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Player availability, Injuries, and Bench strength
Alba is the only available left-back who is experienced enough to start in Clasico and league games. The Spaniard will be under pressure.
There are no suspensions till now for both sides. For Barcelona, Ousmane Dembele and Samuel Umtiti are both injured. However, Dembele would be back before the first semi-final leg.
For Madrid, goalkeeping is a big concern. Too many games for Thibaut Courtois, Keylor Navas injured. The fatigue level on Courtois will be massive and it will be risky to start Keylor till the game on 17th against Girona.
Moving on to bench strength. This is where both sides are good, especially Barcelona. Pique and Lenglet are the starters, even Murillo is available and Umtiti was seen in training earlier today.
Barcelona is also trying to rope Todibo in early. For Madrid however, it has to be between Ramos, Varane and maybe Nacho for the centre-back spot. We aren't naming Chumi or Javi Sanchez because they won't start in a Clasico or a league game.
Fun fact, Ramos and Nacho are both one yellow card away from suspension in the league. Which means that Madrid could be in for a tight and exhausting Clasico, followed by a Madrid Derby, god forbid, without Ramos and maybe also both. This will force Solari to start a Castilla player in the central defence in the league, too risky.
Coming to midfield, it is fine for both teams. Both teams can rotate but Madrid won't have it easy. Modric, Kroos, Ceballos, Marcos Llorente, Fede Valverde are could start. But you couldn't start Fede Valverde in the Clasico. Marcos Llorente against Busquets? Looks good on paper, but still, the youngster will be in for a tough test against a much more experienced campaigner.
Why not Isco? Ask Solari that guys. He seems bent on not using Isco. If Madrid goes full on in the midfield for Copa Del Rey, then they have an exhausted midfield against Atletico. They need to rest one of their good midfielders in the Clasico to have a good Madrid derby.
Barcelona has the bases covered. Arthur, Alena, Rakitic, Busquets, Vidal, Sergi Roberto, Coutinho, all can start at midfield. They can start Alena against Bilbao while fielding their best against Madrid. The second leg will not be bad either. It is Valladolid at Camp Nou, rotations are more than affordable. Then the UCL game will come.
Forward line. Dembele will be back, Messi, Suarez, and Coutinho all in form, it is a bad sight for opponents. For Madrid, not bad here, Vinicius, Benzema, Bale, and Vazquez are all good to go. So our conclusion is that a Clasico, should it take place will test Madrid's bench strength very heavily and they might crack too.
