For the last time this season, Real Madrid and Barcelona will lock horns in a Clasico and the stakes could not be higher.
The current season has seen the two Spanish giants go head-to-head on three occasions, all three of which the Catalans came out on top in. Surprisingly. None of the games were in Barcelona.
Tomorrow’s game is the first and only Clasico in Catalonia this season and will be the last one of the season and the final one for Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid’s manager. Barcelona do have the advantage, but Real Madrid have an outside chance beyond doubt.
The winner on the night will get a significant boost towards winning the domestic league title in Spain. A win may not put Real Madrid in the driver’s seat directly but will go a long way in reopening the door to a possible trophy.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid.
Barcelona at their weakest
Real Madrid have not had much luck breaking down Barcelona this season, especially in terms of controlling their ruthless attack.
The Catalans have been the better team by far in all three meetings between the two teams this season, and their mental resilience coupled with their dominance on the field has led to them winning all three Clasicos.
Tomorrow’s game, however, could well be different for Barcelona enter it at a point in the season where they appear to be at their lowest. After all, they suffered a massive heartbreak just days ago.
After securing the lead in the 88th minute against Inter Milan in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal, the Blaugrana threw the tie away and found themselves eliminated from the competition.
Needless to say, the dressing room is distraught with the result and Real Madrid must look to make the most of the situation to go on and grab a massive win. After all, it is not every day that one has the luxury of facing a shaken-up Barcelona.
A final game of purpose
No room for error. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Real Madrid have played many finals over the past weeks with every game in La Liga virtually coming across as a must-win game.
Now, however, they have reached the end of the road and stare the biggest final of them all in the eye – a game that could well decide the league title race.
Real Madrid have managed to hang on in the league standings with marginal wins characterizing the greater part of their past month in the competition. Now, however, they face the one team above them on the leaderboard in a virtual six-pointer.
A win for Real Madrid will instantly cut the deficit with Barcelona to just one point. With three games left in the season, anything will be possible at that point.
Should Real Madrid fall short, however, Barcelona will move seven points clear of the Merengues and require just two points in three games to mathematically secure the league title.
Tomorrow’s Clasico, thus, is Real Madrid’s final game of purpose of the season. A defeat will mark the end of their productive campaign but a win will keep hopes of a trophy alive.
An exposed defence
The most worrying aspect heading into El Clasico, needless to say, is Real Madrid’s conspicuously thin defence which raises serious concerns over the integrity at the back.
Barcelona, despite all their flaws and heartbreaks in recent weeks, are a potent force in attack and even Inter Milan only got past them because of their goalcoring prowess that helped them put seven past them over two legs.
Having Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio leading the central defence with no reliable backup, Fran Garcia at left-back and Lucas Vazquez at right-back, needless to say, is seriously worrying.
The key to defeating Barcelona tomorrow for Los Blancos revolves around two factors – being clinical in attack and efficient in defence. While the forwards can take care of the former, it is the latter case that proves to be Real Madrid’s undoing.
Asencio and Tchouameni must thus put up a brave and resilient fight against the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha tomorrow night and it will be a fabulous battle to behold.