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Real out to puncture Barca euphoria at Bernabeu
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-18 11:48
MADRID, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Barcelona have taken the plaudits for their
sparkling displays of attacking football this season but Real Madrid are
determined to knock the Catalans off their pedestal when they meet at the
Bernabeu on Saturday.
"People are talking all the time about how much better Barca are than us and
about what a great level they are playing at," says Real midfielder Guti.
"But if we beat them that will show that we are just as strong and it will
also give us a major psychological boost."
"We've put together some good results even though we haven't played as well
as the fans might have wanted. We've shown that we have a competitive squad and
we've done well despite having so many injuries," he added.
"Playing at the Bernabeu has never been a very appetising prospect for
Barca."
Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Real side have certainly not set the world alight with
their performances so far this season, but despite suffering a string of
injuries to key players they have managed to stay in touch at the top of the
table.
They have ground out consecutive league wins over Real Betis and Real
Zaragoza and will be boosted by the return from injury of striker Ronaldo,
playmaker Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian forward Julio Baptista and influential
centre back Ivan Helguera.
England captain David Beckham did not complete Thursday's training session
because of a recurrence of back pain but the club said his participation in the
"clasico" was not in doubt.
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