Barcelona and Real Madrid, whose five meetings last season produced fireworks on and off the pitch, clash in a potentially explosive Spanish Supercup first leg on Sunday, a crucial marker for the season ahead
Barcelona and Real Madrid, whose five meetings last season produced fireworks on and off the pitch, clash in a potentially explosive Spanish Supercup first leg on Sunday, a crucial marker for the season ahead.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Barcelona swept to a La Liga-Champions League double last time out, winning praise worldwide for their free-flowing, mesmeric style which had some commentators eagerly anointing them as the greatest club side of all time.
Real, meanwhile, had to settle for the Spanish Cup which was at least won with victory over their bitter rivals.
Sunday's match at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu will be played amid tight security in what is classified a high-risk meeting after last season's five-game saga.
With Sergio Ramos declared fit, Madrid is set tou00a0 field the same side that lost 5-0 to Barcelona in La Liga last November.
The subsequent four matches in the space of 18 days in April were more evenly fought and saw Real regain some lost pride with their King's Cup final victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored, until now his only goal against Barcelona, in the final to qualify his team for Sunday's clash and he is keen this season to add more titles.
"Of course we are going to try and have a good year," said Ronaldo. "I'm not thinking about beating my own figures (from last season when he scored 40 league goals). I just want to play as well as I can for the team and win trophies which is what we work hard for."
ADVERTISEMENT