Tuesday was another happy day in MarcaâÂÂs extreme graphics department. In previous weeks the Photoshop-wielding group had been called upon to put together an incredibly disturbing photograph that morphed together the faces of Gonzalo HiguaÃÂn and Karim Benzema to make the perfect striker. That call of duty was followed by a splendid mock-up of the French striker as Puss in Boots, complete with a catâÂÂs face and whiskers.
Wednesday edition of the paper sees a front cover with a shot of the lower halves of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with their arms handcuffed together. âÂÂCondemned to Winâ booms MarcaâÂÂs front cover ahead of Wednesday nightâÂÂs Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The paper is half right, in the sense that Real Madrid are under strict orders from the fans to beat Barcelona in the Bernabeu for the first time during Pep GuardiolaâÂÂs tenure at the Catalan club. But itâÂÂs fair to say Barça have more than proved themselves against Real Madrid, having only been defeated in one of the eight previous Clásicos between the Barça boss and José Mourinho.
This desire for Madrid to finally deliver at home may explain José MourinhoâÂÂs incredibly tense, bolshy mood at the pre-match press conference. Or perhaps, José Mourinho generally just being incredibly tense and bolshy is a more valid reason. When asked about the tactics for the match, the Portuguese hurled toys far and wide from his Special Pram.
âÂÂIf Ramos plays at full-back, they are going to criticise me, as heâÂÂs better as a centre-back. If I play Fabio at right-back they will criticise me as heâÂÂs left-footed.â This rant against the press went on for some time, covering Sami Khedira and Pepe, among others.
âÂÂItâÂÂs better that we all go to the cinema and after letâÂÂs see the result and give our opinions.â ThatâÂÂs certainly what LLL would like to do.
MourinhoâÂÂs prickliest moment came when asked about Cristiano Ronaldo, who is very much the centre of attention ahead of the Clásico, precisely because the forward is hardly ever the focal point of attention during the Clásico.
âÂÂCristiano has the final word,â yells the front cover of AS, with editor Alfredo Relaño noting that âÂÂCristiano against his ghosts, this will be a game.â Mourinho was dutifully protective of his player warning the assembled journalists that âÂÂif any of you have a go at him weâÂÂre going to have a problem. I wonâÂÂt let you.âÂÂ
The performance of Ronaldo is one of the tactical topics that will be on MourinhoâÂÂs mind ahead of the game. Who to play at right-back in the absence of the suspended Alvaro Arbeloa and whether to use Angel di MarÃÂa for part of the game, despite not being fully recovered from injury are amongst others. At time of writing, itâÂÂs not clear if the Argentinean will even be in the squad with Real Madrid not releasing any names to the media and fans until an hour before the clash.
In comparison with the tense terseness of the Spanish capital, the Camp Nou bat-cave was a far more jolly place, with Pep Guardiola in a fairly relaxed mood, as should be expected of a manager with nothing to prove in this particular, oft-repeated tie. Though the Barça boss claimed that âÂÂI have a lot to lose, credit doesnâÂÂt exist in this sport.âÂÂ
Mundo Deportivo have gone for a new angle on the match, publishing a photo of the Copa del Rey trophy itself on WednesdayâÂÂs front cover - the mangled version dropped by Sergio Ramos in front of a bus last year. âÂÂBarça, fix it!â demands the headline.
This is just one of a number of motivations the Barcelona players have to grab at least a draw in the Santiago Bernabeu before next WednesdayâÂÂs second leg clash. The others include annoying the heck of Mourinho and Madrid by frustrating them again, and perhaps equalling the number of wins in el Clásico between the two teams in the 216 matches played so far.
Madrid currently have 86, with Barça one behind. Two goals will also see Leo Messi become the striker with the most number of goals against Madrid in BarcelonaâÂÂs history. All in all, thereâÂÂs more than enough amuse-bouches to get the juices flowing even if the main meal hasnâÂÂt got the taste buds tingling of everyone in Spain.
