Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid go into Saturday’s El Clasico six
points clear at the top of La Liga and on an unbeaten run of 31 games.
Madrid also warmed up for the trip to Barcelona with a 6-1 drubbing of
Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.
There were a lot of doubts on Zidane’s coaching when he took over Madrid, but it’s hard to criticise him because no manager in Real Madrid history has as good a record after their first 33 games in charge as him (27 wins, five draws and one defeat). They have not lost a game since their 2-0 defeat away to Wolfsburg in the Champions League last April.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have endured a rocky period lately. They will be eager to put aside the 1-1 draw at Hercules in the Copa del Rey and shift their focus to the highly-anticipated La Liga this weekend.
Luis Enrique’s men will eye to close the gap on the top, and hence this fixture comes as a crucial one for him, whose side have drawn their last two league matches against Malaga and Real Sociedad, before tying 1-1 with Hercules on Wednesday.
With form often proving to be very little in Clasico, let us take a look at how both the teams are shaping up for the high-voltage clash.
Real Madrid
Starting with the visitors, Real Madrid will be without their talismanic winger Gareth Bale, who picked up an ankle-injury in the 2-1 win away to Sporting CP in the Champions League last week and underwent an operation in London on Tuesday.
Right-back Danilo is doubtful for the game, while midfielder Toni Kroos and left-back Fabio Coentrao have been ruled out.
But the return of Casemiro from a long spell at sidelines comes as big boost for Zidane. The Brazilian started in the 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday and now looks set to feature against Barcelona.
In terms of suspension, Madrid have no players suspended for the Clasico at Camp Nou this weekend. Captain Sergio Ramos is just one booking away from a ban, and played with caution in the 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon in La Liga last Saturday.
As Zidane prefers to go with the 4-3-3 formation, he is likely to call upon Isco to replace the injured Bale at the right side of the attack. The attacking-midfielder oozed class in the recent derby win at the Vicente Calderon and is set for another start. James Rodriguez also comes as Bale’s potential replacement, but the manager still lacks faith in the Colombian winger.
It will be interesting to see whether Zidane will throw Pepe in the heated clash right after returning from injury, or go with Raphael Varane at centre-back alongside Ramos. Casemiro’s return to full fitness means the Brazilian could start, alongside industrious Luka Modric and impressive Mateo Kovacic in the midfield.
Barcelona
Hosts Barcelona know the importance of this fixture, as another defeat will potentially end the title race. As far as the injuries are concerned, defender Jeremy Mathieu is ruled out of the clash.
Samuel Umtiti played his part against Hercules and will be available for selection, while Jordi Alba, who picked up an ankle knock against Sociedad, is doubtful.
The return of Andreas Iniesta comes as a timely boost for Barcelona, with the midfielder missing since he injured his knee away to Valencia in La Liga on October 22. The veteran has been back in training for a while, but it is unlikely to see him as a starter.
Barca have no players suspended for the Clasico clash. Neymar is just one booking away from a ban, but came through safe in the 1-1 draw against Sociedad on Sunday.
Enrique will look to pick his strongest side against Madrid, but given Iniesta lacks game-time, he will be consider to give summer signing Andre Gomes another start. One could see the defensive pair of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano start, with Sergi Roberto at right-back and Alba at left-back if he has recovered from his knee and ankle problems. Otherwise, the boss will hand Lucas Digne a start.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar will continue to be in the attack, while Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic are set to keep their places in the midfield. If not Gomes, there could be a possibility of Arda Turan starting.
Given the form, Real Madrid will enter the clash as favourites. But this fixture has a funny habit of being won by the team that comes into the game in the worst form. So one can expect the unexpected!
source: tensports.com
There were a lot of doubts on Zidane’s coaching when he took over Madrid, but it’s hard to criticise him because no manager in Real Madrid history has as good a record after their first 33 games in charge as him (27 wins, five draws and one defeat). They have not lost a game since their 2-0 defeat away to Wolfsburg in the Champions League last April.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have endured a rocky period lately. They will be eager to put aside the 1-1 draw at Hercules in the Copa del Rey and shift their focus to the highly-anticipated La Liga this weekend.
Luis Enrique’s men will eye to close the gap on the top, and hence this fixture comes as a crucial one for him, whose side have drawn their last two league matches against Malaga and Real Sociedad, before tying 1-1 with Hercules on Wednesday.
With form often proving to be very little in Clasico, let us take a look at how both the teams are shaping up for the high-voltage clash.
Real Madrid
Starting with the visitors, Real Madrid will be without their talismanic winger Gareth Bale, who picked up an ankle-injury in the 2-1 win away to Sporting CP in the Champions League last week and underwent an operation in London on Tuesday.
Right-back Danilo is doubtful for the game, while midfielder Toni Kroos and left-back Fabio Coentrao have been ruled out.
But the return of Casemiro from a long spell at sidelines comes as big boost for Zidane. The Brazilian started in the 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday and now looks set to feature against Barcelona.
In terms of suspension, Madrid have no players suspended for the Clasico at Camp Nou this weekend. Captain Sergio Ramos is just one booking away from a ban, and played with caution in the 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon in La Liga last Saturday.
As Zidane prefers to go with the 4-3-3 formation, he is likely to call upon Isco to replace the injured Bale at the right side of the attack. The attacking-midfielder oozed class in the recent derby win at the Vicente Calderon and is set for another start. James Rodriguez also comes as Bale’s potential replacement, but the manager still lacks faith in the Colombian winger.
It will be interesting to see whether Zidane will throw Pepe in the heated clash right after returning from injury, or go with Raphael Varane at centre-back alongside Ramos. Casemiro’s return to full fitness means the Brazilian could start, alongside industrious Luka Modric and impressive Mateo Kovacic in the midfield.
Barcelona
Hosts Barcelona know the importance of this fixture, as another defeat will potentially end the title race. As far as the injuries are concerned, defender Jeremy Mathieu is ruled out of the clash.
Samuel Umtiti played his part against Hercules and will be available for selection, while Jordi Alba, who picked up an ankle knock against Sociedad, is doubtful.
The return of Andreas Iniesta comes as a timely boost for Barcelona, with the midfielder missing since he injured his knee away to Valencia in La Liga on October 22. The veteran has been back in training for a while, but it is unlikely to see him as a starter.
Barca have no players suspended for the Clasico clash. Neymar is just one booking away from a ban, but came through safe in the 1-1 draw against Sociedad on Sunday.
Enrique will look to pick his strongest side against Madrid, but given Iniesta lacks game-time, he will be consider to give summer signing Andre Gomes another start. One could see the defensive pair of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano start, with Sergi Roberto at right-back and Alba at left-back if he has recovered from his knee and ankle problems. Otherwise, the boss will hand Lucas Digne a start.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar will continue to be in the attack, while Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic are set to keep their places in the midfield. If not Gomes, there could be a possibility of Arda Turan starting.
Given the form, Real Madrid will enter the clash as favourites. But this fixture has a funny habit of being won by the team that comes into the game in the worst form. So one can expect the unexpected!
source: tensports.com
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