I've a horrible sinking feeling that Real might even manage to do a job on Barca. They managed to negate them pretty successfully in the last two encounters, it's not pretty to watch, but it's been effective. I didn't have any doubt that that's the way Mourinho would try to play it, I just didn't think Madrid would have it in them to do an "Inter 2010" on Barca. They brilliantly utilised Pepe as an auxillary midfielder, and it worked.
Real will try to pack the midfield again, and coupled with Barca having no fit left back in the squad, I can see them winning on Wednesday. I just hope that the game is a bit more open than the Copa Del Rey Final, the more open the game, the better the chance Barca have.
In order for Madrid to have any chance of progressing to the final, I think they'll need to win on Wednesday night by two clear goals. That will give them something to defend at Camp Nou, and they've shown in the last two Classico's that they can defend when they need to.
As for the other game, I just hope Schalke can end this talk of a Manc league and CL double. I'm fucking sick of hearing it.