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Preview: Table-toppers Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the season’s first Clásico

Preview: Table-toppers Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the season’s first Clásico

Delen

The newest chapter of the storied rivalry between Spain’s two most successful clubs is set to be written at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.

By Neel Shelat

Barcelona aiming for five straight Clásico wins

Barcelona’s success in all four Clásicos last season certainly was a big reason behind their triumph in all three domestic competitions. They put 16 goals past their arch-rivals’ defence, showcasing their irresistible attacking strength.

The last time the Blaugrana won four consecutive Clásicos was between 2008 and 2010, when a certain Pep Guardiola was their head coach. They capped that streak off with a fifth win – the famous 5-0, which remains the most one-sided meeting between these two teams in the 21st century.

Both sides’ weaknesses exposed in recent heavy league defeats

Barcelona will need to produce something very special if they are to relive the highs of November 2010, as they haven’t looked particularly convincing of late. The scoreline in their midweek Champions League win over Olympiacos was very flattering after a dubious red card, but they needed a stoppage-time winner to beat bottom-of-the-table Girona last weekend and suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Sevilla in their last away match.

Real Madrid’s form has been far better in contrast to that as they have won 11 of their 12 matches so far this season, but that one outlier was a 5-2 derby defeat to Atlético. They put together a quite puzzling and weird display at the Metropolitano, so they must be keen to avoid making the same mistakes.

Significant injury issues for both

Injury issues have been plaguing both Real Madrid and Barcelona for quite a while, so this match will be no exception. Los Blancos will be without at least two defenders in Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba, while Dean Huijsen as well as both the recognised right backs have not featured in recent weeks. The ex-Bournemouth centre back looked excellent at the start of the season, so his potential return would be a huge boost.

Barcelona will similarly be hoping to see the return of Raphinha, but they are sure to miss Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo and Gavi besides their top two goalkeepers. Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford are the two obvious alternative options for the striker spot, while Fermín López is in line to start behind them after netting a hat-trick in midweek.

Could the pressing battles be decisive?

Barcelona’s high line played a starring role in last season’s first Clásico as they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times, but the French forward now has a year’s worth of extra experience and is in imperious form. So, the visitors will likely need to limit the number of balls they allow in behind their defence if they are to make Wojciech Szczęsny’s task relatively straightforward.

On the other hand, Real Madrid might want to step up much more than they did in the Madrid derby. Their passivity seemed to cost them dear that day, so against a team without a target striker, they shouldn’t be afraid to turn up the pressing intensity.

Prediction

Xabi Alonso’s side seem to have the upper hand in terms of personnel and tactical matchups going into his first Clásico, but Barcelona certainly can open any game up. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Table-toppers Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the season’s first Clásico

The newest chapter of the storied rivalry between Spain’s two most successful clubs is set to be written at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.

By Neel Shelat

Barcelona aiming for five straight Clásico wins

Barcelona’s success in all four Clásicos last season certainly was a big reason behind their triumph in all three domestic competitions. They put 16 goals past their arch-rivals’ defence, showcasing their irresistible attacking strength.

The last time the Blaugrana won four consecutive Clásicos was between 2008 and 2010, when a certain Pep Guardiola was their head coach. They capped that streak off with a fifth win – the famous 5-0, which remains the most one-sided meeting between these two teams in the 21st century.

Both sides’ weaknesses exposed in recent heavy league defeats

Barcelona will need to produce something very special if they are to relive the highs of November 2010, as they haven’t looked particularly convincing of late. The scoreline in their midweek Champions League win over Olympiacos was very flattering after a dubious red card, but they needed a stoppage-time winner to beat bottom-of-the-table Girona last weekend and suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Sevilla in their last away match.

Real Madrid’s form has been far better in contrast to that as they have won 11 of their 12 matches so far this season, but that one outlier was a 5-2 derby defeat to Atlético. They put together a quite puzzling and weird display at the Metropolitano, so they must be keen to avoid making the same mistakes.

Significant injury issues for both

Injury issues have been plaguing both Real Madrid and Barcelona for quite a while, so this match will be no exception. Los Blancos will be without at least two defenders in Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba, while Dean Huijsen as well as both the recognised right backs have not featured in recent weeks. The ex-Bournemouth centre back looked excellent at the start of the season, so his potential return would be a huge boost.

Barcelona will similarly be hoping to see the return of Raphinha, but they are sure to miss Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo and Gavi besides their top two goalkeepers. Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford are the two obvious alternative options for the striker spot, while Fermín López is in line to start behind them after netting a hat-trick in midweek.

Could the pressing battles be decisive?

Barcelona’s high line played a starring role in last season’s first Clásico as they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times, but the French forward now has a year’s worth of extra experience and is in imperious form. So, the visitors will likely need to limit the number of balls they allow in behind their defence if they are to make Wojciech Szczęsny’s task relatively straightforward.

On the other hand, Real Madrid might want to step up much more than they did in the Madrid derby. Their passivity seemed to cost them dear that day, so against a team without a target striker, they shouldn’t be afraid to turn up the pressing intensity.

Prediction

Xabi Alonso’s side seem to have the upper hand in terms of personnel and tactical matchups going into his first Clásico, but Barcelona certainly can open any game up. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.