19.50, GolT, Canal + Liga – Barca welcomes Real Madrid to the Camp Nou determined to open up an eleven-point lead and establish a new Club record ahead of the international break
This Sunday’s match will be the Clásico of the opportunities. FC Barcelona receives Real Madrid with an eight-point lead and a golden opportunity to make it eleven before the second international break of the season. Eleven points wouldn’t be definitive, but it would be a considerable advantage with just seven games played. And the players have the extra motivation that never before in the history of the Club has the team won the opening seven games of a league season. It could be a great day.
Piqué a doubt
The main doubt for Barça is focused on the heart of the defence. With Puyol out for some time due to the elbow injury he suffered against Benfica, Tito Vilanova will be keeping a close eye on the recovery of Gerard Piqué from the injury he sustained against Spartak Moscow. If Piqué fails to recover in time, it seems likely that Vilanova will give the nod to the pairing of Mascherano and Song.
Real Madrid need the points
By contrast, Real Madrid will come to the Camp Nou with all their regulars fit and available. However, after a poor start to the season which has seen them concede two defeats (Getafe and Sevilla) and a draw, against Valencia, José Mourinho’s team cannot afford to lose in the Camp Nou –last season they won- if they are not to lose sight of a Barça side that has started the campaign with all guns blazing under Tito Vilanova.