Portuguese striker, who faces up to nemesis Lionel Messi when Barcelona take on Real Madrid in Spanish Cup, is excited
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo come into today’s ‘el clasico’ clash in Madrid in the Spanish Cup semi-final in fine form and full of goals. Messi has hit 16 and Ronaldo 12 in their last 10 games, and the four the Argentine got against Osasuna on Sunday makes it 33 in the league while Ronaldo has 21 after his hat-trick against Getafe.
Lionel Messi (right) vies for the ball with Cristiano Ronaldo during a u00a0La Liga match at Camp Nou Stadium in 2010. Pic/AFP
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It will be the fourth time Real Madrid and Barcelona have met this season.
Madrid took the Spanish Super Cup on away goals over two legs and managed a 2-2 draw in Barcelona in the league, the only points Barca have dropped at home, so there is little to choose between the two up to now. In the league, Barca enjoy a 15-point advantage over their rivals but that will all be forgotten when Madrid seek to avenge last season’s quarter-final defeat in the same competition that Barca eventually won.
Another record
Messi’s goals at the weekend meant he became the first player in history to score in eleven consecutive La Liga matches and he can equal or break another record today. One goal would level Alfredo Di Stefano’s long-standing 18-goal tally in el clasico’s.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo will be walking a yellow card tightrope. He has already picked up two in the Cup, another one today will mean he misses the second-leg scheduled to take place in Barcelona on the 27th of February.
The Portuguese star also has goalscoring form in recent games with the Catalans, hitting seven in the last six meetings, and he has told his club’s TV station that the game can’t come quick enough.
“It’s an important but complicated game for us against one of the most difficult teams in the world, but it should be a big night. We’re at home and have a good chance but we’ll have to play well, we know Barca have a great team but I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Injury concerns
Madrid go into the game with players like club captain Iker Casillas, who fractured a bone in his hand, missing. The club reacted quickly to sign Diego Lopez from Sevilla as cover and he will come into contention for his debut.
Also out for Madrid are the suspended trio of Sergio Ramos, Angel Di Maria and Fabio Coentrao, plus the injured Pepe. Mourinho was able to rest Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Karim Benzema and Alvaro Arbeloa on Sunday and all should start.
Meanwhile, Barca don’t share Madrid’s selection headaches.
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