In the middle of the quarterfinals of the Champions League, Barça faces one of the most vibrant duels of the season, the duel against Real Madrid that could leave the League sentenced. Ten points separate the blaugrana, leaders, from the whites, second classified: “Mathematically it would not be sentenced because there are still games left, but it would be a blow of authority”, acknowledges Jonatan Giráldez. The coach of the Catalan team describes tomorrow’s game (6:15 p.m., Dazn) at the Johan Cruyff as “very important”: “When you play against the second and have the chance to get within 13 points, it’s a great opportunity.”
The coach from Vigo is not worried about the concentration of his players in the middle of a Champions League tie: “When you say ‘Real Madrid’ the motivation comes by itself. It is a very important match for all Barcelona fans”. And neither was the load of minutes on his legs: “The most important game is tomorrow. We are trained to compete every 3 days, it is not an excuse. We have a large squad.”
It is not a classic by tradition – this is the third season of Real Madrid’s life – but it is because of the historical rivalry between the two clubs. A rivalry that although it had not been reflected in the feminine at the beginning, it has just been transferred after the conflict with the national team. The last league classic was of a tension never seen before, with ‘piques’ between several players and a hostile atmosphere in the stands of the Di Stéfano, which chanted to the Blaugrana internationals “you are not going to the World Cup”.
In sports, the statistics are devastating for the Madrid team, which has never managed to beat Barça. The ten times that the game has been measured has ended in a blaugrana victory, with an overwhelming balance of 36 goals scored and only 6 conceded. The most recent precedent dates back to last January, in the Super Cup semifinal that Barça ended up winning after extra time (3-1), despite playing with one less player from minute 60 due to the expulsion of Irene Paredes.
“In the Super Cup the game was complicated and with the sending off, Madrid had chances to win the game”, recalls a Giráldez who expects “a difficult game against a very solid opponent on a defensive level and who is working very well”. The Blaugrana coach highlights the importance of defending duels well against the “unbalancing” footballers of the white team. “It is a very reliable team in front of goal. We have to be strong in defense and have that reliability that we have already shown by keeping a clean sheet on so many occasions”.
The classic will be played at a Johan Cruyff with all the seats sold out for weeks. With the Kings League final tomorrow at the Camp Nou, some had criticized the fact that it did not open for the women’s team’s important league match, but Giráldez played it down: “I don’t think it’s a lack of the club. He is giving us many opportunities to play there and on Wednesday we will do it again. Every time we’ve played there it’s been great.”
