An alarming dip in form. Six points behind their fierce rivals. A manager who is finding it difficult to inspire his troops. A fan base growing increasingly frustrated with the manager and his tactics and plans. It is a far-from-ideal scenario in which Barcelona go into the first El Clasico of the season at the Nou Camp.
What will make it even tougher for La Blaugrana is that Real Madrid have not lost in 32 games, and in Zinedine Zidane, they seem to have found a manager who understands the resources at his disposal and the best way to use them.
But, with the calibre of the squad that Barcelona have at their disposal, it is safe to make the assumption that Los Blancos will take nothing for granted.
For Luis Enrique, this is a huge shot at redemption. A win against Real Madrid will do their confidence nothing but good, and it could become the platform on which Barcelona can build on for the rest of the season, after what has been a hugely shaky start.
Here is a look at the lineup that Enrique must field.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
The young German has made the spot between the sticks his own, after Claudio Bravo’s summer departure to Manchester City. Ter-Stegen has ensured that Jasper Cillessen has been relegated to a spot on the bench. The Dutchman did himself no good, by conceding a soft goal in the midweek Copa Del Rey draw at Hercules, which left Barca with work to done in the second leg of that tie at the Nou Camp.
The champions’ defense has looked extremely shaky this season, and the German needs to play a part in ensuring that improves. His communication with the likes of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano will be vital. He needs to command his area. Otherwise, given the form that Real’s attackers are in, particularly Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, they will make Barcelona pay.
Also, Read – El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid Live Score and Commentary
Defenders
Right back: Sergi Roberto
The young Spaniard has been put into an unfamiliar position after Enrique decided not to go into the transfer market to replace Dani Alves. Roberto and Aleix Vidal were the ones that the boss trusted, and it is fair to say that both of them have found it a rather tough initiation. That once again leaves questions to be asked about Enrique.
But now that this is what is at Barca’s disposal, Roberto cannot have any excuses. There is no doubt it will be tough for the youngster. Cristiano Ronaldo will be his direct opponent on the flank. Given the form that the Portuguese superstar is in, even the most experienced and seasoned of right-backs will have a tough game, let alone a midfielder being played out of position.
But Roberto’s job will be to pin Ronaldo and Real back. If he does do that, with the front three that Barca have got, they could exploit the chinks in Marcelo’s defensive game. Having said that, it is definitely easier said than actually putting into practice, especially against the superstar.
Centre-backs: Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique
For Pique, as always, this is a game with an added edge, given his well-publicized spats with different Madrid players. He hasn’t kept quiet this time either, but sounded much more mellow, saying they had more to lose from this game than Real. “Real can afford to lose this one, we can’t”, he said. Barcelona cannot afford to lose this one, considering they are already six points behind Real, and only ahead of Sevilla on goal difference.
Samuel Umtiti is fit for the champions, but given that he is coming back from an injury, it would be a huge risk to put him straight back in the team for a game of this magnitude.
Mascherano is prone to lapses in concentration, but this is a role he has played to perfection over the years. The emphasis will be on his communication with Pique and Ter-Stegen. His passing will also be under the radar, as he does misplace a few passes in dangerous positions. If he does, Isco, Benzema and the Croatian midfield duo of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic will be waiting to pounce.
LB: Jordi Alba
He was classified as an injury doubt, but he has returned to training and should start ahead of Lucas Digne. The absence of Gareth Bale should give the Spaniard some relief, but Isco has been in splendid form for Real. Much like Roberto on the other side, it will be up to Alba to pin Real back in their own half. Neymar will stick to the left touchline, but Alba would do well to not expect too much help from the Brazilian superstar.
Midfield
Barcelona signed Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes in the summer to take a little bit of the weight off the shoulders of Iniesta, who isn’t getting any younger. But the new men have not shown signs of having completely adapted to Enrique’s system yet – if at all there is a system apart from “pass to Messi and hope”.
Sergio Busquets
Busquets’s role will be the most vital. He has long had the tag of being the best defensive midfielder in the world. Thsis time around, with Rakitic and Iniesta not being around as often, he has looked suspect, especially with the new signings failing to fit in just yet.
Ivan Rakitic
Rakitic’s engine and eye for a pass will be critical to Enrique’s plans. He will be up against his compatriots, Modric and Kovacic, and if anyone knows their games, it is Rakitic. Barcelona will have to look to keep the ball, wear Real down, and possibly make them chase the game for as long as they can. In that respect, all three midfielders will be critical, given their composure in possession, and the ability to move into an empty space to receive passes.
Andres Iniesta
Iniesta is a big-game player. His contribution to Barcelona has gone beyond goals and assists. His silky feet, movement and passing combine to pose a huge threat to any opposition, and he is probably more important to Barcelona in this game than the MSN.
His runs, his movement, will be the ones that create space for the front three to run into. And when they don’t, he will likely be the one threading the passes through to those players. Barcelona will give anything for the captain to turn in another masterclass on Saturday.
Forwards
MSN
The South American trio have not yet hit the heights of last season. Last week against Sociedad, the performance was so disjointed, that none of the three actually ever got into the game for a sustained period of time. Barcelona were so poor against La Real that Enrique termed even the draw a “miracle”.
They can rest assured that miracles will not happen against Madrid. Sergio Ramos leads a very confident defence, that has conceded the second fewest goals in La Liga this season, only behind Villareal.
Lionel Messi
The performances of the last two seasons have nowhere near been replicated by the much-famed trio and there is no better game than El Clasico to turn their team’s season around. This season, Barca have shown a little too much dependence on Messi, and their incompetence without him was illustrated a fortnight ago, when they drew a blank against Malaga at home, dropping two points in the process.
But they have shown glimpses of their prowess, too. The counter-attacking goal at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League, putting Pep Guardiola’s men to the sword at the Nou Camp, thrashing seven past Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic are all indications that all is not lost.
Luis Suarez
The Uruguayan has had a dip in form, which has coincided with Barca’s failure to garner the required points. Suarez is not the kind of striker who will sit back and wait for a chance though. He will hassle the Real Madrid defenders, he will make the runs to get Iniesta and Messi to give him the ball. But Barca need to gain control in midfield.
Neymar
In past Clasicos, Neymar has often got the better of Carvajal. He is slightly short on confidence right now, but it will only take one moment to spark him back to life. Carvajal has had some tough times against the Brazilian and it will be huge for Barcelona to give Neymar the opportunity to torment the Spanish full-back.
But largely, Barcelona have not been able to replicate their European form in the league. A loss on Saturday will put Barca nine points adrift of Real and in serious danger of not being able to defend their title – which they had won in the last two seasons.
