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Barcelona facing Real Madrid is one of the most widely watched matches in club football and it goes without saying that ' El Clasico ' is a game that the football world looks forward to every season. Over the years, we had all the recipes of an entertaining tale- goals, late dramas, and heated battles and we can surely hope that there will be sparks flying this time around.
Barcelona will once again host Real Madrid at Camp Nou tonight. Although this 'El Clasico' would miss one of the biggest rivalries of all time- Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi after a decade, both the teams have terrific players to change the odds for their teams. Lionel Messi, the Barcelona captain, will miss the tie due to an injury whereas the greatest goalscorer in Real Madrid history joined Juventus this summer.
No team has beaten Real Madrid more than Barcelona and similarly, Barcelona suffered most defeats against Real Madrid in La Liga. El Clasico is a historically renowned rivalry whose impact goes beyond football and let us quickly evaluate three key battles which will change the tie tonight.
#1. Barcelona midfield vs Real Madrid midfield :
In these previous years, these matches were dominated by the team which won the domination in midfield. Both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have one of the best midfield setups in the world and both the teams know the importance of dominating the match lies on how well their midfielders perform.
El Clasico without both Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would see almost 50% fewer goals as statistically proven. Without them, the midfield battle will be the most pivotal reason to how well both the teams perform against each other.
FIFA Best player of the year, Luka Modric, would once again take charge of the Real Madrid midfield along with his eternal partner-in-crime, Toni Kroos. They will look to find spaces and holes in the Barcelona set up to exploit with their passing and vision. Casemiro is likely to sit deep to prevent any mistakes at the back and Isco, if he plays, can drop deep to break down defensive barriers.
Barcelona midfield will be without Andres Iniesta but in Arthur Melo, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, they have players who can change the tie once they start to pull the strings. It is not sure whether Coutinho will be deployed but he will surely be another key piece in winning the midfield battle.
Both the coaches are not defensive minded and would like to create as many chances as possible for their forwards. They know that El Clasico is decided by important phases which depends on which team can show composure and take control. And there's no doubt that these midfielders will play the most vital role in the match.
#2. Luis Suarez vs Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane :
Luis Suárez has scored six league goals against Real Madrid since his debut for Barcelona, more than any other player in that time. He has been a nuisance to the Real Madrid defense since signing as a Barcelona player in 2014/15.
Although he was criticized heavily due to his loss in pace since the start of this season, he looked like getting his form back at a crucial time. He had a huge impact against Inter in the UEFA Champions League with his link up and he will surely cause huge problems with his movements, trickery and link up for Real Madrid defense.
Real Madrid had a horrid start to the campaign and with good reason. Since their loss against Sevilla, they have drawn against Atletico Madrid and lost against Alaves and Levante in the Liga. They have conceded six goals in these four matches, three of them against the likes of Alaves and Levante due to poor defensive organization.
There is no doubt about Raphael Varane's defensive capabilities as he had a major impact in Real Madrid winning the UEFA Champions League and led France to World Cup glory. But he cannot afford any mistake at the back today, not with Suarez looking over his shoulders.
Sergio Ramos, must bring out his A-game today and keep his calm as his good run of form coincides with Real Madrid's good run. Both these Madrid defenders' duty will be to keep a beast like Luis Suarez on check and it will be a well-contested battle in the tie.
#3. Gareth Bale vs Jordi Alba :
As evident from the last few matches, Real Madrid forwards were not just up to the mark in front of goal. They have hit the post 11 times and their left-back- Marcelo, is their highest goal scorer in their last five games. They surely miss the goal-scoring prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gareth Bale took a huge responsibility over his shoulders- to take the mantle of Real Madrid's top goal-getter. But he has so far failed to provide the consistency needed and his confidence seems low.
On the bright side, Gareth Bale knows how to step up in big occasions- from that devastating run against Barcelona in Copa Del Rey final to scoring goals in the Champions League Finals. He will be eager to add more of his moments of excellence and Camp Nou is a perfect place to demonstrate his ability once again.
Jordi Alba, on the other hand, is one of the best fullbacks in the world right now. Although he was left out of Spain squad in recent times, his work at the back and chemistry with Leo Messi on overlaps cannot be denied. His main job will be to stop Bale from getting any space but make no mistake, he can also lead the counter attacks with his overlaps.
Real Madrid desperately needs someone to step up and take charge in front of goal if they expect to beat Barcelona. It will be a well-fought battle and just like war, these small battles will be the key to winning this tie.
