Barcelona have taken the plaudits for their sparkling displays of attacking football this season but Real Madrid are determined to knock the Catalans off their pedestal when they meet at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
"People are talking all the time about how much better Barca are than us and about what a great level they are playing at," says Real midfielder Guti.
"But if we beat them that will show that we are just as strong and it will also give us a major psychological boost."
"We've put together some good results even though we haven't played as well as the fans might have wanted. We've shown that we have a competitive squad and we've done well despite having so many injuries," he added.
"Playing at the Bernabeu has never been a very appetising prospect for Barca."
Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Real side have certainly not set the world alight with their performances so far this season, but despite suffering a string of injuries to key players they have managed to stay in touch at the top of the table.
They have ground out consecutive league wins over Real Betis and Real Zaragoza and will be boosted by the return from injury of striker Ronaldo, playmaker Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian forward Julio Baptista and influential centre back Ivan Helguera.
England captain David Beckham did not complete Thursday's training session because of a recurrence of back pain but the club said his participation in the "clasico" is not in doubt.
DAUNTING TASK
However, even with a near full-strength side, Real still face a daunting task if they are to tame a rampant Barcelona.
Frank Rijkaard's side have notched up 24 goals in their last six games in all competitions and have recaptured the sort of form that saw them romp to the league title last season.
Ronaldinho is back to his exuberant best, playmaker Xavi has marshalled the attack in masterful fashion and Samuel Eto'o has an even more voracious appetite for goals than last season.
Almost as impressive has been the contribution of Argentine youngster Lionel Messi.
Despite being embroiled in a complex bureaucratic wrangle over his citizenship, the 18-year-old has shown just why so many see him as the true successor to Diego Maradona with a series of dazzling performances for Los Azulgranas (blue and scarlets).
On Saturday the Argentine will get his chance to pit his skills against Real Madrid counterpart Robinho in one of the game's most eagerly awaited personal duels.
There will be a distinctly Brazilian flavour to this year's clashes with the presence of a host of Robinho's compatriots in the ranks of both sides.
Barca have six Brazilian-born players, while Real, coached by former Brazil boss Luxemburgo, have four in their squad.
Barca coach Frank Rijkaard, whose side won at the Bernabeu in his first season in charge of the Catalans, remains as circumspect as ever about their chances of another victory on enemy territory.
"I'm a little bit upset about the attitude of some of the media who are only talking about a Barcelona victory," the Dutchman told Radio Marca.
"Historically, [the Bernabeu] is a very difficult ground for us to play at. We are playing against a great team who have got a lot of pride and will want to do all they can to please their fans.
"It will be a very interesting game between two rivals. There is bound to be an intense atmosphere but I just hope it will be a great spectacle for the world of football."
© 2024 Rediff.com -