Carlo has Clasico upper hand now

LA LIGA:

In their first meeting as new coaches of Spain’s big two clubs, Barcelona’s Gerardo Martino had soundly beaten Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti’s selection for that game misfired horribly. Sergio Ramos was completely lost in midfield, while a half-fit Gareth Bale was similarly disorientated as a ‘false nine’ up front.

Meanwhile, Martino’s decision to trust in new big-money signing Neymar came up trumps, as the Brazilian starred in a 2-1 win which sent Barcelona six points clear atop the Primera Division.

The mood in and around both camps is completely different now ahead of the season’s second Clasico — when Barcelona visit Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabeu tomorrow evening.

That selection decision at the Camp Nou could well be the last mistake Ancelotti has made.

The switch a few weeks later to a 4-3-3, which offers balance in midfield and has Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale roaring down each wing, has so far been a huge success. In 2014 Madrid’s goals record is 48 for, just seven against.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti has healed all the wounds inherited from Jose Mourinho’s turbulent final year in charge — in both dressing room and press room. Players and pundits are currently unanimous in singing the Italian’s praises. Which is not surprising considering Madrid are unbeaten since that night at the Camp Nou — 31 games in all competitions. A 10-point swing in the table has seen them come from behind to move four points ahead of their Catalan rivals.

After Madrid had eased past Schalke 9-2 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, Ancelotti admitted things were rosy at the Bernabeu.

“For sure we come into the game in better form than the first meeting,” he said. “We have improved a lot. The atmosphere is good and healthy. We are very excited and motivated.”

Things have turned for Martino too, but in the opposite direction. Barca have been haemorrhaging points for months as they dropped to third in the table. Neymar is no longer a successful signing but a symbol of how badly the club has been run. A court investigation into that transfer saw Sandro Rosell — who personally chose Martino last summer — step down as president in January.

Catalan journalists have (so far) gone easy on Neymar and Rosell, but every defeat brings criticism of Martino’s tactical approach, amid a feeling that he does not ‘get’ the club’s tiki-taka style.

Although in public the senior players all stand behind their boss, leaks have suggested the dressing room has also been less than impressed.

Before the recent impressive Champions League last 16 victory over Manchester City, Martino had to again remind sceptical local reporters that he had the backing of his own team.

“I feel 100% backed by my players,” Martino said. “Without a doubt. That is probably my biggest motivation. I never think I need to talk about what I should do next season, or my own position.”

The statement was pretty clear, but stopped short of a rousing confirmation he wanted to stay for next season. And it has since been confirmed by Barca’s board that a clause exists which could see either side end their relationship this summer.

Ancelotti and Martino are actually quite similarly relaxed characters who are more interested in the game than in media spin.

The Italian’s greater experience of working at a big European club has clearly been an advantage, while a lot of the issues at Barcelona are well outside of Martino’s control.

Nevertheless a loss tomorrow would see the Argentine looking to the Champions League to save his season (and maybe his job). While even a draw would leave Ancelotti sitting pretty as his first campaign at Madrid reaches its critical juncture.