form back by bouncing back in the ‘El Clasico’. Ask Messi about this that has scored 2 hat tricks in ‘Clasicos’. Furthermore, the Argentine has more goals to his name too with 21 goals with ‘CR7’ languishing behind at 18 goals in the feisty affair.
The Nou Camp side have also won the King’s Cup 26 times with Real Madrid only clinching it 18 times. Lionel Messi loves scoring in these derbies and with Ronaldo out, it’s time the ‘Little Magician’ showed the world some glimpse of his football magic.
As the stat suggests, Barcelona do have an ‘upper’ hand in this ‘Clasico’ alright and the Men from the Bernebeu have to be quite solid in order to avert a defeat to their closest rivals in Spain.
