Former Real Madrid star Jose Maria Gutierrez, wey plenty people sabi as Guti, don light fire before di first El Clasico of di 2026-2027 season. Thirteen days before di eagerly awaited clash at di Camp Nou, Guti drop provocative comments wey shake Barcelona. Di former midfielder tok say di league leaders no go fit crush Los Blancos, and he challenge di Blaugrana over dia eternal hang-up: di Champions League.
Barcelona go host Real Madrid on Sunday 25 October for di Camp Nou, and di debate don start early. On paper, di hosts hold clear advantage. Dem dey top of di table, six points clear of fourth-placed Real Madrid, with goal difference of +16 in di Blaugrana favour. But those numbers no sway Guti. He drop shock line on di famous programme ‘El Chiringuito’: ‘It is obvious that Barcelona will not crush Real Madrid.’
Di former midfielder no stop there. He issue direct challenge to him old rivals: ‘Barcelona are missing the Champions League title, let’s see whether they are capable of competing for it.’ Guti back up him point by arguing say Barcelona, so far dis season, ‘have not come up against any side who can compete with them, like Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid’. Di real test, him reckon, still dey come. Six Champions League titles in recent years for di white shirts na di figure he reach for, and e remain hang-up in Catalonia.
Even so, Guti no deny him old rivals strength. He acknowledge say Barcelona possess aspects wey set dem apart from Real Madrid. ‘They are a great team and they have a calm that Real Madrid lack,’ Guti tok. He add inside one striking analysis: ‘They attract players from abroad, and when they perform well and win, they look better than they actually are.’ By contrast, Guti reveal di secret of Real Madrid strength, wey he still believe in: ‘I have noticed a strong sense of unity at Real Madrid, and even if they lose three matches, they will carry on in the same manner.’
Real Madrid and Barcelona go face off for di first El Clasico of di season on October 25 as Los Blancos make di trip north to Catalonia. Di clash get plenty extra spice, following di return of Jose Mourinho over di summer at di Estadio Bernabeu, as he prepare to lock horns with La Blaugrana. Di defending champions don superb so far dis season, winning all eight LaLiga games, as Mourinho team manage just six victories. Defeats to Real Betis and Atletico Madrid mean Mourinho dey play catch up. But one of him former stars from iconic first spell in charge dey confident say di derby go bring di best from Real Madrid, as Guti claim say Barca no be as invincible as dem seem.
Guti still maintain: ‘Obviously, Barca are not going to thrash Real Madrid in El Clasico.’ He also tok say: ‘This current Barca team are still missing a Champions League title, so let’s see if they can fight for it.’ According to am, ‘So far this season, there has been no team that can match them. They’re a great team have a composure that Real Madrid currently lack.’ He add: ‘They bring in players from abroad who, if they play well and win, seem better than they actually are. Real Madrid are a team with a great sense of unity, and even if they lose three games, they’ll continue the same.’
