Are Barca & Real The World’s Two Best Clubs?

This could lead to a heated debate as the implications transcend beyond choosing the best club to include the competitive nature of some of Europe’s top leagues (namely the English Premier League, the Spanish la Liga and Italian Serie A). English and Italian fans may disagree but Barcelona’s players have clearly staked a claim to the title of the best club in 2009 considering they have won the treble- la Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League of course.

The Catalan club’s ranks include the likes of Lionel Messi, who recently won the Ballon d’Or, Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Spain’s Xavi and Andres Iniesta as well as France’s Thierry Henry not to mention club captain Carles Puyol. All these players would talk into any team at any chosen time given their achievements and form. Barca’s players are key components in one of the most entertaining teams in the world not just now but perhaps over the decades given the fact the team plays slick passing, scores from different sources and through various players, and of course has Lio Messi.

As for Real Madrid, the management has spent staggering amounts on restarting a new Galacticos era after the purchase of Cristiano Rolando, Brazilian Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Frenchman Karim Benzema. Los Blancos may lack the discipline and the free-flowing football approach of their bitter rivals Barca but this is due to the fact the new players, most of whom are stars in their own right, will require a necessary period of adjustment to gel with the other squad members. On any given night, former Manchester United star Ronaldo can score an astonishing goal or San Siro icon Kaka can create something magnificent out of what appears to be ordinary. Those two players need little introduction and are by far the club’s biggest names, but attention must be paid to some of the other club players such as Xabi Alonso.

Alonso had a great season with Liverpool prior to his summer move to Madrid and since his departure the Reds have stuttered and been quite inconsistent. His move away from Anfield is obviously not the only reason for Liverpool’s struggles but even by captain Steve Gerrard’s admission Alonso was one of the club’s main protagonists and a key component in the charge to second place in the league in 2008-09.

Both Barca and Real are competing for la Liga title and are still in the running for the Champions League trophy. Barca have yet to lose in la Liga while Los Blancos suffered two defeats, including the El Clasico  in the Camp Nou. Clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea and perhaps Italian league leaders Inter may argue against labeling the two Spanish giants as the two best clubs at the moment but Barca properly dealt with Inter head-to-head in the Champions League group stage. Manchester United and Chelsea have been inconsistent and at the moment are not on the same level with the two Spanish sides.

At least for the moment the Catalans appear as the World’s best and as long as they remain in contention in la Liga and continue to challenge in Europe then there is little to be said or written about Barca’s status. As for Los Galacticos, they are beginning to work better together and once they gel the players will form a lethal threat to any team in Europe and the world. One must remember the club missed Ronaldo and Kaka has yet to hit top form.

Are Barca & Real the Best Now?(polls)