I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

It’s unlikely to view the four matches separately.

The two teams must either make a comprehensive plan for all four matches or adjust their strategies as the games progress.

However, the specific preparations and match progress are unpredictable, as this is not just one match, but a series of high-stakes derbies within a short period.

To what extent do both coaches believe that the La Liga title contention is already settled? Will their ideas in this regard affect Saturday’s match?

Will the tactical deployment for Saturday’s league match be influenced by the King’s Cup final four days later?

In the case of consecutive encounters, how can the two teams detach from past and future, focusing on the present?

They know each other very well. In such circumstances, will there still be any surprise tactics appearing? Who has more room for change? Will changes bring benefits? Will Saturday’s league match be a rehearsal for the subsequent three matches?

Due to the recovery of Abidal and Puyol, Barcelona currently only has Pique as the sole specialist center-back.

In view of this, will Real Madrid specifically target Pique in Saturday’s league match to get him sent off with a red card, causing him to miss next week’s King’s Cup final?

Will they provoke Messi to make him miss the subsequent King’s Cup final or the Champions League semi-final?

Will Barcelona provoke Chen Zhong as well?

Several Real Madrid players are close to suspension, will Barcelona intentionally formulate targeted plans to get Real Madrid players carded?

Mourinho’s encounters with Barcelona have always been filled with endless grievances.

The rebellious and powerful disciple being expelled from the sect, only to return to seek revenge, is a classic plot in martial arts novels, a trope even seen in the American film "Kung Fu Panda".

In the world of football, the relationship between Mourinho and Barcelona also fits this pattern well. "Barcelona vs Mourinho," is the title given by Spanish football journalist Ramon Bessa to his coverage, stating that this clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid feels more like a war between Barcelona and Mourinho, a confrontation between Barcelona’s football philosophy and a top-tier strategist as Real Madrid’s head coach.

This is also a challenge never experienced by both clubs before: four great battles possibly within 18 days.

Few matches can exceed the excitement level of a Barcelona vs Real Madrid game when it comes to stirring up fan emotions.

Four encounters within 18 days have heightened everyone’s expectations to an unbearable level, akin to an NBA playoffs series where the two teams engage in a series of fierce battles.

Without precedents to refer to in such a situation, predicting the final outcome is impossible. Notably, this is also a clash of two entirely distinct football philosophies, an open and covert battle between two different types of coaches, and a life-and-death duel between two major stars (Messi and Chen Zhong).

Ramon Bessa states that it’s the best for Barcelona to defend its regal status, especially when considering Barcelona’s exquisite football taste, and at the same time, there’s no more rebellious "insurgent" than Real Madrid, who think day and night on how to overthrow Barcelona’s rule.

This time beyond the traditional enmity between Real Madrid and Barcelona, there’s an added hatred between Mourinho and Barcelona.

Since Mourinho started coaching Chelsea, every collision between him and Barcelona has been like a clash between Mars and Earth. After making a series of remarks like "11 vs 11, I have never lost to Barcelona," and "Messi should take up acting," Mourinho secured the title of "Barcelona’s number one enemy" bestowed by the Catalans.

In the second leg of last season’s Champions League semi-final, at the Camp Nou, 10-man Inter, relying on perfect defense, eliminated Barcelona to reach the Champions League final after a 38-year absence. Mourinho, in wild celebration, defied the 100,000-strong local crowd, angering Valdes and countless Barcelona fans, yet the proud madman was unfazed and boldly claimed, "I would never coach Barcelona."

Now, with Real Madrid and Barcelona set to meet four times in 18 days, there are no historic scenarios to refer to, yet it’s hard to imagine one team consistently dominating the other.

In the upcoming matches, the lineup arrangements and on-the-spot management of both head coaches will play a critical role.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are teams with clear directions.

Barcelona centers its football around Messi, and the Argentine has also reclaimed his best form as the crucial matches approach.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, structures its football around Chen Zhong. Compared to Barcelona, Real Madrid prefers physical confrontations and evidently hopes to defeat Barcelona in all competitions.

Mourinho is very adept at mano-a-mano confrontations, having much experience in this regard.

In the recent away game against Athletic Bilbao, Mourinho employed his B plan, allowing main players some rest. Undoubtedly, Mourinho made such arrangements completely in preparation for the upcoming epic clash and the King’s Cup final.

The inclusion of Adebayor, along with the recovery of Higuain and Kaka, provides Mourinho with a deep lineup, allowing him to challenge effortlessly based on the match situation.

In contrast, Barcelona lacks the depth of Real Madrid, thus, their rotation wasn’t as extensive. Against Almeria, aside from Villa, Pedro, and Adriano sitting on the bench, stars like Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi still had to start as usual.

Worse still, Barcelona forward Bojan suffered an injury to his left knee, being substituted out, sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks, virtually marking an early end to his season. Apart from the frontline, Barcelona’s defense has been stretched thin with Puyol’s persistent injury woes and Abidal’s illness.

The absence of these two players has weakened the aggressiveness of Barcelona’s football and their pressing against opponents.

While Real Madrid can plan for each game, Guardiola can only determine strategies based on each competition.

Overall, both Real Madrid and Barcelona are in prime form, with each team feeling they have entered a positive cycle. Whether Barcelona or Real Madrid, both still have three titles to compete for, which highly satisfies the club executives.

The Spanish media believes this proves the greatness of Spanish football as world and European champions. Now, Barcelona and Real Madrid will determine the true king. However, there might not be a definite winner in the end, for both teams could share the titles, consequently proving their philosophies effective: Barcelona’s emphasis on youth academy vs. Real Madrid’s hefty investments in signing superstars.

Guardiola has always sought revenge against Mourinho, after his Barcelona was ousted by Mourinho’s Inter in last year’s Champions League semi-final. This time, meeting the Portuguese once more in the Champions League semi-final offers the best opportunity for revenge.

No matter what, it is Guardiola and Mourinho who draft the plans, yet it falls upon Messi and Chen Zhong to enact them. The coaches’ guidance paired with the players’ execution will determine the course of the four epic battles.

Before the National Derby, former stars of Real Madrid and Barcelona often become the subject of media interviews, and if these stars manage to express some fiery remarks, they become even more popular, with Bulgaria’s "Thunderbolt Fire" Stoichkov being one of them.

Before this National Derby, Stoichkov stated that during his playing days, he never considered donning Real Madrid’s white jersey. Additionally, he remarked on how the La Liga title race is slightly in favor of Real Madrid in terms of points, yet he believes Barcelona will claim the ultimate victory.

Moreover, he stated his belief that Barcelona will win the King’s Cup and reach the Champions Cup final.

It’s even possible for them to achieve the "Triple Crown".

Additionally, he openly mocked, saying: "Real Madrid has never had a Triple Crown."

"Chen is far from being comparable to Messi."