.@FCBarcelona vs @RealMadrid It’s all or nothing

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo before a Clasico match  MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
The Spanish Cup champions from the last two seasons meet this evening(21.00) at the Camp Nou in the second leg of this year’s semi-final after the two drew 1-1 in Madrid.

Jordi Roura has a full squad available, whilst Iker Casillas is missing for the visitors.

The result at the Camp Nou could have a big effect on both side’s morale ahead of their upcoming Champions League games.

It’s all or nothing at the Camp Nou this Tuesday evening, when Barça and Real Madrid meet in the second leg of the Spanish Cup semi-final. The Cup winners from the last two years will be fighting it out for a place in this season’s final following the 1-1 draw in the first leg at the start of the month – a result that means Barça need a win or a goalless draw to get through. A 1-1 draw would lead to extra time or penalties, whilst any other score draw or a Madrid win would see the visitors into the final and looking at recent results, just about anything is possible.

Full squad available

In principle, Barça have three points in their favour: they are at home, Madrid have to score to get through and, with the return of Adriano from injury after a ten day layoff, Jordi Roura has a full squad fit and available.

First of two vital cup ties for Madrid

If the game is important for Barça, then it is if anything even more so for Real Madrid, who find themselves 16 points adrift in the league and facing another tough Cup tie next week when they travel to Old Trafford after their 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last 32 tie. With their talismanic captain and keeper Casillas out injured, these two cup games could leave Madrid without any options for a title, should they lose.

With Barça also needing a win against Milan in their Champions League game, it’s clear that Tuesday’s result could play a key part in both team’s morale ahead of their European matches and their hopes of further progress towards May’s Wembley final.

Between the Liga and Copa del Rey, FC Barcelona have scored 24 more goals than Madrid

FCB Madrid
Stats show that Real Madrid don’t work the ball as much, but they are more direct

Between the Liga and Copa del Rey, FC Barcelona have scored 24 more goals than Madrid

The fifth Clásico of the season will see two teams battle it out for a chance to win the Copa del Rey. FC Barcelona, comfortable league leaders, and Real Madrid, Liga holders, will face off in the return leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal in a clash of differing football styles.

Advantage in passes and fouls

The Blaugrana come into the match with the same philosophy that has defined the club for the better part of the past decade. They are miles ahead of Los Blancos when it comes to total passes and passes completed, and they also commit fewer fouls and receive fewer cards. Barça isn’t as aggressive as Real Madrid, as Los Blancos have committed 404 fouls in the Liga and the Cup to Barça’s 314.

More effective in front of goal

Barça are also favoured in a department that historically has been dominated by Madrid: effectiveness in front of goal. Despite shooting on goal less than Madrid, Barça have score a total of 24 more goals in the Liga and Cup. On the other hand, Madrid earn more corner kicks and they are more solid on defence (they have conceded six fewer goals than Barça this season).

 
GOALS (LIGA / CUP) 82 / 20 62/ 16
GOALS PER MATCH 3,3 / 2,9 2,5 / 2,3
GOALS INSIDE THE AREA 66 / 18 53/14
GOALS OUTSIDE THE AREA 16 / 2
9 / 2
GOALS FROM HEADERS 2 / 5 7 / 2
TOTAL SHOTS 350 / 110
466 / 94
SHOTS ON GOAL 170 / 51
200 / 45
GOALS CONCEDED 28 / 6
23 / 5
ATTEMPTED PASSES 20,176 / 5,613
13,308 / 3,384
COMPLETED PASSES 17,841 / 4,975 10,462 / 2,688
CROSSES 383 / 87 586 / 113
BALLS LOST 2131 / 638 2240 / 647
CORNERS FOR 149 / 38 179 / 26
CORNERS AGAINST 84 / 26 126 / 50
FOULS WON 350 / 97 403 / 105
FOULS GIVEN 253 / 61 312 / 102
YELLOW CARDS 36 / 13 67 / 21
RED CARDS 2 / 0 6 / 3

Do you know the six Barça players that have featured in all four of FCB's starting line-ups against Madrid this season?

Pedro and Ramos / PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
Alves, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Pedro featured in the starting line-up in all four of Barça’s matches against Real Madrid this season

Of the six, only Busquets, Iniesta and completed all four matches against Los Blacons. The other three were subbed off before full time

17 of the 19 results Barça have secured at the Camp Nou this season would be enough to see the Blaugrana through to the Cup final

The fifth Clásico of the season, which will see FC Barcelona and Real Madrid battle it out for a spot in the final of the Copa del Rey (21.00, Canal +), is chock full of worthwhile stats and facts:

• FC Barcelona have qualified for the next round of the Cup on six of the last eight times they managed a one-all draw in the away leg of a Cup tie.

• The last time Barça drew one-all in the away leg of a Cup semifinal was last season, against Valencia. The Blaugrana won 2-0 in the return leg.

• Of the eight times Barça secured a one-all draw in the away leg of a Cup tie, only one of them was against Real Madrid. Los Blancos went on to win at the Camp Nou by 1-2 in the return leg.

• This will be the fifth Clásico of the season. Alves, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Pedro all started in the four previous meetings between the two sides.

• Of these six players, only Busquets, Iniesta and Messi have played the entire 270 minutes (four entire games) against Real Madrid.

• Barça have scored against Madrid seven times this season. Four of them were scored by Messi, while Xavi, Pedro and Cesc got the other three.

• Real Madrid’s numbers are identical to Barça’s. They have scored seven times on Barça this season, Cristiano Ronaldo (4), Higuaín (1), Di María (1) and Varane (1) got the goals for Los Blancos.

• Since the 2008/09 season five results between the two sides would be enough for Barça to make it through to the final (2-0 of the Liga 2008/09, 1-0 in 09/10, 5-0 in 10/11 and 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cups of 2011/12 and 2012/13), two would be good enough for Madrid (1-2 in the Liga 11/12 and 2-2 in the Cup 11/12) and one would lead to overtime (1-1 Champions League 2010/11).

• The Camp Nou will host the first of two consecutive Clásicos. The teams have only faced off consecutively on 13 occasions. The record stands at 12 victories for Barça, 7 draws and 7 defeats.

• In all competitions Real Madrid have won a total of 20 matches away from the Bernabéu this season. Of those 20, only 9 of them would give Madrid the result it needs to make it through to the final. Of the remaining 11 matches, 9 of the results would see Los Blancos out of the competition and 2 would lead to overtime.

• Of Barça’s 19 victories at the Camp Nou this year, 17 of them would see Barça through. Only the 2-2 draw against Madrid in the Liga and the 2-2 against Málaga in the Cup would eliminate the Blaugrana.

• The Blaugrana have played a total of 21 matches on February 26. Of those, eight were won by Barça, eight ended in a draw and five ended in defeat. Barça and Madrid have only faced off once on February 26. It was in the 1999/00 season, Madrid won by 3 to 0.

Messi eyes Di Stéfano's goalscoring record in the Clásico

Messi vs. Madrid. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Leo Messi is just one goal shy of equaling Alfredo Di Stéfano’s all-time goalscoring record of 18 goals in the Clásico

Lionel Messi is zeroing in on the mark set by fellow Argentinian and football legend, Alfredo Di Stéfano. The ex-Real Madrid player and Honorary President of Real Madrid made 394 appearances for Los Blancos and netted 307 goals, 18 of which were scored against FC Barcelona. To date, no other player has scored as many goals in the Clásico.

While Di Stéfano’s goalscoring record has weathered a healthy number of contenders over the years, the most notable being Raúl and César (15 and 14 goals apiece in Clásicos), it may crumble to Messi tomorrow evening when FC Barcelona host Real Madrid in the return leg of the Copa del Rey. The four-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 17 official goals against Real Madrid, and is currently one shy of equaling Di Stéfano’s long-standing mark.

Overview of Di Stéfano and Messi’s goals in the Clásico:

Player League Cup Super Cup Europe Total
Leo Messi 10  0 5 2 17
Alfredo Di Stéfano 14  2 0 2 18

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: Cup Clásico Preview

Messi Madrid - FCB Supercopa d'Espanya / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Review news, photos, videos and more about the Cup Clásico Cup at the Camp Nou

ALL INFORMATION

– Special content about The Clasico

NEWS

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The key to the Clásico according to the press

90,000 flags to usher in the Cup Clásico

– Jordi Roura: “We don’t know how to sit back– we’ll be out for a win”

– Adriano back in full training

– Cesc Fàbregas: “We have to be as effective as possible”

 

– Barça Toons, ready for The Clásico!

– History on FC Barcelona’s side in doubleheaders against Real Madrid

– The plan for El Clásico week

– Messi: “My body feels better if it doesn’t rest”

– Training session focused on the Clásico

– Spanish Cup: FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: On Tuesday February 26th at 9 PM

 

FIRST LEG

– Another look at the Clásico at the Bernabéu

– The clásico post-match review

– FC Barcelona’s standout players against Real Madrid

– Check out the heat map of the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid

– Photo Gallery: The Best Images of the Clásico Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona

– Live! All Details about The Clásico Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona

 

SPANISH CUP 2012-13

– Results