'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It doesn’t get any better than this in club football. Barcelona and Real Madrid, arguably Europe's fiercest rivals, face each other on Sunday at the Camp Nou as Barcelona play host to Julen Lopetegui's Real Madrid.
After nine league games, the Catalan giants are sitting on the top of the La Liga table with 18 points while the Los Blancos are seventh with just 14 points. Both sides aren't playing their best football at the moment and Real Madrid, in particular, has been struggling a lot under their new manager.
Real Madrid's last league game was a dreadful one as the Galacticos lost 2-1 at home to Levante. On the other hand, Barcelona defeated Sevilla 4-2 at the Camp Nou and Lionel Messi left the game injured just after 26 minutes. After nearly a decade, a La Liga fixture between these two sides won't have Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
On that note, let's take a look at the 5 reasons why Barcelona will beat Real Madrid.
#1 Real Madrid yet to recover from Ronaldo's departure
Cristiano Ronaldo had a stellar career at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Portuguese international was phenomenal for the Galacticos and played a huge role in their domestic and European success for almost a decade.
Having made his debut in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 311 goals for Real Madrid in just 292 La Liga games. After nine hugely successful years at the club, the 33-year-old recently made his move to Serie A with Juventus.
Though Sergio Ramos is doing his part to get the best out of his team, they clearly lack a leader who can inspire them. Ronaldo is one of those footballers who can never be replaced and the Los Blancos are going through that transition in a hard way.
#2 The Catalan giants have depth and quality in their squad to beat Real Madrid, even without Lionel Messi
The Catalan giants have made some good signings in the summer. They have added Malcom, Clement Lenglet, Arthur, and Arturo Vidal to an already impressive squad. Though Malcom has made only two substitute appearances for Barcelona, Valverde has used Arthur, Lenglet, and Vidal more often.
With Lionel Messi ruled out of the Real Madrid game because of a broken arm, Ernesto has been forced to make an important change for the all-important clash. They certainly have depth and quality in their squad to cope with Messi's absence.
Valverde played Rafinha in the attack against Inter on Wednesday and he capped his fine performance with a goal. Valverde also has Ousmane Dembele and Malcom to step up if needed.
#3 El Clasico coming too soon for struggling Lopetegui
Julen Lopetegui is definitely not a happy man at the moment. After being sacked by Spain for agreeing to move to Real Madrid after the 2018 World Cup, the Spaniard is now facing the ax at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After a dismal start to the 2018/19 La Liga campaign, including just four wins from nine league games and an eight-hour goal drought, the 52-year-old's Real Madrid managerial career could very well be over if they lose against the Catalan giants at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Lopetegui's side is unsettled at the moment and the Sunday's crunch El Clasico game is coming too soon for his liking. The Galacticos have won just one away game this season and Camp Nou is the last place he would want to be at the moment.
#4 Momentum is with Barcelona as the Galacticos have won just once in their last six competitive outings
Going into the Sunday's El Clasico, Barcelona is definitely the better of the two teams. Though they had their fair share of trouble early in the season, they came back well and played some impressive football throughout October.
The Los Blancos, on the other hand, have won just once in their last six competitive outings. Lopetegui's side lost to Sevilla, Alaves, CSKA Moscow, and Levante in the past few weeks. Though they defeated Plzen in a UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday, it was far from a convincing performance. Unless Real Madrid pulls off a miracle, momentum and form signal a Barcelona win.
Real Madrid's current form in all competitions: L - D - L - L - L - W
Barcelona's current form in all competitions: L - D - W - D - W - W
#5 Lack of goals from Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema is hurting Real Madrid
Ever since Ronaldo's departure, the Los Blancos are struggling in La Liga, especially in the attack. They have scored only 13 goals in the first nine league games and just four in their last seven games in all competitions.
Real Madrid looked blunt in their attack and neither Bale or Benzema was able to take up Ronaldo's role in the front line. Bale hasn't scored a goal in his last five La Liga appearances while Benzema hasn't scored in his last six.
Though Isco is brilliant in the attack, the 26-year-old is often left alone by his attacking players. Real Madrid failed to sign a quality replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer transfer window and now left short-handed in the attack. Mariano Diaz too not making an impact as a striker.
