Date: Sunday 24th October, 2021
Time: 3:15 pm
Stadium Camp Nou
Referee Jose Sanchez (Spain)
Goal Scorer: D. Alaba 32' (madrid), L. Vazquez 90 + 3'(madrid), S. Aguero 90 + 7' (Bar)
Team News
Barcelona
Ronald Koeman has been handed a major blow on the team news front ahead of the visit of Real Madrid. On Sunday, the Barcelona manager will likely have to make do without as many as six first-team players.
The latest player to be struggling with an injury is Jordi Alba, who sustained a foot issue earlier this week in the game against Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Champions League. Since then, the veteran left-back has not been a part of training, although he has been picked in the squad to take on Real Madrid.
In addition, Pedri (muscle injury) and Ronald Araujo (hamstring) are the other major absentees for Barcelona, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele (knee), Martin Braithwaite (knee) and Moussa Wague (knee) also continuing to remain unavailable ahead of the visit of Real Madrid.
With Alba a part of the matchday squad, it looks like he could be set to shrug off the injury to start against Real Madrid. On the opposite flank, Sergi Roberto could start ahead of Oscar Mingueza while at the heart of the Barcelona defence, Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia are automatic picks. Behind the four defenders, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take his customary place in goal.
Up ahead in midfield, Gavi’s memorable run in the starting lineup ought to continue owing to the absence of Pedri. The 17-year-old will provide the creative impetus in the middle of the park along with Frenkie de Jong while Sergio Busquets will sit at the base of the midfield, looking to contain Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Finally, a key change is expected in attack, with Ansu Fati replacing the under-fire Luuk de Jong. That also means Memphis Depay will lead the line for Barcelona against Real Madrid, with Fati stationed on the left wing. Finally, Sergino Dest will continue on the right wing, having impressed in the position of late.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Garcia, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, de Jong; Dest, Depay, Fati
Real Madrid
Like his counterpart in the Barcelona dugout, Carlo Ancelotti has a major concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Camp Nou. On Sunday, the Real Madrid manager could be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
Dani Ceballos (hamstring) and Gareth Bale (ankle) continue to remain on the sidelines, due to their respective injuries. In particular, though, Ancelotti is sweating over the fitness of Karim Benzema, who sustained a knock in the win over Shakhtar Donetsk and did not train on Friday.
However, widespread reports suggest that the French striker will be a part of the starting lineup on Sunday, which is a significant boost for Real Madrid. Benzema should, therefore, lead the line for the visitors against Barcelona, with Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes likely to be the two wide men while Eden Hazard appears to be in line to make .
Midfield will hold the key for Real Madrid and it is here that they are at full strength, with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro all set to start. Casemiro will sit at the base of the three-man unit, with Kroos and Modric providing the creative impetus in the middle of the park.
Defence is where the troubles lie for Real Madrid, with Nacho likely to start as a makeshift right-back. However, the return of Ferland Mendy has been quite a relief for Ancelotti, with the French defender set to be deployed as the left-back. At the heart of the Real Madrid defence, there is no looking past Eder Militao and David Alaba while Thibaut Courtois picks himself in goal.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Key Stats
Quote
Barcelona have not won any of their last four games against Real Madrid in La Liga (D1 L3). If they fail to win on Sunday, it will be their longest winless run in the competition against any opponent since May 2008, also against Los Blancos (D2 L3).
Real Madrid have won each of their last three games against Barcelona in all competitions against Barcelona. The Merengues now have the chance to win four successive matches or more versus their bitter rivals for the first time since 1965 (seven).
Barcelona have scored in 34 of their last 35 home games in La Liga (79 in total, an average of 2.3 per game), failing only against Atletico Madrid in May 2021 during this period (0-0).
Following their defeat to Espanyol on Matchday 8, Real Madrid could suffer back-to-back losses in La Liga for the first time since their last two games of the 2018/19 season.
Sunday’s game will be the first El Clasico of the post-Lionel Messi era for Barcelona. Messi led the team to 19 Clasico victories in the 45 matches he played against Real Madrid, scoring 26 goals along the way.
Real Madrid have won each of their last three games against Barcelona in all competitions against Barcelona. The Merengues now have the chance to win four successive matches or more versus their bitter rivals for the first time since 1965 (seven).
Barcelona have scored in 34 of their last 35 home games in La Liga (79 in total, an average of 2.3 per game), failing only against Atletico Madrid in May 2021 during this period (0-0).
Following their defeat to Espanyol on Matchday 8, Real Madrid could suffer back-to-back losses in La Liga for the first time since their last two games of the 2018/19 season.
Sunday’s game will be the first El Clasico of the post-Lionel Messi era for Barcelona. Messi led the team to 19 Clasico victories in the 45 matches he played against Real Madrid, scoring 26 goals along the way.
Prediction: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
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