Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
Jose Mourinho The Real Madrid manager is La Liga’s answer to Ian Holloway for entertainment value, only with far more power. Mourinho’s tricks and tactics have grabbed headlines, for good reasons and bad since his appointment this summer, so it’s a safe bet he’ll have something big up his sleeve. His touchline pouts and tantrums can only be enhanced by the high-stakes nature of the clash. Nothing would win over the hearts of the fans and cement his place a manager better than winning his first league meeting with Barcelona and securing Madrid’s first El Clásico victory since May 2008.
The Spectacle The game is not only the biggest in Spain, but is widely regarded to be the biggest league game on the planet. Statistics show that it is the third most watched game after the World Cup and Champions League final. Emotions run high for the fans, the players and the managers, so there’s a good chance the tensions will lead to drama on the pitch. This time round its held at Camp Nou, where the spectators always put on a show for the big games, so the stands may be worth a watch as much as the pitch.
Mesut Ozil The Turkish born midfielder was widely recognised as one of the star players at the 2010 World Cup and was rewarded with a move to Real Madrid in August. The game against Barcelona will be his first real test with his new club and he’ll be eager to impress, but things may not be so easy for him as many pundits expect him to be playing toe-to-toe with Andres Iniesta.
Neutrality In recent times both relegation and title battles have been so close to the wire that almost every game, even the ones your club isn’t playing in, has some importance or bearing on you as a fan. But the beauty of El Clásico is the fact that you can sit back and watch two of the world’s footballing giants do battle without having to worry about how the result affects your team or the Premier League table, with nothing at stake except the sneaky £5 bet you put on it the night before.
Ronaldo vs. Messi Ask anyone you meet who the best player in world is and you’re guaranteed to get one of these names. Unlike the age-old Pele vs. Maradona debate, this encounter allows the two to be compared, one on one, on the same pitch at least twice a season. For this particular clash both titans appear to be on form, having bagged a hat-trick each at the weekend, creating the feeling that they’re building up to something explosive when they meet at the Nou Camp.
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