nothing like that at all el classicowhenever ever real Madrid And barcelona Play each other, there is no bigger match happening anywhere else in the football world.
Sunday’s clash at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Stream live on ESPN+ in the US) will not be different. defending LaLiga Champion Barcelona arrived in the Spanish capital two points behind its arch-rivals. on top of the table,
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, a great midfielder who won the LaLiga title and uefa champions league During his five years as a player los blancosWill experience his first clash against Barcelona from the dugout. he will do it with star striker kilian mbappe In top form.
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Barca boss Hansi Flick claimed a clean sweep over Madrid last season, winning all four matches in his debut season. young phenom Lamin Yamal Was one of the stars during those wins, and could have been a match-winner in Madrid once again.
ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Sam Marsden on form, head-to-head, latest team news and key clashes ahead of the 262nd edition el classico,
All-time head-to-head: Barcelona can level with win
Since the 1930s, Real Madrid have historically held the lead most of the time in their head-to-head encounters with Barcelona. Since then, both clubs have consistently dominated meetings with their rivals – Madrid in the 1960s, and Barça in the 1970s and 80s. But the balance began to change over the past 20 years, as Madrid’s head-to-head advantage declined, starting with the Pep Guardiola era at Barça. Madrid recorded just one win in 14 meetings in all competitions between 2008 and 2012, which included impressive 6–2 and 5–0 victories for Guardiola’s side, as well as victory in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Since then, it has been even more – Barcelona went seven matches unbeaten classicos Madrid had previously gone undefeated six times between 2017 and 2019 – but Barca’s four wins last season have put them on the verge of equaling Madrid’s all-time head-to-head record. –Kirkland
What happened last season?
Barcelona, somewhat unexpectedly, dominated Madrid last season. There was uncertainty surrounding the Blaugrana at the start of the campaign, with no one being sure how new coach Flick would fare with a young team. Meanwhile, Madrid included Kylian Mbappe in their team after winning LaLiga and Champions League.
But as is often the case in this stability, logic prevailed. No To be prevalent. Barcelona were superb in attack, scoring 16 goals in four wins against Madrid, as they won both league meetings en route to the title, as well as victory in the final. copa del rey and the Spanish Supercopa. At times it seemed as if they could score at will, especially in the final classico of the season, which effectively won the league title. Mbappe gave Madrid a 2–0 lead inside 15 minutes, before Barça responded with four unanswered goals before the break.
That was the main theme of Barça’s victory: lots of goals in short bursts. He scored four in the second half at the Bernabeu last October and four in the first half in a 5–2 Supercopa win in January. Barcelona finished 16-7 on aggregate over the course of four fascinating and highly entertaining games. Barcelona now aim to win five consecutive editions classico The only other time in club history – 2008–10, under Guardiola. — Marsden
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Is El Clasico Alonso’s toughest managerial test?
Craig Burley and Steve Nicol are looking forward to Real Madrid vs Barcelona after both UCL teams won.
How are they performing this season?
real Madrid
It looks like Madrid are performing better than last season, but they are still a work in progress. There has been a notable change in the way the team plays out of possession – with more intensity, more pressing to win the ball back, and more cohesive defensive shapes – while another big plus has been the sensational form of Mbappé, who has scored in 10 of his 11 club games this season. Vinicius Junior is approaching his best form, and while the midfield is still not fully fired up, Arda Guler Is now a valuable creative influence, already providing five assists for Mbappé this campaign.
Madrid’s record in LaLiga is impressive, with eight wins out of nine, but the game they did not win was a 5–2 thrashing of Atletico Madrid. And there’s still a sour feeling in the “big” games – the Madrid derby and the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals Paris Saint Germain Summer – Alonso’s team has suffered stage fright. –Kirkland
barcelona
Flick has admitted that Barcelona have yet to reach the heights of last season. He has seen poor conditions and a drop in pressing intensity as the two biggest factors in the team’s downfall. Injuries have also played a role RafinhaYamal, fermin lopez, Gavi, john garcia, dani olmo And Robert Lewandowski Of those who sat out during the season. The results haven’t been that bad, he said. They have won two out of three in the Champions League, losing only to Paris Saint-Germain through a late goal, and are just two points behind leaders Madrid in LaLiga.
The performance has not always been that encouraging. rayo vallecano Could have beaten them earlier in the season, Seville Scored four runs against them and girona Arguably should have taken at least a point last weekend. But snatching a late win against Verona and then getting beaten Olympiacos The 6-1 win in midweek will give the players a boost of confidence heading into Madrid. Lopez is back and looking sharp, Yamal has featured in the last two matches after recovering from a groin problem, and marcus rashford Has settled in nicely. — Marsden
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Rashford impressed by ‘incredible’ Pedri since move to Barcelona
Marcus Rashford has revealed which Barcelona players have impressed him since joining the club.
Both teams have multiple injury doubts. What’s the latest?
real Madrid
There is optimism that Madrid’s issues are well behind us – where Trent Alexander-Arnold And dani carvajal Both have been injured, and federico valverde Reluctantly drafted – to be resolved soon, with both Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal pushing for a timely return classicoOn the other side of the defense, Ferland Mendy However, getting even closer to full fitness classico may come too soon for him, and alvaro carreras Anyway, the starter is on the left.
center back, dean huijsen Must be available for partnership eder militaoAs Antonio Rudiger Expected to be out by December, and david alaba Was substituted at halftime against jetafe Last weekend as a precaution. in midfield, dani ceballos He has muscle problems and is unlikely to be fit to face Barca. –Kirkland
barcelona
john garcia, Marc-Andre Ter StegenGavi, Olmo and Lewandowski will all sit out the game, and a source told ESPN that Raphinha you will also be missed After suffering a setback in his return from a hamstring injury. But there is some positive news for Barca – Yamal and Lopez both returned to action last weekend, the latter scoring a spectacular hat-trick with his weaker left foot against Olympiacos. ferran torres Returned to the bench against the Greek side. Although he did not play, he should be ready this weekend. — Marsden
Main clashes
Kylian Mbappe vs Barcelona’s high line: Who can forget that the last time these two teams met was at the Bernabeu almost exactly a year ago? Barcelona won the match 4–0, but all four goals came in the second half. Before the break, it could have been a very different story, as Madrid went head-to-head with Barça, but Mbappé was caught offside six times (his game total of eight was a career high) and was unable to make the breakthrough.
Since then, a lot has changed: Mbappe looks a different player, extremely confident and comfortable in a Real Madrid shirt, and with Guerrero providing support behind him. Barça, meanwhile, look nothing like the well-oiled machine of Flick’s first season, and there is no Inigo Martínez in defence. If Madrid and Mbappe get it right this time, could be a great selection. –Kirkland
Lamine Yamal vs. Alvaro Carreras: Although Barça won both matches in Lisbon benfica Not all things went his way for Yamal in the matchup with Carreras last season (5-4 and 1-0). The Spanish left back was one of the players who did the best job of stopping Yamal, who eventually scored against Benfica in the third meeting between the teams when Carreras was suspended.
Yamal is a player who is also motivated by personal battles. The idea that he needs to prove himself against a rival energizes him, and he will be ready to race at Carreras. In LaLiga this season he averages 14.8 take-ons per 90 minutes and 6.4 successful take-ons per 90, both of which are the highest in Europe’s top five leagues (minimum 300 minutes). As Flacco pointed out this week, he also almost always leads in big games. His three career goals against Madrid are more than he has scored against any other team.
In the absence of Raphinha, Lewandowski and Olmo, a large part of Barca’s hopes will again depend on the teenager’s performances. — Marsden
predictions
The gap between the two teams last season was significant, if not always as large as the scoreline in their four meetings suggests. Madrid look much better than last season, while Barca are worse off. Madrid will win 3-1. –Kirkland
Madrid are looking more stable but also have their own problems defensively. Alonso’s biggest games so far – against PSG and Atletico – have ended in defeat and I expect Barca to improve on what we have seen in recent weeks. Ultimately, with only two points between the teams in the league, a late tie cannot be considered the worst result for either side. It will be a 2-2 draw. — Marsden
Odds (via ESPNBET)
real Madrid: +105
Barcelona: +210
Drag: +300
