Getting ready for Barca v. Real Madrid

Barcelona is playing Real Madrid this weekend, in what might be the greatest rivalry in sports. (Sorry Red Sox fans, but nothing will eclipse the mutual hatred between Catalans and Madrilenos.) To get into the spirit of the game, I highly recommend reading the aptly-named Phil Ball, a sportswriter who writes about Spanish soccer. Ball writes for ESPN's Soccernet, and hardly needs a plug, but his stuff is so good that I couldn't resist.

Here's his column on the Sevilla derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. And if you're feeling charitable, I really want a copy of Ball's quintessential book about Spanish Soccer, Morbo.