Getty Images Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona stopping Kaka' of Real Madrid
on 10 December 2011 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Fifth Copa del Rey Quarterfinal Meeting
According to Diario Sport of Barcelona on 16 January 2012, this is the fifth time that the two great rivals have met in the quarterfinal round of the Copa del Rey:
1925/1926 Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 5 | Barcelona 3 - Real Madrid 0
1956/1957 Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 2 | Barcelona 6 - Real Madrid 1
1961/1962 Real Madrid 0 - Barcelona 1 | Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 3
1969/1970 Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 0 | Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 1
In each case, the team that passed through the quarterfinal round ultimately won the Copa del Rey according to Diaro Sport. Will history repeat itself this season?
Historic Record
According to Mister Chip (Alexis) on 16 January 2012, here is the historic record between the two teams:
- 216 partidos oficiales, con este balance: RMA 86-85 FCB (y 45 empates).
- 216 official games with this record: Real Madrid 86 wins, FC Barcelona 85 wins and 45 draws.
The Last Clasico (La Liga, 10 Dec. 2011: Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 3)
Notable Quotes
We have quotes by Josep Guardiola, Jose' Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano.
Josep Guardiola of FC Barcelona:
"Los árbitros tienen trabajos difíciles. Mañana les verán millones de persona y no querrán equivocarse. Yo tampoco y los jugadores tampoco. El fútbol es cada vez más rápido. Yo trato de que mis jugadores entiendan eso. No soy nadie para decirles lo que pueden decir. Saben que en 4 años nunca he hecho en mis charlas referencias a los árbitros. Muchas veces no sé ni quién nos pita. Yo mismo no sé quién nos pita. Siempre he pensado que ir al Bernabéu para ir a ver que pasa hace que los partidos sean eternos, no acaban nunca. Así el Madrid siempre te mete gol, tiene buen disparo desde fuera del área, es fuerte a balón parado. La única forma de sacar un buen resultado es ir a ganar el partido, coger el balón y jugar con criterio para evitar sus contragolpes. Intentaremos, sabiendo que hay 180 minutos. Si jugamos pensando en la vuelta salimos escaldados". {Marca, 17 January 2012}
"The referees have difficult jobs. Tomorrow, millions of people will see them and they won't want to make any mistakes. As well as me and the players. Football is becoming faster all the time. I want my players to understand that. I'm not anybody to tell them what they can say. They know that in four years, I have never remarked about referees in my comments. Many times, I don't know or want to know who is calling us (officiating our games). I myself don't even know who will call it.
I've always thought that going to the Bernabeu to see what happens from the time the games were eternal, nothing ever happens. Here, Real Madrid always scores on you, they have good shots from outside the box and are strong on set pieces. The only way to come away with a good result is to go out to win the game, control the ball and play with a criterion to avoid their counter-attacks. We'll set out knowing that there are 180 minutes (to play). If we play thinking about the return leg (next Wednesday), we're in for a scandal."
Reuters PicturesAndres Iniesta in action against Fabio Coentrao
during the last Clasico at the Bernabeu.
Jose' Mourinho of Real Madrid:
"No voy a decir mi equipo, porque además todavía no lo sé. Puede que haya tres o cuatro cambios. Si juega Ramos de lateral, me van a criticar porque es mejor de central. Si juega Fabio de lateral derecho, me van a criticar porque es zurdo. Si juega Lass de lateral, me van a criticar porque está Khedira lesionado y dejo solo a Xabi. Si juega Pepe de central, me van a criticar porque tiene que jugar en el medio. Pero si le pongo en el medio, me dirán que es mejor de central. Si juego con trivote me van a criticar porque hay que ir a atacar. Si juego al ataque, me dirán que había que poblar el medio y me criticarán igual. Si juega Higuaín, me criticarán porque no juega Benzema. Y si juega Benzema, me van a criticar porque no juega Higuaín que marcó un gol en Mallorca. Mejor nos vamos al cine mañana y luego vemos el resultado y opinamos".
"I'm not going to name my team because as of yet, I don't know it. There could be three or four changes. If Sergio Ramos plays on the outside, they are going to criticize me because he's better in the middle. If Fabio Coentrao plays on the right side, they are going to criticize me because he is a left-footed player. If Lass plays as a fullback, they are going to criticize me because Khedira is hurt and I'm leaving Xabi alone. If Pepe plays as a centerback, they are going to criticize me because he has to play in the midfield. But if I put him there, they'll say he's better as a centerback.
If I play with three holding midfielders, they are going to criticize me because you have to attack. If I play to attack, they'll say that I should have put more players in the midfield and they'll criticize me all the same. If Higuain plays, they will criticize me because Benzema isn't playing. And if Benzema plays, they are going to criticize me because Higuain doesn't play who scored a goal against Mallorca.
It's better that we go to the cinema tomorrow and then we'll see the result and discuss it."
"El eliminado en Copa tiene dos partidos menos que jugar en febrero. El equipo que quede eliminado tendrá una ventaja en el calendario, eso es verdad, pero no seamos hipócritas: el equipo quiere pasar y el Barça también. Son partidos especiales. El campeonato es prioritario, sí, pero mañana es un gran partido. No es un torneo amistoso o de verano...". {Marca, 17 January 2012}
"Getting knocked out in the Copa del Rey means two fewer games to play in February. The team that goes out will have an advantage on the fixtures list. That's the truth, but let's not be hypocrites. The team wants to go through and so does Barcelona. They are special games. The league is the priority, true, but tomorrow is a great match. It's not a friendly tournament or summer game."
Note: A special thanks to Juan Arango of GolTV for his expertise on Spanish football terminology in this section of quotes by Mourinho.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid:
Reuters Pictures Cristiano Ronaldo during the last Clasico at the Bernabeu.
"Antes de los partidos me relajo, la presión no puede conmigo. Yo trato de mantenerme positivo y permanecer seguro de mí mismo en todo momento. Mi fuerza mental es muy importante para mí".
"Eso es lo que trato de hacer: ganar y jugar bien. Mi motivación viene de aquí, independientemente de quién sea el rival. Tienes que trabajar en tu propio juego, concentrarte en mejorar tu técnica de manera que puedas derrotar a quien tienes enfrente. Hacer tus pases, cruces de balón, lo que sea mejor para el equipo. Somos profesionales, así que no debería de importar el adversario al que nos enfrentamos”.
“La Liga española y la Premier son las dos mejores ligas, pero voy a ser muy honesto. La liga inglesa es más competitiva. La española es competitiva, pero no tanto como la Premier”. {Marca, 16 January 2012}
"I'm relaxed before games. Pressure doesn't get to me. I try to stay positive and remain sure of myself at all times. My mental strength is very important to me. That's what I try to do: to win and play well. My motivation comes from here; independent of whom is the opponent.
You have to work on your own play. Concentrate to make your technique better so that you can beat whomever is in your path. You make your passes and crosses for what is best for the team. We are professionals. For that, it shouldn't matter which opponent that we face."
"The Spanish Primera and the Premiership are the two best leagues. But I'm going to be very honest. The Premier League is more competitive. The Spanish league is competitive but not as much as the Premiership."
Xavi of FC Barcelona:
"Me gusta jugar en el Bernabéu, sinceramente. El Real Madrid es el rival histórico para los culés y es un campo especial. Gusta jugarlos, uno está motivado evidentemente. Hace que el partido sea más tenso, más intenso. Me gusta jugar allí", reconoció. Me quedo con el 5-0 del Camp Nou del año pasado por la superioridad del equipo, fue la excelencia". {Marca, 16 January 2012}
"I truly like to play at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid is a historic rival for Barcelona fans and is a special place. To enjoy playing them, one is motivated, obviously. It will be a very tense game. More intense. I like to play there.
The 5-0 from last year at the Camp Nou stays with me for the superiority of the team. It was excellence."
Dani Alves of FC Barcelona:
"En los clásicos siempre hay un equilibrio, independientemente de cómo estén los dos equipos. Intentaremos que se vea un gran partido de fútbol y que nosotros estemos a nuestro nivel. Hay competir bien para poder sacar cosas positivas en el Bernabéu", afirmó. "Son partidos que nos gusta jugar porque disfrutamos muchísimo. Nos toca una vez más. Es normal. Los equipos grandes cuando están bien tienen que enfrentarse más de una vez durante la temporada. Nos prepararemos bien y a ver qué pasa. He jugado bastantes partidos de estas características y el balance es muy positivo". {Marca, 15 January 2012}
"There's always a balance in the Clasicos regardless how the two teams are doing. We'll try that fans see a great game of football and that we'll be at our level. You have to compete well to be able to come away with positive things at the Bernabeu.
They are games that we like to play because we enjoy them a great deal. It means more to us. It's normal. Great sides, when they are doing well, have to face each other more than once during the season. We'll prepare well and we will see what happens.
I've played enough games like these and the overall record is very positive."
Javier Mascherano of FC Barcelona:
Getty ImagesFC Barcelona celebrates their last Clasico win at the Bernabeu
in December 2011.
"Creo que se ha demostrado en los últimos Clásicos que no importa cómo llegue uno o cómo llegue otro. El que lo haga mejor va a obtener el mejor resultado... Son partidos que todo el mundo quiere ver. Cuando juega el Barça-Madrid hay siempre récord de audiencia. Lo más importante es tratar de hacerlo lo mejor posible. Después, si aburre o no, cada uno tiene su pensamiento. El mío es que los que podemos jugar estos partidos somos unos elegidos, no pasa todos los días... Somos dos equipos que se conocen muchísimo... Tiene grandísimos jugadores y de muchísima experiencia que no se van a dejar vencer fácil. Algún día vamos a perder con el Madrid". {Marca, 13 January 2012}
"I believe that the last set of Clasicos showed that it's not important how one or the other gets there. The one who does better is going to get the best result...
They are games that everyone wants to see. When Barcelona plays Real Madrid, there's always a record audience. The most important thing is to treat it in the best way possible. Later, if it bores you or not, each one has his own thought. Mine is that those of us who can play these games are the chosen ones. It doesn't happen everyday...
We are two teams who know each other very well. They have great players with a lot of experience that won't make winning easy.
Some day, we are going to lose to Real Madrid."
Spanish source of quotes: Marca, 13-17 January 2012.
- North American El Clasico Coverage
- ASK KAKA' by adidas in Washington, D.C.
- FC Barcelona: The Best Team in the World by Adam Howard
- Part 1: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "
- Part 2: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "
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