Weren't Real just as dominant last season? The only difference this year is that Barca hasn't started off with a hypernova-style BANg which they kept up for the whole season. When you have Kaka, Higuain, Ronaldo, Oetzil AND Benzema in your team surely you should be able to put some goals past teams like Recreativo and Sociedad?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it this way.

Well, last year we beat them in Madrid, and they also lost 4-0 to that third division team. This season they're devastating, you can feel it by watching their games. I'd put my money on them for La Liga.

Still, when has Real cared about the Copa del Rey? Even Barca got hammered by Getafe in the Cup a couple of years ago, at the time when they were dominating La Liga. I remember Real being just as devastating under Pellegrino (when they after all finished with more points than any other season in their history).

Copa del Rey or not, losing 4-0 to a third division team is quite pathetic. But forget that, the main reason why Madrid will win this season (I hope not) is because they simply have a much better team than last season, with a much better coach as well.

I'd agree with both thesis. It is naturally true that Mourinho is the better coach and that this squad is stronger for a duo of Özil and Khedira, plus Ricardo Carvalho.

On the other hand Barcelona is badly of. Years of winning and financial insecurty made their impact.

Also, I'd like to point out that teams with many national players usually performing well this season made a slower or even bad start - like Bayern München, HSV, Atletico, Juventus even Barca.

Sevilla won 4-3 in a very entertaining game today, though littered with refereeing mistakes. Villarreal beat Atletico 2-0.

Mourinho's unbeaten home record is now upto 140 games, going back 9 years. It's just getting silly now.

Miguel Garcia of Salamanca had a heart attack this weekend and was 'dead' for 25 seconds. Fortunately the ne law in Spain to have defibrillaters present at every sporting venue saved his life.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Oh man!

Recovering from a heart attack at this age?! that's a miracle.

Barca won 8-0 at Almeria. Messi (3), Bojan (2), Iniesta, Pedro and OG.

Real beat Bilbao 5-1. Ronaldo (3, 1 pen), Ramos (pen) and Higuain for Madrid. Llorente for Bilbao.

This season we've seen way too many goleadas, but they've all come from inferior leagues such as the Scottish or Dutch league. I never thought we'd see a 0-8 result in Spain, even if it's Barcelona we're talking about.

This post has been edited by X-Offender: Nov 21 2010, 04:02 AM

El Clasico. 15 minutes. Hala Madrid.

2-0 already, Pepe and Casillas doing nothing to help.

Madrid penalty not given, Valdes should have been off too.