Real Madrid needs to overcome the disappointment of a frustrating 2-2
draw when it plays at Barcelona in the second leg of the Spanish
Supercup on Wednesday.
Madrid dominated the first leg on Sunday and created the best
scoring opportunities, but the team was eventually undone by the
inividual talent of the Spanish champions, notably David Villa and
Lionel Messi.
Barcelona will welcome a return to the Camp Nou after an
uncharacteristic match where it failed to impose itself through its
usual passing game.
The Catalans may also be able to count on Cesc Fabregas, who joined his boyhood cl from Arsenal
on Monday, as they look to win the annual preseason matchup between the
league champions and the cup winners for the first time in five tries
against Madrid.
"I am physically ready (to play), but it's the coach's
decision," Fabregas said. "Barca and Madrid are two of the best teams in
Europe,the competition (between the two) is brutal. Madrid never throws
in the towel. We know they are a great team."
Fabregas' long-awaited return could be celebrated against
Madrid, although the Spain midfielder's arrival illustrates the
Barcelona's squad lack of preseason training time with so many
international layers away at different times. Fabregas can at least
slide right into the Catalan club's system since he came up through the
youth ranks before his move to north London eight years ago.
"It was a good result considering the shape we were in coming
into the game," Barcelona defender Daniel Alves said. "Seveal players
had managed to play only some minutes for Barcelona this preseason and
we played pretty well against this Madrid, which enjoyed more time
together as a team. Our team responded (Sunday) so we have to be happy."
Former Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano asked if the
performance signaled the beginning of "Barcelona's deterioration" in his
Marca sports daily column on Tuesday.
As Di Stefano asked if it was time for Barcelona coach Pep
Guardiola - who is vying for his 11th major trophy - to revise his
system, Guardiola labeled his team's first-leg performance "titanic."
"In the return leg we'll play in a different manner since our
team will also have more minutes," Alves said. "We'll (also) arrive in
better shape, physically. I'm sure we can achieve our objective."
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is likely to stay with the same
lineup he used at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with Fabio Coentrao
possibly replacing Angel Di Maria on the wing. Whether the Portuguese
coach meets the Spanish media or not is the doubt.
Mourinho again dodged the post-match news conference just as he
has done since the being sanctioned for comments made after the first
leg of the Champions League semifinals between the clubs in April. There
seemed little to complain about from Sunday's wide-open match when both
teams could be upset over potential penalty calls.
"We were stronger, a better unit and I think we dominated and
created more situations on goal, which is good," Madrid striker Gonzalo
Higuain said. "We have to be happy with our play."
Madrid beat three-time defending league champion Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
