Barca hero Eto’o has point to prove
The striker, who began his career at Madrid but who never got his chance there, is now a hero at the Nou Camp.
“I think he will get a reception similar to that which Luis Figo got when he returned to Barcelona,” said Madrid defender Ivan Helguera.
Ronaldo was even harsher on the Cameroon international.
“He will be treated as he deserves to be treated,” added Ronaldo. “I don’t know what sort of treatment he had when he was at the club, but when he left, he said some things that were not very clever.”
But Barca midfielder Xavi Hernandez believes the criticism will merely bring the best out of Eto’o.
“It won’t affect him and it would be hard to find anyone who is more motivated that Samuel,” he said.
One point separates the sides but there has been a world of difference in the football they have produced.
Barcelona, who lie second, had a slow start to the campaign, but Frank Rijkaard’s men have put together a devastating run of form in the past month, scoring 18 goals with just one against in their last five matches.
Eto’o’s form has been vital to that run. He already leads the scoring charts with 10 goals, while Ronaldinho is producing his best football again.
They could, however, miss the injured Mark van Bommel in midfield.
Real have had to be pragmatic in their approach to recent matches. A long injury list has limited coach Wanderley Luxemburgo’s options, with Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Ivan Helguera, Jonathan Woodgate, Michel Salgado, Julio Cesar Baptista and Thomas Gravesen all sidelined.
Madrid won 2-0 away to a Real Betis side with even more injuries than they had three weeks ago and then needed two penalties before defeating a defensive Zaragoza 1-0 in their last league game.
Losing Ronaldo would harm any team’s chances, but the fact is that neither Baptista or Zidane had enjoyed good starts to the season, while Gravesen has slipped out of favour since the arrival of Pablo Garcia.
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