That’s all, folks
Updated
Danny Coposescu writes:
Hello Sid! Do you think El Clásico is in search of its latest narrative since Guardiola and then Mourinho left? In Fear and Loathing, you allude to a certain sense in which the rivalry was left deflated after Mourinho was left without his nemesis, and ever since the former left Madrid, there seems to me to be a lull in the ‘hostilities’, if you will. The rivalry sustains itself on its history and larger backdrop, however, it always appears to need a new development to flare up and focus on. The quiet way in which both managers focus on their own teams then directs the partisan media outlets to add the spice by concentrating on their respective clubs (ie Marca’s extreme criticism of Real Madrid since their loss of form).
Guardian staff It's true that there is a kind of lull (which is welcome on many levels). But it's still Madrid-Barcelona and although there are always peaks and troughs, it'll still be the biggest game there is. There was something a little ;end of an era' about their departures, that's true.
KaiserJose asks:
Hi Sid, hope you’re well. Double set for you if you don’t mind. Will Real Madrid be happy or unhappy, given most recent encounters, to have drawn Atlético in the q/finals? In your view, percentage likelihood Ancelotti will be the man in charge next season?
Guardian staff 1. unhappy but I don't think it's that bad a draw ...
2. Right now. I'd say low-ish.
RedandBlue5 writes:
Will Real allow the CDR final to be played in the Bernabeu or will it be closed for ‘renovation’?
Guardian staff I don't think they'll let it be played there. Which, stripping away all the many arguments, I think is a pity.
happygoth asks:
Just for nerd’s sake, rate (in order of preference):
1) Raul, Butragueño, Cristiano Ronaldo, Puskás, Zamorano
and
2) Messi, Romario, Kubala, Stoichkov, Eto’o
Anyone can do it, although if you’ve written an award-winning book on the Barça/Real rivalry it probably means more.
Guardian staff Preference as in who I enjoyed watching? Or best?
Let's go for the former ... oh wait, hang on, I have never seen Kubala, Puskas ...
ok, let's try a kind of simplistic 'best'.
Ronaldo, Puskas, Raul, Buitre, Zamorano.
Messi, Kubala, Eto'o, Romario, Stoichkov.
in terms of the clubs' rivalry, Di Stefano ahead of all of them.
AintreeIron asks:
Given that elections are looming in Barcelona and the fact that, despite Barça’s success this season, Luis Enrique does not appear to be overly popular, Do you think a La Liga or Champions League win guarantees him a job?
Guardian staff I don't think there are any guarantees for precisely the reason you underline ... elections in the summer. Hard to predict who the candidates will chose. None would have chosen Luis Enrique until quite recently. Now, I'm less sure. Win the European Cup and his position will be strengthened and yet there's still a residual belief that the current success is not down to him (which is at least partly unfair)
odn1 writes:
There was recently an article on Messi, Pele, Maradona and Cristiano as to who was the best of all time. Is Cristiano Ronaldo worthy of being mentioned alongside those other players? For me he is the sixth best player in history simply by sheer weight of his goal scoring achievements and CL titles with two different clubs. Where does he rank?
Guardian staff Pffff ... I don't know.
Let's see at the end of his career.
Best striker ever, quite possibly. Best player, I'm less sure.
prosey49:
Hi Sid, I read in a comment piece in a rival paper that Messi is ‘too good for the Prem’. I consider this tosh as he would be playing consistently tough and capable opposition. The fact he sits so comfortably without considering a move makes him look a bit unambitious to me when you look at him alongside Ronaldo but I suppose he has the time to make a move. Too good for the Prem, Sid?
Guardian staff I don't think anyone is too good for anywhere ... but I don't see that staying at Barcelona is a lack of ambition.
wilsonbeuys asks:
Are the absurd goalscoring feats of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo a reflection of an unbalanced league (and unfair TV deal for the rest of the clubs), and should they therefore be taken with a pinch of salt — ie, is the Spanish league in danger of becoming increasingly like what Scotland once was, with better weather ? How good are those teams down the bottom half compared with other leagues around Europe …?
Guardian staff The Spanish league's teams are not weak, as Europe is showing (although there's a huge long debate there), but the imbalance is huge of course. And there's no doubt that that's a factor. But Messi and Roanldo top score in Ch Lg too. In England, they would be the best players by miles.
MannyK asks:
Do Barça have any plan post-Messi? I’m not sure that any player in world football will have ever left such a big hole when (if) he eventually declines/retires. Neymar seems the obvious candidate. But do Barça fans rate him that highly yet?
Guardian staff Neymar is the plan, insofar as there is a plan ... but I don't think there really is. (And when he came in the plan was much more short-medium term than a long term one)
AswinMadridista writes:
Hi Sid. Given the obvious decline in form of Iker Casillas, isn’t it baffling that a manager of Ancelotti’s experience and judgement continues with him in goal ? Clearly Keylor Navas needs to be more involved. I would say that three goals to Schalke were Casillas’ fault. Why is Ancellotti risking everything and playing Casillas for the clásico? Is there a board level pressure or dressing room pressure on him to play Iker in goal?
Guardian staff Casillas has (or had) recovered his form a little this year ... we don't know what kind of competitive form Navas would be in now, of course. And the pressure placed on Casillas has been huge, as well as pretty unpleasant a lot of the time. I also wouldn't say that playing Casillas is risking everything. I don't think he's a liability. That said, I'm surprised that Navas hasn't played more this season, yes.
RichieOwen posts:
Hypothetical question. With the exception of Messi/Ronaldo, which Barça player do you think would most improve Madrid and vice versa?
Guardian staff Suarez/Benzema I guess ... although as they are both very good maybe the actual impact would be minimised.
If you look at what they need, I'm sure Barcelona would love Ramos/Varane/Pepe.
Kroos and Modric would slot nicely into their midfield too.
Perhaps Madrid could do wit ha specialist deep midfielder: Busquets, Macherano?
Jurgen55 asks:
Sid, do you think the clásico is losing its political context with more foreign players representing the clubs and the match becoming a global affair with fans around the world, or is it still as relevant and meaningful as ever?
Guardian staff The political context fluctuates depending on the political context and also people's experiences of the game differ. So even when players don't fully understand it or embrace it (or even directly reject it), fans, media etc are aware. It will always have that element to it and calls to remove politics from football are naïve. But it shifts, of course, and the response is different each time. Two years ago was extremely politicised for example, because of the timing, the diada marches, and so on. right now, it may be lessened, although the Copa del Rey final has become very politicised and that backdrop may feed into it a little too.
singleentendre writes:
Hi there Sid, just a quick one. Can you think of a performance from Messi, or any other footballer, that eclipses La Pulga’s first 45 minutes against Manchester City?
Guardian staff Hard to off the top of my head.
But here are a few that spring to mind (not necessarily as good but thoughts ... )
Maradona in 86.
The original Ronaldo at Barcelona in 96/97.
Ronaldo against Villarreal (I think it was).
Dani Alves at Sevilla.
drucheno writes:
Been catching you on both the fw and Spanish football do … if Barça win the title do you think less still be made of the drift further away from Pep’s possession-based game?
Guardian staff Of course. That debate is there, even when they are successful (and in that sense it is true that you can see a commitment to a certain identity), but success and success against Madrid conditions everything.
casacantabria wonders:
Slightly off topic. How come comments weren’t open on this week’s column?
Guardian staff
googlie writes:
Hi Sid, Real’s core strategy against Barca were lightening counter attack (with Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo, Bale) against ball possession (with Basquet, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi). It seems Barca starts playing some ligthening fast direct football too (Mascherano as DMF, Rakitic, Messi, Alba, Alves, Suarez and Neymer). How Real strategy could be with different set of players.
Second question, is Barca still vulnerable from so called dead ball? Thanks.
Guardian staff I think we saw I the first game that there has been an evolution of style from Madrid but that still with space they are at their best. Counter-attacks are likely to be a big part of their approach again ... also, as you say Barcelona have shifted a little and now are quicker to counter ... they're less defined by the midfield than they once were. Barcelona are still vulnerable there, yes. And a team that has Ronaldo, Ramos, Pepe is always going to be hard to stop in the air.
Faaris M Khan asks:
Do you believe Matheiu should continue playing or Bartra be given the green light for the Clasico?
Guardian staff
HarryDYoung asks:
Hi Sid,
1) Just how pivotal do you think this Clasico is in deciding the race for La Liga?
2) Who do you think has better built and managed their squad this season? and …
3) Just how much will Ancelotti have to do this season to keep his job for next season?
Guardian staff 1. Very, but not decisive. If Barcelona were to win and climb 4 points clear (even more so if they equal/better the 3-1 from the first clasico), then it has a huge impact. So avoiding that, by definition, also has a huge impact. but a draw and it remains 1 point (with RM having the head to head advantage). And a RM win and it's 2 points for RM. But with Ch Lg games and with them both going away to Seville, having Valencia at home, Barcelona playing Atletico on penultimate w/e, there are still quite a few points that could be lost.
2. Hard to say. Barcelona shifting in style and that's perhaps more complex ... Madrid have made some decisions that seemed odd but worked but now have perhaps been found out a little(?)...
3. Ch Lg saved him last year, there's not that much faith in him at board level, but much will depend on timings, alternatives, etc.
noikee muses:
You think Ancelotti may drop the BBC for this particular game as it’s tougher than most? If so, how is he likely to line up/arrange the team tactically?
Guardian staff
fantasista asks:
Is Zidane really ‘the man’ Pérez will turn to if (when) Ancelotti gets his marching orders in the summer? If so, how prepared do you think he is or is it impossible to know how good of a coach he is yet?
Guardian staff Yes. the plan is very clear: Zidane. When that happens is less clear and depends not just on the club but on Zidane himself, who is very strong in terms of wanting to do things the right way and having the personality to resist pressure to simply follow presidential orders. He is finding his feet and trying to define his own ideas and ambitions still. Is he a good manager? I'm not sure yet but he has a lot of the qualities neceesary. He's also much tougher than people think, more competitive.
frenchy10 wonders:
Afternoon Sid. How worried should us Barça fans be about the Neymar tax case? Could the ramifications be dangerous enough to de-rail our season? Thanks, Will
Guardian staff I don't think that the ramifications will be entirely clear until after the season ends. Long term, they could be huge, yes. But it may well be that they impact more upon the individuals involved than the club itself. Although there is a chance that the club is left with a huge debt to pay that effects everything else of course. Barcelona's handling of it, in terms of communication, has been disastrous. They have failed to explain and express their version of events at all well and have instead fallen back on a kind of pugnacious victim complex which is unhelpful and counterproductive. At heart, there is an interpretive debate as to what the money paid actually is (salary? bonus? fee? to Neymar? to Neymar's dad?) and Barcelona could have presented that much better than they have, which makes it all less convincing.
Spanish Gonzalez asks:
Hola Sid! He may have had his doubters but do you think if Luis Enrique either completes a treble or gets close to one, his success could arguably outshine peps? His addition of the counter attacking dynamic to the system is very much an evolvement of the possession based, high intensity pressing game that brought the original success.
Guardian staff I don't think so because of the sense that Guardiola invented something, built a legacy and an identity (and of course it was more than just one season), and won everything from an arguably weaker position. But certainly Luis Enrique's success, if he has it, will force a rethink from a lot of people. (me included).
KaiserJose writes:
The new and somewhat insane Premier League deal will see the top Premier League clubs soar past the Spanish big two in terms of tv revenue: the current Spanish TV monies distribution will see Real and Barca earning slightly more than the team that finishes bottom of the 2016-17 season. What is the latest on the collective TV deal? And has this put Madrid and Barcelona off going for collective TV rights when it’s likely to see them both take a drop in their respective incomes?
Guardian staff THE LFP and the clubs are trying to pressure the government to force through a law on a collective deal. Which is in itself interesting and reveals that there are internal divisions over how to handle it, despite telling us all the clubs agree. there's nothing to stop the LFP deciding to handle it collectively, without it needing to be enshrined in law. Tebas is under pressure, the big two don't trust each other, there are still arguments over the way the money is distributed ... RM and FCB accept a collective deal on basis that their totals will grow but if course that depends on the collective deal being a good one. And that, for all the talk, is not guaranteed.
zenimaru posts:
With the ‘El Tridente’ having had almost five months to develop tactical and at certain times almost telepathical understanding between them, can Real’s back four really be relied upon to stop them? And which midfield three will win the ‘battle of midfield’?
Guardian staff Barcelona's front three have complimentary qualities, but then Madrid's three fit each other well too, in theory ...
Midfield: the likely scenario is that Barcelona have more of the ball but that doesn't necessarily mean more chances or more likely to win the game.
Jonwoo asks:
How true is it that Bale and Ronaldo don’t get on?
Guardian staff I think they get on ok. But of course some of the on-field tension etc does not go unnoticed.
Maaruthy Kumar asks:
1) Why did you decide to write Fear and Loathing at the time you chose? I mean, this phase of rivalry is one of the best in recent memory with both teams more or less even. Do you feel you could have documented this phase also? Or are you happy till where you documented.
2) Also, Atleti v RM in UCL. Is it the new clasico? Because their rivalry has become more consequential in deciding trophies recently over Barça-Madrid.
Guardian staff The timing was obviously provoked by that run of clasicos. You have to write some tie and you can never be waiting in case something big(ger) comes along. I thought the timing was quite good, yes ... although there are some elements that got undermined. Such as Atletico winning the league the very next season (having written in the book that it was hard to see anyone else would win the league again). the only way to document this current phase is of course to rewrite or to update which I don't think will happen unless they reach the final. And then I suppose it would likely be an epilogue.
Guardian staff Atletico-RM: I wouldn't call that a new rivalry, more the recovery of an old one via the recovery of Atletico through Simeone. An astonishing achievement. And of course today's draw makes that even more current. But the thrust of Spanish football culture, coverage, support, etc, still revolves more around RM and FCB than anyone else. Which, on one level, is a pity.
Updated
ID9680852 asks:
Hi Sid, why are the Real Madrid fans so impatient? Do they not realise how pathetic and ungrateful they look to the world when they boo Bale and other players? I know this happens in other clubs (I embarrassing recall Arsenal fans booing Eboué a few years back) but not with the rapidity and degree of clamour of Madrid fans. All it serves to do is deflate the player and team and will no doubt make other great players think twice about coming to Madrid.
Guardian staff At times it can be baffling. And, even when you can understand it/there's some justification for it (on their terms), it's surely counter-productive. I think it's also worth trying to interpret whistles according to the culture of Spanish football: it's an expression of annoyance, anger, etc., etc., but not (necessarily) an actual rejection of the player. Some would even argue (I'd disagree but they'd argue it), that it's almost a gesture of fondness and support: a kind of "come on, you're better than this, we know you are." It comes with the success and history of the club, with the demands made, with a short-sightedness, a sense of entitlement, a desire to see great players play brilliantly as well as win ...
Guardian staff
Guardian staff Afternoon. See you shortly. Off to get a cup of tea (in a football mug) and then back here at 1pm English time, 2pm Spanish.
Our Spanish football correspondent will be online from 1pm GMT (2pm CET) to answer all your questions before Sunday’s showdown.
Drop your questions into the comments section below.
In the meantime, you can check out how the two teams fared in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw. And here is Sid on Leo Messi’s performance in Barça’s win over Manchester City the other night, as well as his latest weekly La Liga blog.
Thanks everyone. Apologies for not being able to get to all the questions. Enjoy the clásico.