Barcelona and Real Madrid have turned their full attention to this weekend's Clásico at Camp Nou. The two strongest teams in Spanish football will meet for the first time this season, with Barcelona looking to make a strong statement in the league.
At the NACEX Challenge held this Thursday at Barcelona Golf Club, former players from both clubs shared their thoughts on the match. Sergi Barjuán noted that Real Madrid has already begun "playing" this Clásico in the offices and press conferences. "Honestly, it would be great if everyone just talked about football and entertainment. The place for players to speak is on the pitch."
"Everyone has the right to express their opinion and evaluate what they see fit. Barcelona speaks on the field, and that's where the difference between the two sides is reflected. There are indeed differences in refereeing decisions, and some people want to overlook these. As long as they don't want to see it, they won't watch the replay. The same applies the other way around. We all know Mourinho; everyone only looks out for themselves. I know him personally and I know his temperament," he added.
Despite believing Barcelona is the favorite, Barjuán predicted a closely contested match between the old rivals: "Barça has good momentum, and the statistics say it all. But we're talking about the Clásico, and the Clásico is not an ordinary match. Real Madrid just played a brilliant winning match in the Champions League and has strong morale, but from the perspective of overall structure, physical condition, and results, I still think Barça is stronger."
In an interview with Sport, Cristian Tello said he was "very much looking forward" to watching the Clásico. "This match will be very open, and I hope Barça wins." The Sabadell native announced his retirement in early September, just over a month ago. He also praised Espartaco for his "truly brilliant performance" against PSG.
"I'm very happy to see so many young players in Barça's first team. This speaks well of the club and the academy, and it reflects the results of work at the grassroots level. Espartaco played a truly brilliant game against PSG. It's good news that he can perform at this level after being given the opportunity," he concluded.
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