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It is time for this season’s second El Clasico as arch-rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona lock horns against each other in the first leg of the 2018-19 Copa del Rey at Camp Nou. This is the first of the three El Clasico matches that have been scheduled to take place over the next month or so as the teams will play the second leg and second league fixture in the coming days.
Even though both the teams have used their fringe players in Copa del Rey so far this season, one can expect them to go with a full-strength side as their pride is at stake in this all-important games. After the humiliation in the first El Clasico of the season, Real Madrid will look to settle the scores with a Messi-less Barcelona. Both the teams have some issues to address going into the match.
Barcelona team news:
Barcelona could be without their main man as skipper Lionel Messi injured his right leg during his team's LaLiga game against Valencia over the weekend. Apart from Messi, they will also be without their first-choice goalkeeper for this tournament, Jasper Cilessen, who is already out with an injury. There were reports that Ousmane Dembele could return after suffering an ankle injury and get a place in the starting XI in place of the Argentine, who did not train with his teammates prior to the match.
Barcelona Predicted XI: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arthur Melo; Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele.
Real Madrid team news:
Real Madrid don't have any injury concerns to their main players ahead of the match but they won't be having the services of right-back Dani Carvajal, who has been suspended for the first leg. Keylor Navas is expected to return in front of the goal while Marcelo and Toni Kroos are expected to start ahead of Sergio Reguilon and Dani Ceballos respectively.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Keylor Navas; Alvaro Odriozola, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
