Sunday’s Clásico could have a big bearing on the Spanish title race with just four points between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
By Graham Ruthven
Title decider
El Clásico is always one of football’s most consequential fixtures. Even by the usual standards of the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, though, Sunday’s meeting has a lot riding on it.
A Barca win would essentially crown Hansi Flick’s team champions. A Real Madrid victory, however, would electrify the Spanish title race, pulling the defending champions within one point of top spot.
With just four games left of the season, there’s no margin for error. Barcelona have looked the stronger of the two teams recently, but might not be so fresh after playing 120 minutes against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Barcelona edged a thrilling Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid last month with the Catalans also overcoming their rivals in the Supercopa and the league meeting at the Santiago Bernabéu earlier this season.
Real Madrid will do everything they can to get in behind Flick’s high defensive line. Despite defeat, there were signs in the Copa final that Los Blancos have a better idea of how to exploit this space compared to earlier in the campaign when Barcelona’s offside trap troubled them so much.
In a season of blockbuster clashes between Spain’s Big Two, this match has the potential to be as meaningful as anything witnessed so far.
Key players
At the age of only 17, Lamine Yamal is arguably the best player in the world at the moment. While the teenager was kept quiet by Inter on Tuesday, he has 18 goal contributions in LaLiga this season and is capable of producing a match-winning moment at any time.
The same could be said of Raphinha who has 25 goal contributions to his name. Between the pair, Barca have wide attackers who like to cut inside and pose a goal threat in and around the penalty area.
Pedri will be the creative heart for Barcelona in the centre of the pitch with Dani Olmo and Fermín López vying to feature in midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong and Gavi. Barca will look to control things in the middle.
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will be a threat in behind the Barca high line with Jude Bellingham another player capable of finding the back of the net from inside the box. Fede Valverde’s energy will also be important.
Thibaut Courtois could be in for a busy afternoon, especially with so much of Real Madrid’s first-choice defence missing. Real Madrid might have to play on the edge to get the better of Barca and keep their title hopes alive.
Team news
Barcelona have several injury concerns that will shape their lineup in Saturday’s Clásico.
Indeed, Alejandro Balde is expected to miss the meeting with Real Madrid just as he did the Champions League defeat to Inter, meaning Gerard Martín will likely keep his place at left back.
Jules Koundé is another absentee through injury while Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal remain sidelined. Robert Lewandowski, however, could be fit enough to start following a period out.
Real Madrid are still extremely thin on the ground for defensive options with Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba also likely to miss Sunday’s match at Montjuïc.
Prediction
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid, continuing Hansi Flick’s hold over Ancelotti’s Madrid this season. And to take another potentially decisive step towards the title.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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