It’s that time of the football calendar again. Fans from across the globe are set to put everything aside and make arrangements to have their eyes glued to their TV sets, as Barcelona host arch-rivals Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season. In recent history, this fixture has provided all the drama which complements the massive build-up.
Ronaldo’s late winner at the Camp Nou earlier this year, Barcelona’s rampage at the Bernabeu last November, Gareth Bale’s famous outsprint of Marc Bartra in the Copa del Rey final back in 2014 – the world’s most viewed football fixture has given us everything.
Whether followers of the Catalan club, the Madrid giants or just neutrals, football fans have always looked forward to this particular game with bated breath. On-pitch bust-ups, a brilliant team goal and a flying tackle or two from a sitting midfielder are just some of the elements this game promises to bring to the plate.
As far as the league table is concerned, Barcelona are six points adrift of their opponents and in desperate need to get their stuttering league season back on track. Do they have the quality and the confidence to overcome an in-form and unbeaten Real Madrid at home?
Team News
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is set to return to the squad after a month on the sidelines, while Jordi Alba is expected to start at left-back despite minor knee and ankle injuries.
Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale for a period of about four months due to injury, with Lucas Vazquez replacing him at the right wing. Mateo Kovacic is likely to start in defensive midfield, with James Rodriguez behind Karim Benzema in attack. Alvaro Morata and Toni Kroos are long-term absentees from Zinedine ZIdane’s squad.
Team Form
Barcelona were lucky to come out of Anoeta with a point last week after a poor performance which manager Luis Enrique described as the ‘worst’ he had seen during his time with the Catalans. Such a below-par display could hardly be ideal preparation for a game of this magnitude. A 1-1 draw at third-tier Hercules during midweek in the Copa del Rey didn’t help their cause either.
Failure to beat nine-man Malaga the last time they played at the Camp Nou sums up Barcelona’s indifferent form. To bring the team together and produce a performance full of intensity and willingness to get behind the Real Madrid defence will be Enrique’s biggest challenge as the Clasico approaches.
He will hope the world-class trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar link up to pepper the Madrid goal with the help of their full-backs and the customary defence-splitting pass from a now-fit Andres Iniesta. Can the defending league champions step their game up on the biggest stage to revive their league season?
Last 5 games (All Competitions) : D-D-W-D-W (Most Recent: Hercules 1-1 Barcelona)
Real Madrid, unlike their opponents, are riding high on confidence – they are on an undefeated run of 32 games, their last defeat dating back to April in a 2-0 defeat to VfL Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarterfinals. After a run of three successive draws, Zinedine Zidane’s side have won their last six La Liga games and haven’t suffered a league defeat away from home since 13th December, 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to form has boosted his side’s morale, while Mateo Kovacic’s growth in defensive midfield has helped Real build a strong foundation at the back. James Rodriguez has also excelled in a number 10 role behind Karim Benzema, and it awaits to be seen whether the Colombian can use his guile and individual trickery to hop past defenders and carve open a goal-scoring chance. Can Los Blancos extend their unbeaten run, or will Camp Nou act as a party pooper?
Last 5 games(All Competitions) : W-W-W-W-W (Most Recent: Real Madrid 6-1 Cultural Leonesa)
Likely Starting Line-ups
Key Stats
#1 Real Madrid’s victory at the Camp Nou last season ended a 39-game unbeaten run for the Catalans. This time around, Real Madrid are defending an unbeaten run of 32 games in all competitions.
#2 Real Madrid are yet to be beaten in any competition this season, and haven’t lost an away league game since a 1-0 defeat at Villareal nearly a year ago (13th December, 2015).
#3 Barcelona have drawn their last two league games – their 0-0 draw against nine-man Malaga being the first time they failed to score in a league game at the Nou Camp since a 0-1 defeat to the same opponents on February 21, 2015.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo has scored each of his side’s last 5 goals in La Liga.
#5 Lionel Messi is the top scorer in El Clasico history, with 21 goals.
#6 A Barcelona victory would make it their 50th at home against Real Madrid in La Liga.
Key Battle
Jordi Alba vs Lucas Vazquez
An injury concern at one end, a Gareth Bale understudy willing to prove his worth on the other. The scale of the game might just tempt Luis Enrique to start Alba ahead of the inexperienced Lucas Digne. Lucas Vazquez – who is an out-and-out replacement for the injured Bale – will sense his opportunity to run the full-back ragged with his pace down the flank.
The quality of his crosses into the box for the likes of Benzema and Ronaldo will be a measure of Vazquez’s performance in the Clasico. Will Alba – with his apparent niggle – be able to stop Vazquez from finding room to exploit on the wing?
Prediction
Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
With Luka Modric pulling the strings in midfield for Real Madrid and Andres Iniesta only just returning from injury, it would be no surprise to see the away side control the majority of the game, moving the ball around quickly in order to get into promising attacking positions. Ronaldo’s form and Barcelona’s unspectacular run in the league would incline a prediction in favour of Zinedine Zidane’s side on Saturday.
