By Stephen Kuzner - WFD Fan Correspondent

I'm going to give you two helpings of El Clásico because rightly or wrongly at least this week La Liga will revolve around the world's largest club-season fixture. This first installment focuses on match-ups, stats, tactics, etc. The Friday morning piece will concentrate on the history, culture, and emotions of El Clásico. What is El Clásico? It is any match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, contested at least twice a year in the Spanish Primera, La Liga. Let's take a look at how the two best teams in the world (with Chelsea's fall recently this is fair) stack-up.


Real Madrid is 10-2-0 with 32 points, 33 goals scored, and conceded 6 in La Liga.

Barcelona is 10-1-1 with 31 points, 33 goals scored, and conceded 8 in La Liga.



Real Madrid's top scorer is Cristiano Ronaldo with 16 goals in all competitions.

Barcelona's top scorer is Lionel Messi with 22 goals in all competitions.



4-2-3-1 is Real Madrid's most-used formation.

4-3-3 is Barcelona's most-used formation.



Real Madrid's most-used line-up is: Iker Casillas (G), Marcelo (LB), Ricardo Carvalho (CD-L), Pepe (CD-R), Sergio Ramos (RB), Xabi Alonso (L-HM), Mesut Özil (CM), Sami Khedira (R-HM), Ángel di María (LW), Gonzalo Higuaín (CF), Cristiano Ronaldo (RW)

Barcelon's most-used line-up is: Victor Valdés (G), Maxwell (LB), Gerard Piqué (CD-L), Puyol (CD-R), Daniel Alves (RB), Andrés Iniesta (LM), Sergio Busquets (C-HM), Xavi (RM), Pedro (LW), Lionel Messi (CF), David Villa (RW).


Ok, enough of the junior-level anoraking, here are the key match-ups you'll see.

Lionel Messi vs. Ricardo Carvalho in the center of Madrid's defense. Here we have the most in-form defender in the world trying to stop world's greatest player with 22 goals in 17 games across all competitions for Barcelona this year. As good as Carvalho and Madrid have been defensively, its hard not to see Lionel Messi without a goal at the Camp Nou. However, these days holding Messi to just a goal is a good thing. I see Messi scoring a goal, but that leaving this match-up a wash.

Marcelo vs. David Villa on Madrid's left flank. Now this is the match-up that José Mourinho should be most concerned about. Mourinho has Macelo well-schooled in fundamentals and positioning this year and thus has not been a liability like he was last year on Madrid's left side. Nonetheless, Villa's current form after a World Cup hangover could prove the difference in the game. I see a Villa assist or goal the product of Marcelo not quite having enough or reverting back to old habits.

Pedro vs. Sergio Ramos on Madrid's right flank. We have World Cup winners for Spain going head-to-head here. Is Ramos a right-winger set-in to rot at right-back? I am not so sure. Ramos can fit-in in many positions all over the field much like who he'll be running into most on Monday in Pedro. Pedro seems to come-up big when it's needed. Pedro will keep Ramos pushed back to a certain degree, but that may a good thing by forcing Ramos not to wander up-field. Nonetheless, I see no clear-cut advantage between Ramos and Pedro.

Pepe vs. Andrés Iniesta attacking from Madrid's rights-side. Here's the clash that I want to see. I've been telling people for years that Barcelona's "sweet choirboy" Iniesta doesn't dive. Rather, he just makes people look foolish with deft technical skill and as a result they hack down the little guy. Pepe is having the season of his career so far under Mourinho. Based-on form this should be a fair and even match-up. However, I don't see it as such. I see potential cards and frustration for Pepe. Advantage El Ilusionista.

Xavi vs. Xabi Alonso in the dead-center of the field. Xavi versus Xabi? Say that three times real quick. Again, we have two World Cup winners for Spain squaring-off here. These might be the two most accurate passers in the world here. On their best day, I'd tip my cap to Xavi, but some nagging niggles makes this an even set. I'd like to see 100+ completed passed between the two of them for aesthetic aims.

Sami Khedira vs. Sergio Busquets also in the dead-center of the field. Blood and guts with distribution in this contest. You have two very similar players here. Guys that win balls, distribute, do dirty-work, and provide movement. Busquets moves and defends better while Khedira has a slight edge in distribution. I prefer Busquets, but this battle will be too close to call.

Carles Puyol vs. Mesut Özil attacking from Barcelona's center or left. The key to an El Clásico result for Madrid will come from Barca's version of Samson trying to stifle the creativity of the young, imaginative, and ingenious Özil. Özil has many colors on his palette from which to choose between di María, Higuaín, and Ronaldo. Özil is ten years younger than Puyol. If we see Puyol huffing-back to save the day as we usually do when Barca plays a well-versed counter-attacking team, Özil will make the Blaugranes pay. I see an Özil goal or assist.

Ángel di María vs. Maxwell on Barcelona's left flank. di María complements Özil, Higuaín, and Ronaldo beautifully. Of anywhere on the field, this is the space that Barcelona should be most anxious about. Maxwell really likes to get-up the field and help combine in the attack. And, he is great at it. However, there aren't many people that can exploit this more than the lightening-quick and skillfully adroit di María. I see Maxwell getting pushed-back to cover di María and di María punishing Barca on the counter-attack. The edge goes to di María.

Gerard Piqué vs. Gonzalo Higuaín in the center of Barcelona's defense. The world's greatest defender versus a great striker known for coming-up short in the big-game. This fight will be where El Clásico will be won, lost, or drawn. If Higuaín makes his own luck with scrap like he did at Sporting Gijón, it will tip the scales in favor of Real Madrid. However, I don't see Piquénbauer allowing this to happen. I give the upper-hand to Piqué.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Daniel Alves on Barcelona's right flank. We should take bets on who is going to wag their finger first in disagreement. We'll see a lot of rolling-on the ground writhing in pain from these two. Ronaldo is the world's other best player and Alves is the world's other best right-back. This should be a fun and contentious spectacle to watch. My guess is if Alves can get Ronaldo to wave his finger first, he may be able to get in his head a bit and slowdown him. Unfortunately for Alves, I don't think this will happen and I expect Ronaldo's class to be enough for a goal.

Victor Valdés vs. Iker Casillas in the goals. Casillas may be the best in the world to most people, but Valdés form the past two years has been amazing. There is not a clear victor between the keepers in this El Clásico to me. Hopefully, we seem some goals that these guys can't get their paws on. There definitely is a chance for these guys to spoil some things. But, isn't that beauty in and of itself?

José Mourinho vs. Pep Guardiola from the sidelines, in the locker rooms, in front of the press, and on the training pitch. The Special One is the best in the world outside of Pep or Sir Alex at this point in time. But, it's hard to pick a clear favorite here being that Mourinho won a Treble last year, while Guardiola won six trophies the season before. Last year, Mourinho won-out eliminating Barcelona from the Champions League. Has Guardiola learned from that lesson? I think he has. However, I see this coaching-bout being a draw between Emperor Mourinho Palpatine and Pep Skywalker Guardiola.


Barcelona / Real Madrid

Messi (23') / Özil (45')

Villa (27') Ronaldo (80')



14(4) /Shots (on Goal)/ 9(4)

6 /Fouls/ 9

7 /Corner Kicks/ 5

3 /Offsides/ 4

58% /Time of Possession/ 42%

2 /Yellow Cards/ 3

0 /Red Cards/ 0

2 /Saves/ 2





If you have feedback, email me at skuzner@gmail.com or Facebook me. During the club season, I write pieces related to La Liga on Tuesdays and articles about FC Barcelona on Fridays. During El Clásico, I only live, breath, and sleep El Clásico.