Real Madrid vs Barcelona fans Q&A: Gerard Pique is hated, Luka Modric will be key and Rafa Benitez is already under pressure

By Paul Collins Of Real Madrid News and Aly Abdel Wahab Of Total Barca

Published: 06:52 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 05:46 EST, 21 November 2015

Real Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season on Saturday as they look to jump above their great rivals at the top of the La Liga table.

The two clubs and their fans have never got along, but why is there so much animosity between them? Which players do the supporters dislike the most? And who will emerge victorious at the Bernabeu?

Sportsmail asked those questions and more to Real fan Paul Collins of realmadridnews.com and Aly Abdel Wahab of totalbarca.com (fbcollective.com). Here's what they had to say.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale (left) gets away from Barcelona star Neymar at the Nou Camp in March

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale (left) gets away from Barcelona star Neymar at the Nou Camp in March

 

1) What it is about the club and their fans you dislike so much?

Real Madrid: I dislike Barcelona the club because of their constant politicisation of sport. I know it's ingrained on the club and it's part of the Clasico story but with the growing number of pro-independence voices it's pretty tedious now. Just focus on the football and leave the politics aside! As for the fans, they are very arrogant (although at the moment it's probably deserved after winning the treble last season). Other than that they are dull too. They seem to only have one song!

Barcelona: When speaking of an eternal rival, there will always be a level of mutual respect involved. However, to put it bluntly, Madrid fans tend to get drunk over their own historical achievements too much. I dislike the club for imposing a brand name it does not fulfil entirely in modern football. There's also the argument over the overlooked details of their history with Barca during Franco's era. Details that tell a very different story from what it promotes to its own fans and the rest of the world. 

Defender Pepe (right) heads home Real Madrid's second goal against Barcelona at the Bernabeu last year

Defender Pepe (right) heads home Real Madrid's second goal against Barcelona at the Bernabeu last year

2) How much satisfaction do you get from beating them compared to other teams?

Real Madrid: Definitely more than most. It's nice to get one over your biggest rivals and have the bragging rights for the next few months. I don't think at this stage the result will be crucial in the league, but it will give Real a big boost going into the final few weeks before the winter break.

Barcelona: Matches against Real Madrid can cause a series of emotions, from distress, to euphoria. But the best description came from Barca legend Xavi Hernandez, who said 'beating Real Madrid is better than having an orgasm'.

3) What is your most memorable victory?

Real Madrid: Without a doubt, the Copa del Rey final win in 2014. It was the first Clasico I'd been to live and we covered it as members of the press for our website, Realmadridnews.com. Gareth Bale scored an incredible goal that night, the atmosphere was the best I've ever experienced in more than 20 years of watching football across Europe, and we got the chance to interview the likes of Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Carlo Ancelotti.

Barcelona: It would have to be 2010's manita (five-goal victory) against Jose Mourinho. Ronaldinho's Bernabeu spectacle is a close second.

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez fires a low shot beyond Pepe to score his side's winning goal in March

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez fires a low shot beyond Pepe to score his side's winning goal in March

4) And your most painful defeat?

Real Madrid: Probably the 6-2 hammering a few years back. As well as being a Real Madrid fan, I also like Arsenal, so to see Thierry Henry celebrating like that was doubly painful. Another painful one was the 5-0 defeat in Mourinho's first Clasico. Nothing went right that night either.

Barcelona: Losing 4-1 in 2008 was probably the most painful defeat, we hit rock-bottom there. Perhaps the Copa del Rey loss in 2011 would be second, Barca could've won yet another treble that year. Guess we're over it now...

Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penalty during Real Madrid's 3-1 victory against Barca in October 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penalty during Real Madrid's 3-1 victory against Barca in October 2014

5) Who is your most hated player from their team, past or present?

Real Madrid: Currently it's Gerard Pique, which will be no surprise. One thing I hate in any sport is lack of grace when victorious. And Pique genuinely seems to have no idea how to behave when his team wins or loses. And as I mentioned previously, leave the politics out of sport too. If he's so pro-Catalan independence, why does he represent the Spanish national team? He seems to do quite well out of that, winning trophies and making plenty of money through the sponsorship that follows.

Barcelona: Pepe. I've always admired Madrid's players, most of them have had truly extraordinary careers. But given Pepe's history in the rivalry's modern history, the Portuguese definitely is the man I hate the most.

Suarez tries to weave his way past Pepe (left) and Sergio Ramos during his debut for Barcelona last year

Suarez tries to weave his way past Pepe (left) and Sergio Ramos during his debut for Barcelona last year

6) Who is the bigger club and why?

Real Madrid: Our 10 European Cups tells its own story doesn't it? Real are bigger no matter which way you look at it. More trophies won, more wins in Clasico encounters, biggest team on a worldwide scale in terms of revenue made and number of supporters. Barcelona are big, but not as big as Los Blancos.

Barcelona: In football history, Madrid probably come out on top. Since football changed significantly in 1992 and 'football 2.0' took over, Barca would be the bigger club hands down. Barca have created an era unmatched by no other club in history, without spending the astronomical amounts its rivals had, integrated a philosophy that was ahead of its time, and redefined the game in many ways.

Lionel Messi, pictured in action against Real Madrid last year, is expected to be fit for Saturday's Clasico

Lionel Messi, pictured in action against Real Madrid last year, is expected to be fit for Saturday's Clasico

7) Which opposition player do you most fear will win it for them?

Real Madrid: I can't look beyond Neymar or Luis Suarez. Lionel Messi may be back and could feature for Barca, but surely he won't up to full speed at the moment after two months out. The other two have done well in his absence and scored the goals. I thought Neymar was a bit lightweight when he first joined - even for La Liga standards - but he's really come on a lot in the last 12 months. Andres Iniesta obviously will be pulling the strings in midfield too.

Barcelona: Luka Modric. I've always admired him. I followed him closely since his early years at Tottenham, and was heartbroken the day he signed for Madrid. The Croat is full of surprises, so while Ronaldo might steal the spotlight, Modric has always been the one I've feared the most in the Madrid camp.

Neymar is congratulated by his Barcelona team-mates after scoring against Real Madrid in October 2013

Neymar is congratulated by his Barcelona team-mates after scoring against Real Madrid in October 2013

8) Which manager will be in the biggest trouble if they to lose?

Real Madrid: Rafa Benitez will be under huge pressure which in any other management job would be ridiculous. Even if he loses, it will be two defeats all season in all competitions. There are plenty of stories of players losing patience with him and not liking his methods, including big hitters such as Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. That, combined with the style of football - some see him as far too defensive and not living up to the free flowing style Madrid are used to - would put him in danger if they lose.

Barcelona: Easily Rafa Benitez. Madrid are the ones currently trailing, putting them and their new coach under a lot more pressure. Benitez has come out of a very tough season with Napoli and should feel very lucky to find himself as Real Madrid manager. The fans loved Ancelotti, and the doubts have been surrounding Rafa since his first day at the office. Unlike Luis Enrique, who has nothing to prove after what was probably one of the best seasons in the club's history.

Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez (right) chats with Marcelo and Luka Modric (L-R) during training on Friday

Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez (right) chats with Marcelo and Luka Modric (L-R) during training on Friday

9) If you were manager, who would you pick and what would your tactics be?

Real Madrid: My XI would be: Navas, Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Isco, Rodriguez, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo. They need to keep it tight for the first 20 minutes and not get carried away with the atmosphere. When Barcelona have the ball, get men in behind them. They can have the ball as much as they want as long as it's being played in front of us!

Barcelona: Barça's formation is never too hard to figure out. The five men at the back should be the default: Bravo Alves, Pique, Mascherano and Alba. I wouldn't pick Mathieu for this game. With Rakitic injured, the midfield should be Busquets, Iniesta, Sergi Roberto. As for the attack line, it all depends on whether Messi will play or not alongside Neymar and Suarez. If not, Munir should be ready to be called on Saturday, even though I have high hopes of Messi starting that game.

10) Prediction for Saturday's game?

Real Madrid: With home advantage and having lost last time out, I'm going for 2 -1 to Real Madrid. Bale to score on his return and Ronaldo to net again.

Barcelona: El Clasico is the one game that is difficult to predict, but there will be goals from both sides for sure. I predict a 2-1 victory for Barca, but with a score that doesn't tell the full story. I expect Barca to dominate this one.

 

Follow Real Madrid News on Twitter @realmadridnewsw 

Follow Total Barca on Twitter @totalBarca

 

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