As Barcelona and Real Madrid gear up for their 255th face-off in the historic El Clásico, DZWatch dives into the anticipated line-ups, tactics, and key players who could change the course of the match.
In a significant turn of events, the city of Montjuic in Catalonia will host the iconic El Clásico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the first time at the Luis Companys Olympic Stadium. Both teams are vying for the top spot in La Liga as they clash in their 11th round of fixtures.
This will be the 255th El Clásico meeting, with Real Madrid having previously secured 102 victories, Barcelona 100, and 52 games ending in a draw. The match will be a first for Barcelona’s João Felix and João Cancelo, as well as Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Injury woes have been haunting Barcelona, especially with six key players sidelined earlier this week. However, as of today, five of those players have a chance to make a return to the field, although their identities have not been disclosed. The only confirmed absence for Barcelona is Sergi Roberto. Other injured players like Rafinha, Lewandowski, De Jong, Pedri González, and Jules Koundé participated in Friday’s training session.
Fans are keenly awaiting Manager Xavi Hernandez’s decisions for Barcelona’s line-up. Tactical choices, such as deploying Araujo to mark Vinicius Jr., will undoubtedly influence the game’s outcome. In contrast, João Cancelo’s versatility provides Xavi with various formation options, including utilizing him as a right-back, defensive midfielder, or even as a playmaker.
Real Madrid enters the contest in favorable circumstances, leading both their domestic league and Champions League group. Manager Carlo Ancelotti faces crucial choices, particularly concerning the participation of players like Eduardo Camavinga and the positioning strategy during the match. Notably, Luka Modrić will not be in the starting lineup, a rare sight in this historic rivalry.
Tactical considerations extend to Real Madrid’s midfield as well. Ancelotti’s decision to include Camavinga could lead to a more prominent role for Bellingham, thereby sidelining Rodrigo. This could be a key moment as Vinicius Jr. looks to take on a bigger role following his recent physical recovery.
Anticipated line-ups for both teams are as follows:
Barcelona’s Expected Line-up
Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen
Defense: Cancelo, Araujo, Christensen, Balde
Midfield: Romeo, Gundogan, Javi
Attack: Lamine, Lewandowski, João Felix
Real Madrid’s Expected Line-up
Goalkeeper: Kepa
Defense: Carvajal, Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy (or Camavinga)
Midfield: Chouamini, Kroos, Fede Valverde, Bellingham
Attack: Vinicius, Rodrigo
As both teams finalize their preparations, the global football community eagerly anticipates a match that could determine the fate of La Liga’s top spot. Stay tuned to DZWatch for extensive coverage and analysis of this monumental sporting event.
