Spaniards were licking their lips on Thursday at the prospect of four clashes between giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, within a period of just 18 days.
“An incredible month of drama and emotion is ahead of us,” said Madrid radio station Cadena COPE on Thursday.
The day’s headline in Marca was: “Something Never Seen Before: Four Clasicos In 18 Days!” The first Clasico will be their league clash in Madrid on April 16, though that has lost something of its importance because Barca are eight points ahead of the whites in La Liga.
Indeed, coaches Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho might even consider resting key players — something never done before in a Clasico — because the Big Two will meet again just four days later in the Spanish cup final in Valencia, their first cup final clash since 1990.
In all probability, they will also meet in the semifinals of the Champions League, in Madrid on April 27 and at Barca’s Camp Nou on May 3.
Both giants are almost certain to reach the semis after this week’s quarterfinal first legs.
On Tuesday Real trounced Tottenham 4-0, on Wednesday Barca hammered Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1. These results will allow the Big Two to field several reserves in the second legs, with their minds on the upcoming Clasicos.
“Real Madrid have a great opportunity to take something positive from the season...and end Barcelona’s domination of the past few years,” said Cadena SER radio.
AS sports paper editor Alfredo Relano commented that “we are certainly not going to get bored.” Relano said that Real were “benefited by the silliness of (Tottenham striker Peter) Crouch” (sent off after just 16 minutes), and that Donetsk, against Barca, “were like an elegant boxer with the punch of a fly and a jaw of glass.” Catalan daily Sport, for its part, said that “playing like this (as against Donetsk), Barca can beat Real four times.” Catalan language television channel TV-3 agreed: “Barca really have no reason to be afraid of Real, after having beaten them in the last five Clasicos.” Barca have won all games since a 4-1 drubbing at Real in 2008, most notably a 6-2 triumph in Madrid in 2009 and a 5-0 hammering in their first meeting this season at the Nou Camp.
On the continent, Barcelona were the first team to beat Real in the former Champions Cup, a 4-3 aggregate score in November 1960 after Real had won the first five editions of the tournament.
Real then ousted Barca 3-1 overall in the 2002 semis en route to their so far last Champions League title.
