The late novelist David Foster Wallace once wrote an essay on Rodger Federer entitled “Rodger Federer as a religious experience”. In it he defines what he describes as Federer moments. He explains “These are times, as you watch the young Swiss play, when the jaw drops and eyes protrude and sounds are made that bring spouses in from other rooms to see if you’re O.K.”
In the midst of Barcelona’s five goal trouncing of Real Madrid last November Wayne Rooney admitted that his wife ran into his living room to see what the commotion was about. Rooney was on his feet clapping; having a Barcelona moment.
We have all been there. No side has delivered moments of mesmerising motion with such regularity as the current European champions. They have done so despite their eternal foes Real Madrid figuratively and sometimes literally, poking them in the eye.
Tonight though, might very well see Real and Jose Mourinho landing a knockout blow in the fight for the La Liga title. Should Real win, they will go six points clear of Barcelona with a game in hand. A possible nine point gap should not be insurmountable at this stage of a season but it will be given Real’s devastating form and the vast chasm that separates the top two from the rest in the league.
Mourinho’s side are experiencing second season syndrome under the Portuguese but it is the sensational kind. They are on a winning streak that now stretches to fifteen games. Hardly any have been close. Real’s matches are now defined by a wave of white shirts descending on the opposition with an almost violent glee.
Cristiano Ronaldo was often called upon last season to pull Real out of the fire, now he is merely the tip of the sword. Xabi Alonso is controlling games from his quarterback station. Karim Benzema said this week that Mourinho has turned him into a lion. Sami Khedira is flourishing; Gonzalo Higuain is scoring and Real frankly, have been better than anyone on the continent this season including Barca.
The Catalans have been brilliant at home, mediocre away. A perfect Camp Nou record has been balanced with only two wins away from there, both by single goals. Their dependence on Lionel Messi is starting to mirror Real and Ronaldo last season.
That said, they remain the benchmark and in a lot of ways remain Real’s Everest. It has been three and a half years since Madrid won a clasico. They have been humbled in a few of those. Barca’s possession game is a nut that Real have yet to crack and it will be fascinating to see just what Mourinho has in store tonight.
Everyone knows how Barca play but hardly any can stop it. Despite Pep Guardiola experimenting with three at the back this season, the fundamental way they play has not changed. Their two major summer signings Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez are a tad more direct and the latest star to roll off of the La Masia production line; Isaac Cuenca is also more of a classic winger. But they are merely strings added to the bow. The blueprint has not altered; it is up to Jose to finally crack it.
Last summer yours truly had a personal Barcelona moment. Standing pitchside at FedEx field in Washington, I was mere yards away from Andres Inestia and Xavi as they started pinging the ball to each other. They were soon joined by Sergio Busquets and Jonathan with the unfortunate youngster tasked with the impossible job of trying to win the ball. His effort was astonishing, and in this simple drill the Barcelona success story could be mapped out. Effortless one touch passing and a relentless drive to win the ball back.
Mourinho tried going toe to toe with them last November with ritual humiliation the result. He deployed Pepe as the cat amongst the pigeons in the champion’s league last March only to see the cumbersome centre half sent off and the two legged tie settled in the first.
Real’s assistant manager Aitor Karenka faced the media in Mourinho’s place this week and said they do not need to change anything and he may well be right. Real counter attack better than anyone and should their runners isolate Barcelona’s defenders than it could be a long night in the capital for the champions. That said, Real will need to be quick. When Barca hunt for the ball they do so in packs and high up the field. If however, the first pass is quick and accurate, away from that pack then space will open up, space that Real above all can exploit.
Pep Guardiola likes to spring a surprise in the clasicos and what that could be is anyone’s guess. Perhaps it will be that Barca will sit deeper without the ball. Real need space to power into. Barca could be content to keep the ball and work for a single opening instead of inviting the greatest counter attacking force in the world on them.
Of course many games of this importance are settled by a moment. Genius from Messi, or perhaps a Madrid sending off. There have been many Madrid moments in the recent history between the clubs. Pepe or Ramos being sent off, Mourinho poking Tito Vilanova in the eye. But now is the time for another Madrid moment.
One that will make or jaws drop and eyes protrude and one that has Wayne Rooney clapping in his living room.
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