Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview: Possible Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Statistics
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview: Possible Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Statistics
Real Madrid will invite Barcelona for the prior El Clasico of the 2022/23 mission at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Florentino Perez : “When Barcelona and Real Madrid play , it is watched by 600 million people.”
— Belphegor™ (@Belph_RM) October 15, 2022
Next up : EL CLASICO 🍿#ELCLASSICO pic.twitter.com/KklIG9Z6Xw
Real Madrid will invite top rivals Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabeu for the principal El Clasico of the 2022/23 season.
Perhaps of football’s most expected game, no adoration will be lost between the sides this Sunday as they line up for the 185th release of the venerated match-up. Both Genuine and Barcelona may be deficient with regards to the enormous names of old yet no quarter will be given in a tie that delivered a few stunning crossroads ever.
The two clubs are likewise the main unbeaten teams in the Spanish first class this season. They are tied on points at the highest point of the table with the Catalans straight ahead in view of goal contrast. Carlo Ancelotti’s reigning champs realize they can’t drop any points on the evening and will trust that home benefit can flip the outcome in support of themselves.
Genuine are falling off the rear of a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. In spite of being prepared to fit the bill for the last 16, Carlo Ancelotti was discontent with his team’s exhibition and there could be no more excellent open door than the El Clasico to come to a meaningful conclusion.
Barcelona go into the game on the rear of a 3-3 draw against Bury Milan at the Camp Nou. Dissimilar to Genuine, the Catalans could battle to get bunch in the Heroes League. Any reasonable person would agree that the two managers will be quick to go for the win and shake off the harsh taste of frustration from midweek.
With only eight games played up to this point, the La Liga title won’t be won this end of the week. Be that as it may, getting one over their most despised adversaries will give either side something other than boasting privileges. It could very well likewise give them the mental edge to see through what could be a firmly battled title race.
The Hard Tackle takes a gander at how the two sides could arrange on the evening and what strategies they could utilize.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Happy sunday y’all ……We’re winning today culers🔵🔴….#ElClasico #RMAFCB pic.twitter.com/AKCXIQRbwl
— Estherlyn🦋🌹☺️ (@AtakroEstherlyn) October 16, 2022
The defending champions will be without last season’s UEFA Champions League final hero Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian is nursing a muscle injury and will miss out. Dani Ceballos is also ruled out.
Summer signing Antonio Rudiger was the hero against Shakhtar, drawing his side level in the fifth minute of stoppage time. He is nursing a head injury and despite being included in the travelling squad, is unlikely to start the game.
Ancelotti has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from and is likely to go with a 4-3-3 freely flexible formation. Andriy Lunin will start in goal behind a back four of Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy.
Aurelien Tchouameni will start in central midfield and will be tasked with his ability to shield the defence. The all-action Frenchman will be accompanied by the veteran duo of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. The latter duo’s presence will be key, giving Tchouameni the freedom to play to his strengths and not let the occasion get to him.
Kroos and Modric’s ability to carry the ball forward could also wreak havoc in the Barcelona defence. With Benzema available to run into channels, Real should craft several goalscoring opportunities.
Karim Benzema will continue up front and will be partnered with Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde on the flanks. The Uruguayan can also drop into midfield and aim to cut out passing routes for the Barcelona players. Having the extra person in the middle of the park could disturb Barcelona’s rhythm and help the home side retain possession.
That’s right. It’s today. El Clásico has arrived! 🤩
— LaLigaTV (@LaLigaTV) October 15, 2022
Rewatch the highlights from when the two sides met back in 2019/20!! 📺#LaLigaTV pic.twitter.com/3m3aSdHCZj
Barcelona
For all of their defensive solidity in La Liga, Barcelona have been carved open regularly in the UEFA Champions League. To put it into perspective, Xavi Hernandez’s men have the 21st-best defence in the competition this season.
Despite securing 22 points from their first eight games in La Liga, one could argue that Barcelona struggled against elite opposition. Real Madrid will be the first top side they will face in La Liga this term and will give Barcelona a clear idea of where they stand.
A major reason for the Catalan side’s weakness in Europe is their porous defence. Gerard Pique is not the player he once was and is slow on the turn. While he could make way for Jules Kounde, the Frenchman’s lack of match fitness could see him struggle.
A key member of Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola’s sides, Xavi is well aware of the importance of retaining possession. This could be his undoing as Barcelona lack experience in the middle of the park. The trio of Sergio Busquets, Pedri and Gavi are all products of La Masia and know full well what the fixture means to the club and their fans. However, they could struggle to keep Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, two wily customers quiet.
Another option would be to start Frenkie De Jong over Pedri, but the Dutchman has not really enjoyed much playtime this season. It will come as a surprise should Xavi throw him on for the titanic clash.
Barcelona are also likely to set up in a 4-3-3 formation. Memphis Depay, Hector Bellerin, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen are all out injured, giving Xavi something to think about. Thankfully, it is not all bad news as Kounde is deemed fit to feature.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in goal behind the back four of Sergi Roberto, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde. The backline is far from first-choice and could struggle against Real’s attacking trio.
Sergio Busquets should start as the defensive lynchpin in midfield alongside youngsters Pedri and Gavi. Ousmane Dembele is likely to start out wide on the left, with Ansu Fati occupying the other flank. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for the Blaugrana and will represent Barcelona’s biggest attacking threat in the game.
Barcelona could also bring on Raphinha off the bench in the second half to put added pressure on the Real Madrid defence. Meanwhile, at the other end, Barcelona will need to keep a tight leash on Vinicius Junior who has the knack to give his marker the slip and score some important goals.
Possible Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Roberto, Kounde, Garcia, Balde; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Fati, Lewandowski, Dembele
Key Stats
That’s right. It’s today. El Clásico has arrived! 🤩
— LaLigaTV (@LaLigaTV) October 15, 2022
Rewatch the highlights from when the two sides met back in 2019/20!! 📺#LaLigaTV pic.twitter.com/3m3aSdHCZj
- With 184 matches between the sides, the El Clasico is the most played fixture in La Liga history. Real Madrid have won 76 matches while Barcelona have come out on top 73 times. Real Madrid have won five of their last six matches against Barcelona. But a win on the night will see Barcelona win consecutive El Clasicos for the first time since 2019.
- A clean sheet will see Barcelona keep consecutive shutouts against Real Madrid for the first time since 2009.
- Real Madrid have won seven of their opening eight games in La Liga this season. This is their best start to a league campaign since the 1992/93 campaign.
- Barcelona have conceded just one goal from their opening eight La Liga games this season. This is the second-best defensive record of any side ever in La Liga at this stage. (Jointly held by Deportivo La Coruna in 1993/94 and Real Madrid in 1997/98)
- Barcelona have the best attack in La Liga this season, scoring 20 goals so far. Real Madrid have the second-best attack with 19 strikes.
Player to Watch
Robert Lewandowski
The Polish striker is used to finding the back of the net against Real Madrid and has a decent record against them. Lewandowski has faced off against Los Blancos eight times, scoring six goals and assisting once in that time.
He is arguably the best number nine in world football and is clinical to say the least. The ability to come out on top in clutch situations was clear in the midweek when he took two late half-chances to score for Barcelona. Also blessed with intelligence, Lewandowski is a difficult player to pin down and will make life difficult for the Real Madrid defence.
Should the game be a tight affair, the result could be decided by the smallest of margins. Lewandowski has few peers who can thrive in a similar situation. As long as Barcelona can provide their star striker with opportunities, the Real Madrid defence will need to be on their toes.
Prediction
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
Both teams are yet to hit the stride this season and are coming off energy-sapping midweek duels. Real Madrid do have the luxury of another day of rest and are also playing at home on Sunday. More so, they have the advantage when it comes to the experience in the middle of the park.
Barcelona, for all of their displays this season, have failed to step it up against top-level opponents. It could be more of the same at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, with Real Madrid narrowly edging it by a goal.
