By Dave and Carly
April 10 2005

Are the first cracks beginning in Rijkaard’s Barca? Their quest for a 17th Liga championship is still on course, but there have been signs of a stutter of late. Real Betis really deserved to win last week and a 3-3 draw did not really do the game justice. Barcelona Vs Real Madrid

Are the first cracks beginning in Rijkaard’s Barca? Their quest for a 17th Liga championship is still on course, but there have been signs of a stutter of late. Real Betis really deserved to win last week and a 3-3 draw did not really do the game justice.

But it did give a glimmer of hope to Real Madrid, who know if they lose tonight the race is as good as over, and will just about end a season where they have massively underachieved, yet again. So can the Galacticos win? Well personally I think they can.

Its certain that at the moment, they are the ones with the most to lose, Barcelona know they can afford to lose tonight and still win the league, but Real know if they lose there season is over and ranks of journalists are in line to devour the corpse of the fallen lion.

So I see the Lion, although wounded and backed into a corner, willing to pounce and take the initiative, and grind out a narrow win, to keep there season alive.

For Barcelona Andres Iniesta is the likely replacement for Deco, while Carles Puyol has hopes of being recovered from an ankle injury in time for the game. Ronaldinho has a question mark over his head following a bout of gastroenteritis, but is again hopeful to at least play some part, if not start.

Real Madrid are expected to make the more interesting changes though with Figo dropped and Owen at last a likely starter, along with Beckham. Defence is causing more worry while Guti and Samuel both suspended, so expect Raul Bravo or Pavon to come into the defence.

This really is Owen’s chance to show what he can do and for that reason alone, my prediction is 2-1 in favour of Real Madrid.

Dave.

It's Real Madrid vs Barcelona tonight playing at the Santiago Bombalot and they call it the Spanish Derby.

If Real wins then the gap between them will be 6 points;
If Barca wins they will lead by 12 points;
the gap will remain 9 points if it’s a draw.
With 7 games left in La Liga.

I reckon the following will happen during the match:
1. Red Cards (for abusive language and unsporting behaviour)
2. Huge fight among the players initiated by some kind of a foul
3. Quarrel with the ref

Real is really having problems both on and off the pitch at the moment and they are going to sell some of the Galacticos. Beckham is complaining that his kids were troubled by paparazzi in Spain and so he might leave Spain. (Which in my opinion is his own fault by exposing his kids in front of the media so often.) Owen will leave if he's still not in the starting line-up. Zidane is getting old. Figo will go as well. Ronaldo and Raul both not on form. And there have been fights in the dressing rooms.

The core problem is that Real have way too many super stars:
Year, Champions League result, New Galatico import
2002, Champions, Ronaldo
2003, Semi-finals, Beckham
2004, Quarterfinals, Owen
2005, 2nd round

Real defender Ivan Helguera says Real is in the same sort of situation Ferrari is in right now and will bounce back soon... I don't think so unless they fire their good for nothing president who only cares about the market value of his team!

Carly