This is not as common a fixture as one might think given the two clubs’ dominance of the Spanish league, with the Copa del Rey perhaps not treated with as much respect as the FA Cup for example.

However, these two giants did clash in the Super Cup last season after Jose Mourinho won his first piece of silverware for Real via the Cup route, with Barcelona coming out on top.

The Blaugrana secured a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu in the first-leg before edging the return encounter 3-2 to land the spoils – although it was not a portent of things to come.

The two arch rivals clashed six times in total last season and although Barcelona only lost one of those matches, it was the crucial league fixture late in the season that effectively ended their hopes of usurping Real at the top.

Pep Guardiola’s men had earlier got the better of Los Merengues 3-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga and progressed in the Copa del Rey on the back of a 2-1 away win (4-3 on aggregate) but it is the league success that may have given Real the confidence that they can more than compete with the previously perceived ‘best team in football’.

With home advantage, Barcelona have been installed as 5/6 favourites in the match betting following a successful start under Tito Vilanova – a 5-1 home win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Real Madrid made a less than convincing beginning to the new campaign as they were held 1-1 at the Bernabeu to last season’s ‘best of the rest’ Valencia, and they are available at 3/1 to get their first win on Thursday, with 11/4 on offer for the draw.

Lionel Messi continued from where he left off last season, bagging a brace at the weekend, and it is no surprise to see him installed as the 5/2 favourite to be the first/last goalscorer on Thursday, 4/7 Anytime.

The price on a home win may well tempt some given Barca’s record at the Nou Camp – it was their road form that let them down in La Liga last season – but the same could be said on Real’s odds of 3/1.

They were not at their best at the weekend but there is no doubt that Mourinho will have his troops ready and motivated for tomorrow’s clash and they rarely put in two disappointing performances on the bounce.

More can certainly be expected of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is priced at 4/1 to open the scoring and 11/10 anytime, with Sunday scorer Gonzalo Higuain next best at 7/1 and 15/8 respectively.

Mourinho’s men have a pretty good record at the Nou Camp of late with a win, two draws and one defeat from their last four visits so it could well pay to oppose the home side.

Regardless of the victor, there has been a strong trend of goals between the two, which is unsurprisingly reflected in the betting – Over 2.5 Goals at 8/13, Under 2.5 Goals at 6/5, while 4 or more goals is on offer at 7/4.

It is of course a two-legged affair so there may not be that sort of desperation from the side that is behind but at odds of 50/1 a 2-2 draw, which occurred twice last season, could reward those searching for the big prices.

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Chelsea could have gone back to the top of the league on Saturday with a win, with Manchester United having seen their game with Blackpool called off due to a frozen pitch at Bloomfield Road.

However, it was another lacklustre display by the Blues and, despite taking the lead through Didier Drogba, they couldn’t maintain their slender advantage as Everton’s Jermaine Beckford rescued a point for the Toffees.

It was the least Everton deserved after a battling display but Chelsea will be left to rue yet another poor display which means they have won one of their last six league encounters.

Under-pressure Ancelotti has admitted Chelsea need to get things sorted quickly but with games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal to come Chelsea need to rediscover their form quickly.

“It’s difficult to understand. We have had a lot of injuries but now we have some of them recovering and they played today, like John Terry and Michael Essien,” said the Italian.

“I think they did well. Now we have to work on getting (Frank) Lampard back and work harder than we have done recently.”

As Chelsea struggle for a win, Tottenham’s recent run of good form hit something of a stumbling block as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Birmingham, despite having taken the lead.

St Andrew’s isn’t quite the fortress it was last season and Spurs could have put the game to bed had they taken their chances. With Manchester City (4/11 top four finish) having beaten Bolton (40/1) 1-0 at Eastlands, Spurs (15/8) find themselves with a three-point gap to make up if they want to return to the Champions League next season.

Redknapp says he wasn’t happy settling for a point as he believes Tottenham can beat anyone this season and claims three points was there for the taking against Birmingham.

“I fancy us to play anybody. I really thought we’d come here and win,” said Redknapp. “I was disappointed in the end because I thought there was three points here for us.

“While two of London’s premier clubs were struggling Arsenal enjoyed a great day at the Emirates Stadium for once as they climbed to the top of the league with victory over Fulham.

The Gunners are now top for the first time this season and are priced at 10/3 to win the league, thanks to Samir Nasri’s double against the Cottages.With Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie having struggled with injuries Nasri has stepped up and been Arsenal’s star man thus far, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.

Manager Arsene Wenger was quick to praise the French midfielder after he saved his side yet again.

“It’s always difficult to compare,” Wenger said when asked whether he thought Nasri had been one of the Premier League’s star players this season. “But what is important when you are a manager is you want to get the best out of a player and I always was a strong believer in him.

“Many people questioned me when I took him here but he is showing that he is an exceptional talent and I think there is more to come from him. While life is going swimmingly for Arsenal, things at the bottom for Wolves got a lot gloomier on Saturday as they were hammered 3-0 by Blackburn.

That result moved Wolves (4/7 to be relegated) to the foot of the table, courtesy of their goal difference, and manager Mick McCarthy was his usual black and white self as he took aim at his side’s poor defensive performance.

“We started the game really well as everyone knows who watched it and then defended badly,” said McCarthy. “We just had a bad day defensively that’s for sure because we had chances.

“But that doesn’t matter when you’re three goals down.”

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Leeds

The Elland Road outfit may have limped over the line to finish as runners-up in League One last season, but it was enough to get them back in the second tier of English football.

And now Grayson is looking to kick on by insisting he is not just going up into the Championship next term to make up the numbers.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I’m not going to settle for finishing fourth from bottom and staying up.

“It’s a risky strategy anyway and a negative way to look at things. To be honest, I don’t think that many people in Leeds would see it as an achievement.

“Most people would probably see it as a disappointment and I accept that.

“Staying up is your first target but I won’t be the only manager who’s looking at the Championship and seeing a wide open league.

“Twelve teams could have a real chance, maybe more. I said in May that I go into every season looking for promotion and I still believe it might be a possibility.”

Totesport makes Nottingham Forest the 8/1 favourites to win the Championship next term, with Middlesbrough (9/1) and Queens Park Rangers (10/1) just behind them.

Leeds must do without the goals of Jermaine Beckford next season after the striker made the move to the Premier League with Everton.

Billy Paynter has been snapped up from Swindon as his replacement although Grayson is still weighing up whether or not to make permanent moves for last season’s loan stars, Michael Doyle and Neill Collins.

Grayson added: “They’re players who did really well for us last season but they’re obviously tied to other clubs.

“I’m not going to say we will try to sign them or that we won’t. It’s a case of looking at all the options and seeing what’s best for the club.

“We’re at the end of June and there’s no need for clubs or players to rush into decisions.”

Leeds kick off their season with a home clash against Derby on August 7.

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Spain striker Fernando Torres has revealed he is optimistic of being fit to play in Spain’s opening game of the tournament on June 16 against Switzerland.

“I’m very well, happy with the progress of the injury. Since January I’ve had two operations, and that isn’t easy,” he told Marca.

“Everything went very well with the first and in the second the objective was to be ready between six and seven weeks, and I’m at the start of the sixth.

“I will do a few more days of specific work and, God willing, I’ll be 100 per cent for the first game of the World Cup for sure.”

Torres was asked if he feels any additional pressure to become the tournaments leading goalscorer and claim the golden boot.

“No, but I know that, along with (David) Villa, I’m lucky enough to be one of the strikers in a team that are among the favourites, and that brings certain privileges,” he explained.

“It’s been a very difficult season. When you start a campaign you hope you will be able to fulfil your dreams, winning titles, not having injuries, enjoying yourselves, and it has been just the opposite,” he added.

“But there is always a tomorrow in football and this summer, the World Cup.

“I’ve put aside the club, the bad season, and I want to finish in the best way possible way by making history with my county.

Spain are currently favourites to win the World Cup at 5.25 with Fernando Torres available at 21.00 to win the Golden Ball.  Be sure to catch those odds as Torres is bound to attract a lot of interest in the Golden Ball stakes with the news of his recovery.

Related posts:

1. Spain Look To Send A World Cup Message Against France
2. Will Torres feature when Liverpool fixtures start in July?
3. Four European Places Left at the 2010 World Cup Finals

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