Real Madrid vs Barcelona: 4 factors to keep in mind

#2 Modric and Kroos finding the flanks

Vinicius Junior

The Barcelona defence almost always looks vulnerable against quick counter-attacks. Sevilla scored two goals against them in the first half with their fast moves. Therefore, the Real midfielders would do well to play long balls to the flanks, and thereby utilize the pace of their young wingers Vinicius junior and Lucas Vazquez.

Both the Barca full-backs have a tendency to go into overlaps, and Real would do well to exploit the space left behind by them. Moreover, Barca’s central defender Gerard Pique has become somewhat slower with age and will struggle to cope with Real’s fast wingers.

Neither Luka Modric nor Toni Kroos can afford to shun their defensive responsibilities tomorrow and will have to spend a considerable amount of time inside their own half. Therefore, they would have to deliver those long balls from their own half to the flanks, which could catch the Barca defence off-guard.

The Barca midfielders would not allow their Real counterparts to have much ball-possession and therefore, the latter would have to act quickly whenever they have the ball.