Champions League: Spanish clash will 'go down in folklore'
Barcelona coach Carles Rexach believes their titanic Champions League clash with Real Madrid could go down in Spanish folklore.
Barca face their bitter rivals at the Nou Camp in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals tonight, and Rexach feels the all-Spanish clash will capture the country’s imagination.
‘‘There is no doubt this game will be remembered,’’ Rexach said. ‘‘Maybe it is the most important match in my career as a manager.
‘‘It is obvious it’s a different kind of match, as it is Barca-Real. And for Madrid, this is the most important semi-final in the last few years, and that stands as much for Barcelona.
‘‘But whoever wants glory needs to be prepared for failure. I don’t want to knock out Real Madrid and to fall in the final.’’
Rexach will be without talismanic forward Rivaldo as the Brazilian picked up a knock during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo.
He is also without Carles Puyol, his most improved defender, after the right back limped off the Balaidos pitch early.
Because of the injuries, the side virtually picks itself.
Italian Francesco Coco has recovered from the ankle injury which kept him out of the Celta match and should play at left back, with Michael Reiziger featuring on the right.
Rexach is expected to go for experience in the middle of defence, meaning Philippe Christanval will have to be content with a seat on the bench, with Abelardo and Frank de Boer taking the starting spots.
Without Xavi, Rexach’s midfield is likely to be made up of Philip Cocu, Fabio Rochemback and Luis Enrique with Dutch flyer Marc Overmars on the left.
Patrick Kluivert has recovered from knee problems and will return to attack, where he is set to be accompanied by Javier Saviola.
Madrid took four points from their rivals in the league this season thanks to a 2-0 home win and 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp, but Vicente Del Bosque said: ‘‘I think it is very even and there is no favourite. What happened in the league isn’t worth anything.
‘‘We are two clubs who have always defended Spanish football with dignity and this semi-final is a blessing.
‘‘But I don’t want to make predictions, we are two teams who are going to look to qualify, and if there are no big surprises the game will be decided in the Bernabeu next week.’’
Luis Figo (banned) and Fernando Morientes (thigh) are the big absentees for Real, who could also be without Zinedine Zidane and Santiago Hernan Solari.
