Barça go into Sunday’s clasico on an unbeaten run of seven games, having lost their last game on November 10th at Getafe. The performance at Getafe was quite awful and there were many suggestions that only a complete change in the management structure could save Barça, Jose Mourinho’s name was mentioned as the only one who could turn things around.

The week after the Getafe game Jose Edmilson made some controversial comments about there being black sheep in Barça’s dressing room, he received a lot of criticism as well as some applause for making these remarks. Without being inside the dressing room it is difficult to know what effect these comments had, however, the results since have been positive and the performances have been better.

One big change is that Frank Rijkaard has realised that Ronaldinho is not untouchable. Ronaldinho hasn’t started an away game since Getafe, with Iniesta in his place and Gudjohnsen in midfield Barça have looked a more gutsy outfit. The message to all the players has been that the most in form will play. Zambrotta has also been dropped after some less than convincing performances.

Ronaldinho seems to be responding, reports say that he was one of the best in yesterday’s training session. He is still not the player that thrilled us in his first three seasons, but he seems to be going in the right direction and there are signs that he is working hard. Criticism seems to hurt him and he a player who needs to feel the love of the fans, I think his pride is making him wake up and we will see more improvement in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid scraped a 1-1 draw last night in the first leg of the Copa del Rey tie with Alicante. There are no reports of any injuries to any Madrid players so they will be at full strength for Sunday’s game. Madrid’s team last night was: Dudek, Salgado, Metzelder, Heinze, Torres, Gago, Guti, Robben, Drenthe, Higuian, Saviola.