El-Clasico
or more harshly the El-Cashico as the number of money spend by both these clubs
suggest, the 260th fixture
between both of these sides will be nothing less than a nail biting finale.
This early in the season, with both sides in such form that they could mitigate
even the best in business, Carlo Ancelloti’s Real Madrid and Luis Enrique’s Barcelona
will go for each other’s scalp when both of them will meet tonight.
When
Real Madrid won the all Madrid finale last season to claim their 10th
Champions League title, we might have thought that cooled the fire that was
burning inside the Real Madrid personnel after seeing off the brest Barcelona
side from 2008-2012 under Pep Guardiola. However that notion was dismissed the
moment this season started as Ronaldo’s current form is nowhere to be seen in
the history. And with Real Madrid putting 30 goals in their last 7 games at a
staggering ratio of 4 goals per game past their opponents, Carlo Ancelloti
might feel this is the best time to face Barcelona this season. However
ironically is, Luiz Enrique might be sharing the same feeling!
Probably for the 1st
time since the departure of Pep Guardiola, both Real Madrid and Barcelona will
feel that this is the best time to face their opponents.
Barcelona
on the other hand, were looking to forget their horrendous last season in which
the Catalan giants finished 2nd with no trophy in sight. Change of guard both
at the managerial as well as on individual basis has helped the European giants
to be goal-less when it comes to conceding goals this season on domestic basis.
And with no goals conceded in the last 720 minutes of League football, Luis
Enrique might feel that his defense might serve as the best barricade to stop
the flood of goals, Real Madrid have scored this season.
Here
are the six things that have changed since last season El Classico that happened
on 23rd March in LA LIGA.
Change of rear guard for Barcelona
For
a keeper who made more than 380 senior appearances for Barcelona in his whole
career, Barcelona were cued to miss the services of their Mr. reliable Victor
Valdez. But the form shown by Chilean Claudio Bravo in LA Liga has rubbished
all rumors with 1.38 saves per game adding to his mettle. So Barcelona might
feel they have got a like to like or maybe -an even better replacement of
Victor Valdez. And with Mathieu the newest addition to their squad’s defense,
Barcelona have an altogether different defense than last season.
Dilution of Spanish base in
midfield with foreigners
Last
time both these sides met, Xabi Alonso was in the heart of Real Madrid midfield
as the current Bayern Munich superstar was pulling the strings at Santiago
Bernabeu. Likewise, the duo of Xavi and Iniesta were playing the same game they
have been playing successfully for years. But bypassing the World Cup, both the
Spanish sides decided to polish their mettle as players like Ivan Rakitic and
Toni Kroos signed for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. And now with both
of them successful in their midfield roles, Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid and the
trinity of Spanish midfield for Barcelona with Cesc Fabregas gone, seems a distant
memory.
Extended Battle of the South
Americans
Although
this has been the case of many years since both Ronaldo and Messi seem to
ignite their South American rivalry in the populous fixture, the rivalry will
grow into this match as both of the Spanish giants have recruited more South
American superstars into their sides. Although James Rodriguez started his Real
Madrid career in a conventional fashion by being in the 1st team from the 1st
match-day, you cannot ignore the threat of Luis Suarez even though he hasn’t
touched a ball in Official Barcelona shirt since signing from Liverpool.
No Angel Di Maria
Although
the Argentine will be playing his 1st crucial match for Manchester
United this weekend as the Red Devils will take on an un-scathed Chelsea side,
the highlights of the man who made the most assists last season for Real Madrid
will be rewinding in the brains of Real Madrid faithful. From that direct
assist to Karim Benzema followed by a couple of tricks to his name, Angel Di
Maria’s ghost in Santiago Bernabeau might haunt Carlo Ancelloti provided an unwanted
result comes his way on Saturday.
Pressure will be on Real Madrid
Last
season while both of these sides met, a Barcelona win courtesy to a
controversial penalty ended the LA Liga
title race for their fierce opponents
Although it sounds naïve that pressure will be on Real Madrid seeing the
greatness on this fixture, but the fear of failure is the biggest threat any
team can have. This time however, this will not be the case but a defeat to Real
Madrid will mean that they’ll be lagging the Barcelona side by 7 points. So no
matter if they score 20 goals more than them till the end of this season, it’ll
be the points that’ll matter then and points that will matter come end of this
match.
Ronaldo has upgraded
With
Ronaldo’s performances epitomizing the greatness this player have since he
started for Manchester United, this season he has gone a level up or maybe two
if you consider the ballistic form he is in. Last season while he took 13 games
to score 15 goals in LA Liga, which was a major reason of Real Madrid coming
third fiddle at the end of season, he has just taken 8 matches to manage score
15. So while Barcelona can claim their defense is the best in Europe’s top 5
leagues still now, that claim will be on the punching bag if Ronaldo could
continue his form of guiding missiles into opponents’ net.
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