The most anticipated match of the season has finally arrived. The biggest rivalry in football will add another chapter to their saga. The defending league and Champions League holders Real Madrid will host their arch rivals on Saturday as they try to cut Barcelona’s lead down to five. Despite dominating both legs of the Spanish Super Cup in August, Madrid has been far from their best this season while Barcelona have unconvincingly gone undefeated so far. However, history means nothing as soon as the Clasico gets rolling.
We’ve come to understand that home-field advantage no longer exists in Clasicos. The last time the home team won a league Clasico was back in March 2015 when Luis Suarez scored the game winner in a 2-1 match. Since then, Barcelona have won in the Bernabeu both in 2015 and 2017 scoring seven goals and allowing two. Cristiano secured the game winner back in April 2016 in Camp Nou and a late Sergio Ramos header rescued a point for Madrid in November 2016. A game with pressure that’s rarely ever seen in the World of sports. Where some of the biggest stars lace their boots as the World awaits.
Keys To Success:
Real Madrid: Even though he has struggled to score in league play, Cristiano is more than capable of scoring in big games. In just eight years in Madrid, he’s managed to become one of the Clasico’s leading goal scorers. With Bale returning from injury, it’ll be interesting to see if Zidane goes with the more commercial but less effective “BBC” up top. Bale is much more efficient on the wing since he has the ability to cross the ball or cut inside and shoot himself. Jordi Alba may be just as fast as the Welshman but he lacks height. Look for Marcelo or Isco to whip in those crosses far post for Bale who should have no problem winning the ball in the air over Alba.
We’ve also seen Cristiano shift more towards the wing and leave the middle for Benzema this season. Similar to his former role during his younger days. It is Cristiano’s way of getting more involved in the game but it costs him opportunities to goal. Cristiano should look to avoid drifting wide and remain central so he can exploit the center back partnership of Pique and Vermaelen. The Barcelona center backs have played a handful of games together but have not established that partnership like the ones Pique has had with Puyol, Mascherano and even Umtiti. One of Cristiano’s strengths is his ability to position himself in the box perfectly and lose his marker along the way. Pique and Vermaelen continue to lack communication when it becomes time to mark. One miscue in the back and Cristiano can easily punish you.
Barcelona: Messi caused havoc last year when he migrated to a more central position instead of starting out on the right wing. When Messi drops back in between the midfielders and the defenders, he’s able to receive the ball and have time to turn and attack. This creates problems for defenders because they’re forced to decide whether they want to follow him into the gap and leave an opening in the defense or stay and hold a strong line. At this point in his career, Messi has evolved into not only a great goalscorer but also a deadly creator. Don’t be surprised if Ramos is forced to follow Messi thus leaving an opening in the middle for Suarez to run on to.
Though we’re not sure what formation Valverde will use, there’s a possibility that we’ll see Paulinho in the central midfield. The Brazilian lacks the skill that his teammates Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets posses but he also adds a physical presence in the midfield. He’s been crucial for Barcelona’s high pressure system this season. As a team, Barcelona have scored numerous goals due to their high pressure. With Marcello pushing up constantly, it leaves three in the back for Madrid meaning that a counterattack could be deadly.
Weaknesses:
Barcelona: Since Neymar’s departure, Barcelona haven’t played with a left winger. Iniesta tends to cut inside a lot more leaving Jordi Alba with the responsibility of being a left back/winger. Alba is more than capable of covering both positions thanks to his incredible lungs and speed. However, when going up against a Real Madrid side that loves to send their outside backs to attack, that might be a problem. Especially on the counter.
Real Madrid: Real Madrid have struggled defensively so far this season and it’s cost them points in otherwise easy games. More often than not, Ramos is caught out of position because of his obsession to go up and attack. This causes the team to have to shuffle around in the back thus leaving open gaps or players onsides. One example of miscommunication in the back was Girona’s game winner against the Madrid side this season. Though the opposing player was in fact offsides, it was the defense’s fault after all. We’ve also seen them struggle against counterattacks. Because Ramos and Marcelo tend to go join in on the attack, it leaves the rest of the backline exposed in case of counterattacks. Something that we’ve seen Barca execute very well this season.
Key Players:
Casemiro: Ideally, it will be Casemiro who will have the task of guarding Messi in the midfield so that both centerbacks don’t have to. The hard-tackling midfielder did a good job if containing Messi last April despite making some tackles that could’ve been worthy of his second yellow. I’d like to see him in a role similar to Pepe’s in 2011 where he shadowed Messi thus limiting his touches. That would also leave Suarez going up against Ramos and Varane who both happened to be speedy and great in the air.
Pique: This game is a perfect moment for Gerard Pique to demonstrate his leadership qualities. The veteran center back has the task of guiding Thomas Vermaelen through his first and possibly only Clasico. It is up to Pique to remain disciplined in the back and avoid any useless tackles. The center back dictates the rest of the line and it is up to Pique to lead the defense. If Pique can remain central and focused while also guiding Vermaelen, Barcelona’s defense is more than capable of keeping Real Madrid off the scoresheet.
Prediction:
Clasico predictions are rarely ever accurate. To me, they’re the toughest predictions in all of sports. Nonetheless, I believe it will end 2-0 for Barcelona. I think Messi is a different type of animal and Suarez has been picking up his confidence lately. The Uruguayan tends to show up during most big games and I don’t think tomorrow will be the exception. On the other side, I think Madrid’s finishing problems will carry on and unless Barcelona makes a huge mistake, I am not so sure they can put it past Ter Stegen.
Agree or disagree with me? Let me know! Twitter: @MP_persources IG:@mp_persources