Bernabeu Bites: Preparing for a Camp Nou invasion

Welcome to Bernabeu Bites where every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday we take you around the world of Real Madrid, Spain's top flight La Liga and European Football all in bite size form. So grab your favorite beverage sit back relax and enjoy.

One leg down, and one more to go in the Supercopa. And again, I'll be other wise busy (the work of a chef is never done) though I do plan on pulling it up on the computer at work when I can. And on a related note, I was able to pick up a Real Madrid jersey yesterday as I was in Seattle for a Mariners game. Last years kit, but still. OK enough of the small talk, it's time to get to the news.

Lets start it off with a transfer rumor, I mean the window is still open so really anything can happen. Though like I preface every transfer rumor, take this one with a grain of salt. The rumor according to Tribal Football, is that Inter Milan is targeting not one, but three Real Madrid squad members. Their shopping list includes: Gonzalo Higuian, Marcelo and Angel Di Maria. Really? Why not throw the rest of the team on that list...

While it will be no walk in the park Karim Benzema is confident that Los Blancos will take home the Supercopa silverware, especially if they maintain possession like they did in the first leg.

"Two great teams did battle but in all honesty I think Madrid clearly deserved to win. Many things have changed from last season. We had a monopoly on possession and we did not let them play.

"That is exactly what you must do against a team like Barca. We now know that we are more than capable of winning tomorrow and lifting the Supercopa. I am sure that the second leg will be an open game and we will go for victory.''

The only reason I'm including this particular article is because it's from my local newspaper (if you can call it that). But its seems Real Madrid's signing of a 7 year-old has made it's way all the way over to the West Coast. It's a couple bullet points down, but it's there. And like most, he has no clue really about what is going on. Which as I'm sure you know is typical, and even more so in a small Navy town such as Bremerton.

Here's a couple quotes from los blancos skipper Iker Casillas, the first one is in regards to the first leg of the El Clasico, the second is basically telling the press to get off new Manchester United goal Keeper David De Gea. Who if you haven't watched Sky Sports, the football pundits are all over him like white on rice.

Iker on the Supercopa:

"I think we played very well and created good ball movement, but you sometimes fail to win despite keeping possession. We had more chances on goal. We have to continue getting into shape. Barcelona scored when they hadn't had any chances. I think we positioned ourselves well."

Iker on Manchester United's goal keeper :

"He is only 20. He has a long road ahead of him but he is a great person and a good professional."

I find it just amazing how much the English Press is all over David De Gea, the only way though he wouldn't have been thrown under the bus was with a clean sheet (even then I bet they'd find something to bitch about). Hopefully the kid can deal with the pressure, he did look a bit unsure of himself at times - and the first goal he let in from West Brom was one that should have been saved.  

But when you're living in the shadow of Edwin Van Der Sar it's going to be a uphill battle. And while I have no love for Manchester United, I hope the kid does well.

We're only a couple weeks away from another trophy (that is if we can shut down Barca in the second leg of the Supercopa) as Real Madrid will take on Galatasary in the 33rd edition of the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy which is set to take place on Wednesday August 24th.