El Clasico: Title decider
The La Liga rivalry between Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Barcelona's Messi is being monitored by soccers fans as the two greats represent their respective countries. AFP PHOTOS
What you need to know:
- SOCCER. Barcelona and Real Madrid reunite tomorrow in the Spanish La Liga in a match where the stakes are as high as they have been in the league.
- Real Madrid, in first place with a three-point cushion, will look to all but end second-place Barcelona’s title hopes with a win, which would put the hosts six points clear with a match in hand.
Marcelo has described El Clasico as the game “the world stops to watch” ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Barcelona at the Bernabeu tomorrow.
Zinedine Zidane’s side head into the hotly-anticipated El Clasico clash three points ahead of their rivals at the top of La Liga with a game in hand, but Barcelona will be out to breathe new life into the title race with victory.
With the stakes so high, Marcelo, speaking on La Liga World, insists talking about the match, which will be live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Sunday, is giving him goosebumps.
“It’s an exciting match,” the Real full-back said. “The world practically stops still to watch.
“It’s a huge thing. Every player wants to play in it, and the people on the street are already talking about this game a month before it’s played.”
“I’ve been able to play in a few,” Marcelo added. “There are some games before the Clasico and you cannot be thinking only about this game, but it is very difficult to concentrate on another match knowing that you are going to play the Clasico soon.”
“Just talking about it gives me goosebumps. I don’t know how to explain it. I have the privilege of being part of this game and I believe that there are many people who would like to feel what the players here feel.
“There is no way to explain it. You have to be inside the game to feel it. The excitement is in knowing that the world practically stops to see you play -and that is priceless.” Real Madrid can take a huge step towards a first title since 2012 if they can claim three points against Luis Enrique’s side.
Marcelo insists his side are well prepared for the clash against Barca but thinks the race for the title will go down to the wire, whatever the result tomorrow. “We are in good shape, but are aware that there are still many games left,” the Brazilian said. “All matches are important, but in this one, it’s a clash with a direct rival.
“We are coming into it well. We have a lot of enthusiasm to give joy to the fans,” he added. “We are in a good moment. “We won the last game with the help of our teammates who hadn’t played many minutes, and in the end, they went out and helped earn us the three points.
“I think we are forming a great team, we are very united and we are going forward.”
