There was optimism all round in Spain on Sunday, as a result of Saturday's 1-1 draw between twin giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.It was the first of four Clasico matches that the Big Two will play against each other within the space of just 18 days, something that has never happened before.
On Wednesday, the giants will clash in the final of the King's Cup in neutral Valencia, then they will square off again in the semi- finals of the Champions League.
Saturday's draw left a bittersweet taste for both media and fans.
The media in Madrid were disappointed that the draw effectively finished the battle for the Spanish league title. Barca went into the match eight points ahead of Real - and left Madrid with the same lead, but now with just six matches left.
However, the Real papers were delighted with the way in which Jose Mourinho's team battled back to earn a draw despite having one man less for 40 minutes.
Defender Raul Albiol was sent off at the start of the second half for giving away a clumsy penalty which FIFA World Player Lionel Messi converted, to give Barca the lead.
However, the whites didn't give up, and Cristiano Ronaldo made it 1-1 with a dubious penalty eight minutes from time.
One of the headlines in Madrid sports daily Marca on Sunday was "A Draw With The Taste Of Victory." Marca praised the Real players for "refusing to give up" and "fighting right until the final whistle."
Marca also claimed that Mourinho had "started to change history," because this was the first time that Real had managed to avoid defeat against Barca since 2008.
Marca asked its readers after the game: "Do you think Real have been strengthened" and 53 per cent voted "yes."
Rival daily AS, for its part, agreed with the judgement of Real keeper Iker Casillas that "there are positive things for us to take from this game."
In particular AS praised Mesut Oezil for coming off the bench "and changing the nature of the match." AS insisted that the German playmaker should start Wednesday's final.
AS complained that Dani Alves should have been given a second yellow card for the penalty on Marcelo.
Madrid radio station Cadena COPE, meanwhile, commented that "Real will go to Valencia (for the cup final) without Albiol (suspended after being sent off) but with good heart and spirit, confident that they can again do damage to Barca."
The reaction in Barcelona to the draw was one of disappointment that Barca failed to finish Real off after Messi's goals - and of annoyance at referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez.
Muniz turned down a clear penalty on Barca's David Villa in the first half, and replays showed that Alves touched the ball first before pulling down Marcelo for Real's penalty.
Catalan sports dailies Mundo Deportivo and Sport were harsh in their criticism of Muniz Fernandez on Sunday, the former claiming that he "saved Real from certain defeat."
Mundo Deportivo was positive about Barca's domination of possession and chances, claiming that "there are many reasons for optimism" with regard to the three other clashes.
Sport, for its point, commented that "this is not a draw, it is a great victory," referring to Barca's ongoing eight-point lead.
Sport was very critical of Mourinho's counter-attacking style, claiming that "the anti-football of Mourinho doesn't deserve to win anything." The paper also claimed that Mourinho deliberately kept the grass in the Estadio Bernabeu long and dry, a "dirty strategy" to slow down Barca's flowing touch play.
On Wednesday, the giants will clash in the final of the King's Cup in neutral Valencia, then they will square off again in the semi- finals of the Champions League.
Saturday's draw left a bittersweet taste for both media and fans.
The media in Madrid were disappointed that the draw effectively finished the battle for the Spanish league title. Barca went into the match eight points ahead of Real - and left Madrid with the same lead, but now with just six matches left.
However, the Real papers were delighted with the way in which Jose Mourinho's team battled back to earn a draw despite having one man less for 40 minutes.
Defender Raul Albiol was sent off at the start of the second half for giving away a clumsy penalty which FIFA World Player Lionel Messi converted, to give Barca the lead.
However, the whites didn't give up, and Cristiano Ronaldo made it 1-1 with a dubious penalty eight minutes from time.
One of the headlines in Madrid sports daily Marca on Sunday was "A Draw With The Taste Of Victory." Marca praised the Real players for "refusing to give up" and "fighting right until the final whistle."
Marca also claimed that Mourinho had "started to change history," because this was the first time that Real had managed to avoid defeat against Barca since 2008.
Marca asked its readers after the game: "Do you think Real have been strengthened" and 53 per cent voted "yes."
Rival daily AS, for its part, agreed with the judgement of Real keeper Iker Casillas that "there are positive things for us to take from this game."
In particular AS praised Mesut Oezil for coming off the bench "and changing the nature of the match." AS insisted that the German playmaker should start Wednesday's final.
AS complained that Dani Alves should have been given a second yellow card for the penalty on Marcelo.
Madrid radio station Cadena COPE, meanwhile, commented that "Real will go to Valencia (for the cup final) without Albiol (suspended after being sent off) but with good heart and spirit, confident that they can again do damage to Barca."
The reaction in Barcelona to the draw was one of disappointment that Barca failed to finish Real off after Messi's goals - and of annoyance at referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez.
Muniz turned down a clear penalty on Barca's David Villa in the first half, and replays showed that Alves touched the ball first before pulling down Marcelo for Real's penalty.
Catalan sports dailies Mundo Deportivo and Sport were harsh in their criticism of Muniz Fernandez on Sunday, the former claiming that he "saved Real from certain defeat."
Mundo Deportivo was positive about Barca's domination of possession and chances, claiming that "there are many reasons for optimism" with regard to the three other clashes.
Sport, for its point, commented that "this is not a draw, it is a great victory," referring to Barca's ongoing eight-point lead.
Sport was very critical of Mourinho's counter-attacking style, claiming that "the anti-football of Mourinho doesn't deserve to win anything." The paper also claimed that Mourinho deliberately kept the grass in the Estadio Bernabeu long and dry, a "dirty strategy" to slow down Barca's flowing touch play.
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