Copa Del Rey
El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview
Leg one of this exciting Copa del Rey clash kicks off on Wednesday at 3pm EST in the Camp Nou. Although few will be thinking about it during the ninety minutes, coaches Santiago Solari and Ernesto Valverde will also be considering the tough league matches to follow when they put together their game plans. Both clubs are as eager to win La Liga with Madrid currently eight points behind in the table.
Regardless, Wednesday’s action promises to be tightly contested. Despite convincingly winning the previous El Clasico 5-1, the Blaugrana have been leaky in defense at home all year. Real Madrid will also no doubt be eager to exact revenge on their bitter rivals. Likewise, Solari’s men will feel obligated to show themselves improved enough to defeat even the best teams after struggling early on.
Team News
For Valverde’s team, goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen will miss out due to a muscle injury. As a result, first choice keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be between the sticks for the home side. Additionally, Rafinha and Samuel Umtiti continue to recover from injuries. Forwards Ousmane Dembele and Leo Messi are questionable but likely to be in the squad. Especially the Argentine, who will almost certainly start the match.
Elsewhere, Madrid have it less complicated as the visiting side are not short on options. Coach Solari has a full squad to choose from with no major injury concerns. Almost guaranteed to make the starting eleven are Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Lucas Vasquez and Karim Benzema. Remaining to earn a spot are Marcelo, Sergio Reguilon, Casemiro, Bale, Asensio and Vinicius.
Lineups and Prediction
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Arthur, Rakitic, Busquets; Coutinho, Suarez, Messi
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Reguilon; Casemiro, Kroos, Marcelo, Modric; Lucas, Benzema
Truly, Los Blancos are a different team from the side that lost by four goals in Barcelona last October. Be that as it may, the great Leo Messi accompanied by Luis Suarez have always proven capable of scoring against the whites. The Uruguayan himself scoring a hat-trick in the aforementioned match.
Nevertheless, Solari’s men have outscored their opponents 16-5 in their past five matches and come to Catalonia in good form. Striker Karim Benzema has been especially exceptional. The Frenchman will be the primary goal threat for the visitors and there is no doubt that the hosts will be aware of it.
All in all, expect a handful of goals and an entertaining match overall. Nothing will be won or loss in the first leg. Rather, Valverde’s men will edge out their rivals but leave everything to play for in Madrid on the 27th. Real being content with an away goal or two, hoping to secure a home victory in the second leg.
Barcelona 3 – 2 Real Madrid
Photo credit to Real Madrid via Flickr
