It’s a fixture not for the faint-hearted, Spain’s most eagerly anticipated showdown: Real Madrid vs Barcelona, which takes place in the Spanish capital on 10th April, Saturday evening.
Each Clasico is special, although this one stands out, as this could be the final time Lionel Messi steps out on the pitch in a Barcelona shirt against Real Madrid.
👊⚽️ #ElClásico mode: 🔛 pic.twitter.com/jmu9vwlD0x
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 9, 2021
Zinedine Zidane’s men are currently third in Spain’s top flight, two points behind 2nd placed Barca, who now trail leaders Atletico Madrid by just a single point with nine games left.
Both sides are in the running for the league title, and a loss for either team could see them get knocked out of the title race.
Image Courtesy – Twitter/FC Barcelona
After struggling in the previous round against Valladolid and only beating them 1-0 after they’ve received a red card, Barcelona are now on a six-game winning streak. The team has been rejuvenated after a change at the top and return of Joan Laporta as the club’s president, leading to a streak of 19 games without a loss.
🎇 #OTD 54 years ago, we won our 12th @LaLigaEN title!
🗓🏆 1967/68
⚽🧤 Zamora Trophy: Betancort#RealFootball pic.twitter.com/pl79GgnG50— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 9, 2021
Neither Madrid nor Barca would be out of the title race if they lose this weekend, but it is the perfect chance to strike a blow to a bitter rival, and Los Blancos have won the last two matches between the two sides, including a 3-1 victory at Camp Nou in the reverse fixture back in October.
TEAM NEWS
Zinedine Zidane will be without his preferred centre-back pairing of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. The Spaniard is still out with a muscular injury, while Varane tested positive for COVID-19 earlier last week and is in isolation.
Dani Carvajal has returned to training but is unlikely to feature. Meanwhile, Belgian winger Eden Hazard is fit to play, but is still a doubt for the game.
Real Madrid Possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
The squad for #ElClasico! pic.twitter.com/ntRWjsQfb2
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 9, 2021
G⚽️AL OF THE DAY
🔜 #ElClasico! 🔵🔴
🐐 Leo #Messi pic.twitter.com/ltzh3ggzju— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 9, 2021
As for Barca, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto are doubts but should feature, while Philipp Coutinho and Ansu Fati are both out.
Barcelona Possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Mingueza, De Jong, Lenglet; Dest, Pedri, Busquets, Alba; Griezmann, Messi, Dembele
GAME CHANGERS
Lionel Messi has often carried the weight of the Catalans single-handedly in the past few seasons. The Argentine is once again vital to Barcelona’s chances of staying in the title race, who is enjoying another excellent campaign at club level, scoring 29 times and registering 13 assists in 38 appearances.
Image Courtesy – Twitter/Real Madrid
Lionel Messi may be the top scorer in El Clasico across all competitions (26) and in La Liga as well (18), but this could be a game where Karim Benzema breaks his recent nine-game duck against the Catalan club. The Frenchman played a blinder against Liverpool in midweek, not finding the target, but ruthlessly creating gaps in the English champion’s threadbare defence and holding the ball up with distinction.
PREDICTION
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona, will be brimming with confidence due to the form they are in. The two teams will be fired up for the derby, knowing that they cannot afford to lose this game.
Both teams will enter this match in impressive form, and Madrid will be feeling particularly confident due to their excellent performance against Liverpool in the Champions League.
With so much at stake, both teams will fancy their chances of exposing defensive weaknesses, albeit Real Madrid’s UCL momentum giving them the slight edge on this one, Hence, FootTheBall says, Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona.
