Guardiola: Real have fitness edge

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believes Real Madrid’s advanced state of preparation gives them the edge in the Spanish Super Cup.

La Liga champions Barca and Copa del Rey winners Real resume hostilities in the curtain-raiser to the Spanish season, with the first leg to be played in Madrid on Sunday.

Following the absence of several players on Copa America duty during the off-season, Guardiola claims to have only had the entire squad together for two days in total, predicting Real will be closer to their peak.

“We’ve only been two days all together and Madrid has had a flawless preseason,” Guardiola said.

“From what I’ve seen, they’re just like they were last year.”

The Super Cup is the latest instalment in a flurry of meetings between the two fierce rivals, who met four times in 18 days last season.

Based on last season’s results, Guardiola believes the result of the first leg in Real’s Santiago Bernabeu could determine the outcome.

“The tie will be practically decided on Sunday,” he said.

“Whenever we’ve come back with a good result from the Bernabeu it’s because we’ve been ambitious.”

“It’s very difficult to figure out how they’re going to play,” he added, referring to Jose Mourinho’s Real side.

“They sat back in the first half of the first leg of the semi-finals, and in the second half they pressurised us high up the pitch. They have a lot in their locker. We have to be cautious. Beating them is really tough.”

Guardiola believes Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are close than other players to full fitness thanks to their involvement in Argentina’s Copa America campaign.

“Messi and Mascherano have come back looking in good shape,” he said.

“They are the ones who have had the shortest holidays, only three weeks. When you have less time off you need less time to get into shape.”

But despite the fact some of the squad are some way off match sharpness, the Barca coach does not regret affording his Champions League-winning players a well deserved break after their exploits last season.

“If I’d wanted them to be fitter then I’d have called them back earlier,” Guardiola said. “The rest was important.”

When asked about the imminent arrival of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, Guardiola said: “He’s not here yet … according to the information I have, everything is very advanced but not quite finalised.”

“He’s still an Arsenal player. If he comes or not, Barca will still have a good midfield.”