The biggest club game in the World is quickly approaching and both Real Madrid and Barcelona are missing their most iconic players of all time. Los Blancos are still figuring out life after Cristiano while Messi was ruled out after a shoulder injury last weekend. Both teams have been uncharacteristically dropping points early this season but as we know, the Clasico is a different game in its own. Despite turbulent times this season, both teams have the chance to turn their season around with a massive win on Sunday.
Barcelona
Strengths
When the team is clicking offensively, they are one of the most unstoppable forces in the World. Even without the greatest player in the World, they still have the likes of Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Arthur, Rakitic and Dembele coming off the bench. Lethal counter attacks have arguably become their strongest feature as opposed to the neverending possession of the Guardiola/ Vilanova days. They have creativity, they have individual talent, they have shots from distance and even have various dangerous free kick takers. Barcelona have yet to be held scoreless in a game and looking at Real Madrid’s shaky defense, I don’t think this weekend will be the first time.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to explain to the casual fan that a team with an elite keeper can struggle defensively. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has certainly stepped up in recent years and has become one of the best in the World. However, the defense in front of him continues to be unreliable at times. The Pique-Lenglet forced experiment is slowly but surely starting to work out for the Catalans but it’s still not a polished perfection. The defense continues to struggle on 1v1 attacks and have a difficult time following their marks; often leaving spaces in between the lines.They are capable of shutting down some of the best strikers in the World like we saw against Harry Kane and Mauro Icardi but to win the Clasico, they’ll need to be focused for the entire 90 minutes.
How They Will Win
They have to dictate the game from the start. An early goal would set off chaos inside the Madrid team causing a meltdown. Unlike Barcelona, Madrid have yet to have a convincing win to end their negative streak. The team is a lost Clasico away from a meltdown and they know it. Barcelona should take advantage of their home crowd, dominate from the start and exploit the left side knowing that Marcelo will not be 100% fit on Sunday.
Real Madrid
Strengths
It’s a bit difficult to find some strengths for this Real Madrid team this season. They’re playing without a sense of identity and I get the feeling that most players don’t seem to know what their role on the team is. However, it just takes one game to turn the season around and they certainly have the players to win this game. At the beginning of the season, I loved the free roles given to Bale and Benzema up front. Benzema was playing a form of “false 9” which is difficult for center backs to follow while Bale was terrorizing the wings. I would love to see them attacking more from the wings and continuously take on defenders 1v1 knowing that Barcelona don’t necessarily defend the best in 1v1 situations.
Weaknesses
Their lack of scoring has been critical in the last few months but the team has given up some very unnecessary goals that would end up costing them the game. I firmly believe that the team has lost its guidance and is lacking that confidence that Zidane would install on the team. Barcelona have plenty of weapons in their arsenal to punish you if given the chance. I’m not sure if Marcelo will be 100% on Sunday meaning that his runs back on defense will be even more limited than ever. Barcelona could easily catch them on the counter if Madrid are not ready.
How They Will Win
When teams are going through difficult patches and they can’t find their leader or star player to lead the way, the only way they can win is through an impressive collective game. We’ve seen Madrid pull away with a great collective win in 2016 against a superior Barcelona side. If Lopetegui men have any chance this Sunday, they will need to be cohesive on defense, compact in the midfield and attack in numbers when they have the ball. A focused Madrid side with a concrete game plan can come away with the victory on Sunday.
Prediction
Barcelona are slowly but surely turning the page past those early struggles and for the first time in years, may have enough individual talent in the squad to compensate for Messi’s absence. Unless Real Madrid play a mistake-free match from start to finish, I don’t see many ways that Madrid can come away with a victory. I got Barcelona winning 3-1.
