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Real Madrid is travelling to Camp Nou this weekend for the most celebrated game of football - El Clasico. Both the teams are not at their vintage best this season. Comparatively, Barcelona have sorted out their initial jitters and playing a better football at the moment. They are the clear favorites to win this game.
Real Madrid is struggling in front of goals, and they are longing for an attacking leader after Ronaldo's exit. A defeat against Barcelona will most-likely result in Lopetegui's sacking. Hence, Real Madrid players must to give their best to beat the Catalan giants at their own backyard.
Here is the list of three important strategies that will help Lopetegui's Real Madrid beat Barcelona at Camp Nou.
#1 Deploy Casimero to man-mark Jordi Alba
Challenge
Jordi Alba has been a force to reckon with this season for the Catalan giants. Though Barcelona started the season in lacklustre fashion, Alba never looked out of form throughout the campaign. He was their main source of attack.
In the recently concluded Champions League game against Inter Milan at home, 41% of Barcelona's attack came from the right. Barcelona's strategy was to start from the left through Alba and drift inside the 18-yard box through Coutinho. Alba scored a goal and also provided a whopping 101 passes in the game against Inter Milan. He was their most influential player on the match.
Barcelona will be laying out a plan to follow a similar strategy against Real Madrid too. Dani Carvajal is an attack-minded right-back which will open up lot of space for Alba to flash into the attacking third.
Strategy to adopt
Lopetegui must clearly instruct Dani Carvajal to keep an eye on Alba when he attacks. Also, Casemiro should be deployed to man-mark the left-back which in-turn will help Carvajal to freely attack.
Casemiro is one of the most impressive central midfielders in the world. He is reliable in stopping the opposition's attack by cutting passes and forward runs. He was even called as an antidote to Messi for his special man-marking ability.
Through blocking Alba's passes, Madrid can starve Barcelona of their free-flowing football.
#2 Narrow defensive line to intercept Barcelona's through balls and central penetration
Challenge
Barcelona has an ever-lasting love story with passing and penetrative style of football. Despite having multiple coaches post the Guardiola era, their love for passing never waned. They have pass masters like Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Arthur who can split defenses.
Barcelona will be looking for incessant forward passes to try to penetrate the defense line centrally. They are always reluctant to adopt the style of crossing from the wings. Both Coutinho and Rafinha prefers to drift inside.
Strategy to adopt
The best way to counter the winger's inward movement is to have a tight back-line. Real Madrid must be cautious in letting both their right-back and left-back wander in the opposition half.
A narrow back-four will help Real in stopping the through-balls and forward passes by Barcelona. Barcelona will be forced to take shots from outside. Again, with a tight defensive unit Real Madrid can thwart any attacking danger from outside the box.
With Messi absent, it will be easier for the current Champions League winners to stop Barcelona from scoring goals.
#3 Target out-of-form Pique and Lenglet with direct football
Opportunity
Barcelona's defensive frailties will provide a good opportunity for Real Madrid to score goals in El Clasico. Can you believe these statistics? Nine La Liga teams have a better defensive record than Barcelona this season. Barcelona have conceded an astonishing 11 goals from their nine games so far. Messi and his attacking unit saved the defenders from humiliation so far.
Who will be blamed for Barcelona's goal conceding habit? The central defenders Pique, Lenglet, Vermaelen, Semedo, Umtiti are all way below their usual best. It has resulted in Valverde struggling to find a winning combination.
Strategy to adopt
Without the potent attacking talent of Messi, the defensive unit of Catalans can be brought under immense pressure by Real's lightning quick attacking players. Madrid can also try direct football with the help of Isco, Asensio and Vazquez.
Since the central defensive is unsettled for the home side, the midfielders can try to target Benzema directly through crosses and long-balls to take an attempt at the goal.
