Liverpool/Everton, City/United, Celtic/Rangers, Red Sox/Yankees, Redskins/Cowboys, AC/Inter:  Depending on where (and sometimes when) you grew up, you have drawn the line and made the choice - there is a team you love and a team you hate.  Most of these rivalries, however strong, pale in comparison to El Clásico - Real Madrid vs. Barcelona.  The political, cultural and historical rift between these two runs so deep that close friends who celebrated with hugs and tears upon winning the World Cup were close to blows a few months later.

This year, the La Liga season will start with a bang.  The Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup) will give us two El Clásico games in the span of a week.  The first leg will be held at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, August 14^th, followed by the second at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, August 17^th.  Although the matches have zero impact on the La Liga season or the Champions League (trophies coveted for both teams), the Super Cup’s underlying bragging rights could have a lasting impact on the winner and loser.  This will be the first chance for silverware for both teams and a chance for the coaches to strategize before their first La Liga game in December.  For fans of football, it will be a chance to watch the best of the best in action.  Plus, if this past weekend’s Community Shield game between Manchester City and Manchester United is any indication, it will be a hotly contested and likely not so friendly set of matches. 

It has been more than 10 years since Real Madrid and Barcelona have faced each other in the Super Cup (Real Madrid won that year, but Barcelona took the Cup and the La Liga title).  In recent years, Real Madrid has played runner up to Barcelona in most competitions, a fact that does not sit well in the Spanish capital.  Hopes were high last season with the arrival of the “Special One”, José Mourinho, but a 5-0 thrashing by Barcelona in November did not start the Mourinho era well.  In the end, Los Blancos would lose both the La Liga title and the Champions League to Barcelona.  Madrid’s win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey helped ease the pain, but one would guess they are hungry for more than that title this season.

The Super Cup chances look strong for Real Madrid if Karim Benzema’s scoring continues.  His eight goals tie him for the top goal scorer in Europe in the preseason (along with Bayern Munich’s Nils Petersen).  The return of a healthy Gonzalo Higuaín will give Real Madrid additional scoring options and, well, there is that other player, you may have heard of him, Cristiano Ronaldo.  He has some potential to score a goal or two.  Rumors of an additional forward would shore up any deficit that might occur due to injury, but if these three continue improving as the season progresses, additional players will not be needed.  As a side note, although he has received a great deal of attention, Madrid’s new seven year old signing (Leonel Angel Coira) will not be appearing this season.  It appears the other youngster in Madrid’s sights, Neymar, will also not be appearing (at least not in 2011).

If anyone has concerns about Los Blancos depth in certain areas, in the midfield, there is no question that the wealth of options is staggering.  Any Liverpool supporter will tell you that Xabi Alonso alone is worth his weight in gold, but when your midfielder list includes Kaká, Ángel Di María, Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira, Esteban Granero and Marcelo (coming off his best season yet), you almost feel bad at the tough decisions Mourinho has to make (almost).  The addition of José Callejon, Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, once all are healthy, should add exciting new talent to the roster.

On the defensive side, Sergio Ramos’ back injury could prove a problem.  The long term extent of the injury is yet to be determined, but with veterans like Pepe and Carvalho, diverse players like Álvaro Arbeloa and Raúl Albiol, along with the newly-signed Fábio Coenträo and Raphaël Varane, Madrid should have enough coverage on defense even if Ramos’ recovery is slow.  They have the added comfort that when all else fails, Iker Casillas is waiting between the posts.  He bailed Madrid out of several defensive messes last season and there is no doubt, if needed, he is up for the challenge again.

On the Barcelona front, questions about Xavi’s and Puyol’s fitness, the lingering doubts about Cesc Fabregas joining the squad (as of this writing at least), the departure of Bojan Krkiæ, the recent return of key players (most significantly Messi and Alves) from the Copa América, and a less than stellar preseason call in to doubt Barcelona’s fitness as well as their ability to start the La Liga season strong.  However, it is difficult to have any reservations about their ability when you watch their style of play on the field (even without key players).  The addition of Alexis Sánchez and Thiago Alcântara should make things interesting and no matter how strong one feels about Real Madrid’s ability, Barcelona is the team that knows how to beat them.

Upon returning from opposite sides of the world (Barcelona wrapping up the preseason in the United States and Real Madrid in China), full attention has returned to these great clubs and their longstanding rivalry.  Rumors will continue to abound, match fitness will continue to be debated, and Mourinho and Barcelona’s coach, Pep Guardiola, will likely make statements that the press will misconstrue.  You know it, I know it and Mourinho knows it.  In his press conference following the game against Tianjin in China, he was quoted as saying:  “I said the squad was short the other day because I wanted it to be short. It doesn’t mean I need players, but later you will read in the Spanish press that Mourinho wants more players. It could be that my English is better than my Spanish.”  I am not going to even try to figure out his relationship with the Spanish press, but it appears he has figured out his relationship with his players and if the preseason is any indication, we are in for quite a ride.

For fans of both teams, the Spanish Super Cup offers a tasty morsel of quality football before the La Liga season properly begins.  Both teams include superstars, including a majority of the Spanish National Team, but it is not only the superstars that make the Spanish Super Cup something to watch.  The fact that both teams have over 100 years of history (Barcelona forming in 1899 and Real Madrid in 1902), and a rivalry that has existed for nearly that long, guarantees an exciting and tense battle on Sunday evening (and again on Wednesday).  Regardless of what side you have chosen, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona is a spectacle to behold.  If you are a football fan, take the time to watch.