Gawthaman on Twitter: “‘Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol’ is the best quadrequel in the history of cinema.”
Nags, Kent via text: “Assuming the Rocky comparison applies, Madrid obviously the spirited hero…this leg will see Real come back to win 2-1, before lulling everyone to a sleep by parking the bus in game five.”
1902: Now then, what was all that nonsense about ‘it being personal’ about then? Well, Real boss Jose Mourinho – as is his wont – stoked the fires ahead of tonight’s match by suggesting Barca counterpart Pep Guardiola belongs to a new breed of coach who “criticises correct decisions by referees”. Guardiola, a man previously about as easy to rile as a teddy bear under sedation, responded with an
expletive-filled rant. Shock. Horror. Whether you consider Mourinho’s mind games as ‘genius’ or Guardiola’s response as ‘cracking up’ probably depend on whether you’re Sir Alex Ferguson or Kevin Keegan. For me, it’s playground stuff – and I dare say neither set of players will be overly concerned by the spat at all come kick-off at 1945 BST.
1858: REAL MADRID v BARCELONA (1945)
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo, Alonso, Pepe, Diarra, Ozil, Ronaldo, Di Maria. Subs: Adan, Kaka, Benzema, Granero, Garay, Higuain, Adebayor.
Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Busquets, Puyol, Xavi, Mascherano, Keita, Pedro, Messi, Villa. Subs: Pinto, Jeffren, Milito, Afellay, Fontas, Roberto, Thiago.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
ChrisJack28 on Twitter: “Barcelona for the first time look like a team who can be beaten. They need to be reminded that they are still favourites.”
Jez, Putney via text: “Sturridge vs Zamora, the two best English strikers this season. Got to be interesting!”
Aaron_Rogan on Twitter: “I think it will be like the fourth Harry Potter film after the managers actions, a goblet of fire.”
1855: FULHAM v BOLTON (2000)
Ian Hughes reports: “Tonight’s Premier League offering could be billed as the Big Fat Gypsy Wedding to the Wills n’ Kate showpiece going on in the Champions League. But hey, the invitations to the big one are in shorter supply than kind words between Mourinho and Guardiola. So here we are, at Craven Cottage, where Fulham will be desperate for three points that would give them a fantastic chance of securing their top-flight status. Now THAT would be a proper reason for a street party and some bunting. Bolton are already safe but could prove unruly guests as they aim to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for a Europa League spot.”
1853: REAL MADRID v BARCELONA (1945)
Saj Chowdhury reports: “This five-course El Clasico is now on to the mains.
Barcelona all but sealed the league two weeks ago with a draw at the Bernabeu before
Real Madrid riled the Catalan side to win the Copa del Rey in extra-time a few days later. And now for the Champions League semi-final. It seems as if Jose Mourinho’s niggle-and-rush tactics and his verbal jousting have got under the skin of counterpart Pep Guardiola. So has Real’s wily coach finally managed what many have failed to do and broken Barca’s resolve? Or has Guardiola prepared the ultimate riposte? Whatever the answer, be prepared for skills, shots, confrontations and tantrums.”
1852: Time, now, to hear from our match reporters…
whereswalters1 on Twitter: “April-the month that just keeps on giving. El Clasico, NL Derby, Arsenal-Man U, Man U-Chelsea, Chelsea-Spurs. Bring on kickoff!”
Kt in London via text: “I don’t think I have ever been so excited about a match that doesn’t involve any English teams!”
1845: TEAM NEWS SNAP
Lassana Diarra comes in to the Real Madrid side at the expense of the injured Sami Khedira, while Carles Puyol returns to the centre of the Barcelona defence after a muscle strain. Andres Iniesta does indeed miss out for the visitors with a calf strain.
MegaDarkpros on Twitter: “Biggest game of year. Grey haired tactician v Former player for the club. I mean of course Fulham v Bolton.”
mpearse on Twitter: “Barcelona have something to prove after the Copa Del Rey defeat, but I feel José’s mind games & no Iniesta for Barca will mean a Real win.”
1841: But by all means do get in touch with all your other musings, thoughts and predictions concerning tonight’s fixtures of course, please. Feel free to drop me your own
El Clasico pt IV intros for example. Although, if I’m honest, any that put mine totally to shame will most likely be binned. Standard. You know the drill… Tweet the commentary via the hashtag
#BBCFootball, Tweet me
@sampatricklyon or text in via
81111 (UK). It really is that easy.
1839: Cue thousands of messages debating the “best domestic league in European football”. Let’s not get into that, hey? Dull.
1838: And even if a match between two of the biggest clubs in the world on one of the greatest stages in football in the most fiercely-contested European cup competition in the game doesn’t excite you… you weirdos… I’ve only got the Premier League tie between Fulham and Bolton at Craven Cottage that some people are already calling the Premier League tie between
Fulham and Bolton at Craven Cottage, haven’t I? Now, admittedly, barring a dramatic late-season slump to relegation for the Cottagers there’s not a huge amount riding on it. But this being the finest (ahem) league competition in Europe, don’t be surprised if it’s a barn-stormer.
1835: Anyway, for those still working out what the blooming hell I’m yapping on about, welcome to our coverage of
Real Madrid v Barcelona and their Champions League semi-final first leg. It’s only the fourth time these two have met this season, so you might expect they have few surprises left for each other. That’s without factoring in
the Jose Mourinho effect, though, of course. A man who could start a fight in an empty room. A man for whom mind games are second nature. A man who considers himself more cunning than a fox who’s just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University doffs cap in direction of Blackadder. Trust me, it really is personal.
1833: All right,
Don LaFontaine I aint. It might help if I had some mood music playing behind video clips of two-footed lunges, oversized gestures from the touchlines and fans celebrating wildly in the Nou Camp and the Bernabeu, right? Erm, then again, maybe not.
1830: *Adopts movie trailer voiceover tone*. “They started off as friends… coach and player bound by a simple desire… they worked together, learned from each other, won together… but it couldn’t last. These days it’s different. These days they sit on opposite sides of the divide. These days, they’re ultimate rivals. This April, brought to you by
Sam Lyon productions, one of the the motion-football events of the year… it’s
El Clasico pt IV: This Time It’s Personal.”
