Barca win will fill Madrid with "fear"

Posted Saturday, April 21, 2012 by ESPN

Former Real Madrid player Fernando Morientes thinks the club will not succeed in their title ambitions if they lose El Clasico.

Real Madrid currently sit at the top of La Liga with no chance of being overhauled by rivals Barcelona, regardless of the El Clasico result.

Nevertheless, Morientes has warned the club's current squad that allowing the Catalans to close the gap to a single point could be psychologically damaging.

"If Barca win they will fill Madrid with fear in their bodies, because in just a short time they will have seen their 10-point cushion [dramatically] reduced, the psychological aspect will be a determining factor in the game." he said to Cadena Cope.

Los Blancos have not had much success in their previous encounters with Barcelona, but the Spaniard believes attempting to curb their natural attacking instincts could cost Real dearly.

"Madrid cannot play for a draw. They have to go to win, to attack and play the football that their players are capable of. If the game gets difficult, they can start thinking about just getting a draw." Morientes shared.

"However, there is a lot of risk attached to just thinking about trying to defend against a team like Barcelona."

Unlike Morientes, former Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster believes a draw might be the most beneficial result for Jose Mourinho's team given the circumstances.

"Barca and Madrid reach this stage tired, which is normal, a draw will be good for Madrid, but victory would give them the league title." he said to COM Radio.

"I do not see Mourinho trying to win, he will not take risks, he has never done that in matches like this. Losing the Liga like this would be disastrous."

Barcelona host Real Madrid in the El Clasico tonight [Saturday].