Football weekend: All eyes on El Classico

Can we call it the most exciting league encounter in the world? The rest of the world thinks so. Can we expect the most raucous, unfriendly atmosphere at the pressure cooker that is the Nou Camp? The rest of the world thinks so. Can we expect the most exciting free-flowing football between the league leaders of the Primera Liga? For the sake of all the hype, I certainly hope so.

And there's this other little element that has tempered my excitement about el classico or el derby - the absolutely despicable behaviour of the Spanish crowds at the recent Spain-England friendly. Never before, I believe, have so many people felt the need to switch off their television sets while watching a football game. It would be ideal for Saturday's game between leaders Barcelona and traditional rivals, and second-placed-four-points-adrift Real Madrid to have been behind closed doors.

I was introduced to this possibility when exactly that happened in the Champions League just a fortnight ago between AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev. Indeed, how ideal that would be… two of the best teams in the world not bothered about anything but their football with quiet surroundings and the world watching on television. I know, I know, that's not what football is all about but these Spanish fans have made me think up ways of enjoying the beautiful game in its purest form.

So let's forget the fans, let's talk football.

The past ten encounters between the bitter rivals have seen five draws, and Real Madrid leading with three wins to Barcelona's two. Besides that statistic, it has been years since the el classico has had so much at stake. Barcelona undoubtedly playing their best football in recent years to top the league, only to lose for the first time this year to Betis -- just before the big game -- like a chef with a cunning smile adding that extra spice while nobody is looking.

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On the players' front, the most talked about will undoubtedly be Figo. The Catalans will get yet another swipe at their traitor, and their unbridled anger will ensure that he hugs his gorgeous Helen a little tighter before stepping out under the lights.

An injured thigh was the reason Ronaldo missed their last encounter…more than the others, he will be raring to go.

The line-ups on either side are star-packed enough to make you shake your head in disbelief. Easily, the biggest nightmare on Saturday night will be for Carlos Puyol of Barca and Ivan Helguera of Real. These defensive lynchpins will have the likes of Owen, Raul, Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Deco, Larson, Guily and Edmilson, respectively, going at them.

At probably the most inconvenient time for us Indians, it is for the 100,000 packed Nou Camp, for the masters of the game playing the beautiful game, for everything at stake that you shouldn't miss it for anything.

Our football weekend doesn't end there. The much-awaited Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions league awaits us mid-week and three particular matches have the highest stakes.

Real Madrid play Bayer Leverkusen, and if either team is to progress from this tightest of groups, they MUST win. It was Madrid who suffered 3-0 against the German team at the beginning of the league, but there will be no time to think about revenge -- it's the most basic emotion for now -- survival.

The other desperate encounter will be between Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven. Struggling to hold onto that second place, Henry, Pires, Viera, Reyes and company will have to perform away in Europe to quash the ambitious Panathinaikos. PSV are already on top.

In our English Premier League, The match will be Chelsea vs Bolton Wanderers -- for two reasons -- the keen contest, and, of course, the phenomenon that is fast emerging, known as Arjen Robben.

Here's hoping our football weekend turns out to be a memorable one -- for the quality of the art and not for the colour of the artists. Enjoy it.

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Fixtures:

Saturday
EPL – Middlesbrough vs Liverpool – 20:24 hrs – ESPN
EPL – Manchester United vs Charlton Athletic – 18:10 hrs – Star Sports
EPL – Chelsea vs Bolton Wanderers – 20:24 hrs – Star Sports

Sunday
*** Primera Liga – Barcelona vs Real Madrid – 02:30 hrs – ESPN

Tuesday
EPL – Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur – 01:25 hrs – Star Sports

Wednesday
Champions League – Real Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen – 01:00hrs – Star Sports
Champions League – Liverpool vs Monaca – 01:00 hrs – ESPN
Champions League – Cska Moscow vs Porto – 22:50 hrs – Star Sports