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Fabregas: We’re not afraid of Real Madrid

Comment: 0 December 5th, 2011 by: admin

Barcelona have no reason to worry about their upcoming match against archrivals Real Madrid, assured midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The showdown, set for this coming Saturday, will be the first El Clasico match of the season and will be held at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

But aside from being the thunderous, arguably most anticipated match in the Spanish Primera Liga, this game will pit Barcelona against a Real Madrid team currently at the top of the table – a spot usually occupied by the Catalans.

At present, Barcelona trail Real Madrid by a mere three points.  With the Catalans’ goal percentage surpassing Real’s by one, Barca winning this match would send them to the top, bumping Real Madrid to second place.

‘We’ll go at the at the Bernabeu with our usual game and without any fear,’ assured Fabregas.  ‘If we worry about what could happen, they are capable of being very dangerous, especially at home with their own fans behind them.

‘The spirit in the camp is great and we are definitely brave enough to leave Madrid with a result.’

Fabregas added that a victory over Real Madrid would be an excellent send-off as Barca prepare to leave for Japan to compete in the Club World Cup.

At present, Real Madrid hold a 10-game winning streak in the La Liga; under Jose Mourinho’s management they currently hold a perfect home form so far this season.

Barcelona’s 10 last matches have resulted in 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss; on the road, they prove less intimidating, so far obtaining only 2 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat.

Currently under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, Barcelona have been questioned this season for a form comparatively inferior to their usual.

Overall, however, Barca have dominated in their past games against Real Madrid, winning 5 of their last 10 matches, drawing 3 and losing only once.  At the Bernabeu, Barcelona have taken 4 wins in 10 games, drawing 3 and losing 3.

‘We have to remember that a Clasico is very often the turning point in a season, so we’ll go all out to win and we’ll not be afraid,’ Fabregas promised.

The midfielder continued, acknowledging the team as a significant force behind his superb performance that includes 9 goals this season.

‘My team-mates are great, they have helped me a lot with my own game and at Barca I am able to get into a lot of forward positions in the area, which has enabled me to get these goals,’ he noted.

The El Clasico has long stood as the Primera Liga’s most intense rivalry; its current generation has also pitted against each other Barca’s Lionel Messi, and Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo – each one argued by supporters to be a better player than the other.

Messi, however, has won a multitude of awards including the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or for best player of 2010 – an award that he had won last year, along with the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

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