The Spanish titans, Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in yet another El Clasico. In the games that have gone by in a little over a century between the two teams, there have been many central themes that have dominated the contest. The battle for royalty, language, regional pride, revenge, quest for the La Liga crown or plain old bragging rights.
In recent years though, from staking a claim from being the biggest footballing superpower, it has turned into showcasing the world who the better superstar is - Cristiano Ronaldo representing Los Blancos and Catalan bred Lionel Messi are the men in the spotlight. The contrast of the styles and their jaw-dropping consistent levels, unseen in competitive football has seen interest levels multiply in recent times.
This fixture at Real's Santiago Bernabeau, however, is about the supporting cast. Prediksi Madrid vs Barca Not that either team had a dearth of superstars in the years gone by. With players from both sides in the peak of their careers, the quality of football on display is also expected to live up to the lofty precedent set by the teams.
Both teams know that from being a cut above the rest and sharing the spoils — trophies, best players, TV and satellite rights and profits being some of them, the power has shifted to a new force in town. Real's cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid audaciously took on the might of the big two and emerged Spanish champions last season. The immediate priority is to wrestle the title back and the timing of the contest culminates into a mouth-watering turn of events.
Barcelona - The Uruguayan maverick, Luis Suarez's return to football and his probable debut is on the forefront of it all. After serving a four month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the FIFA World Cup 2014, Suarez is back. Making your club debut in a contest this big can either make or derail a player's career, no matter how big a name he is. As for the Suarez, he is no stranger to hostility and pressure and has handled pressure with aplomb, whenever he has had to endure a setback.
A front three of Suarez, Messi and Neymar is a combination that is usually restricted to video games. It's a scary proposition for any defence as we wait with bated breath if Luis Enrique decides unleash the trio up front. After a solid, if not spectacular first season at the club, Neymar too has come into his own this season and his combination with Messi has been a sight to behold. Messi's usual goal glut has weathered down a slightly this season but his form certainly hasn't. Without conceding a single goal, the Blaugurana have chugged along like a gravy train and are sitting pretty at the top.
Sergio Busquets played no part in Barca's recent champions league tie against Ajax and his availability is still in doubt. Enrique and the team though, are optimistic about the midfielder starting the game. The rest of the team is fit and firing and with 250 La Liga goals under his belt, Messi is just one goal behind all-time leader, Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra.
Real Madrid - Ronaldo's astounding feats in recent times have been well documented and could well be the first player to break the Barca's impeccable defensive record this season. Plundering one hat-trick after another and marching with vigour to break goalscoring records in sight, the Portuguese maestro is on a roll. Fresh from a thumping 3-0 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, the European Champions' momentum is on the ascendency, after a rather slow start to the season, which saw them falling behind Barca in the early exchanges of the league table.
Gareth Bale scored an emphatic winner in the Copa Del Rey final last season, in what will definitely go down as one of the finest goals in El Clasico's history. The Welshman's presence will be sorely missed by Madrid but the likes of Karim Benzema and new big name signing, James Rodriguez are in good form too and will prove to be quite a handful. Even last season, Carlo Ancelotti showed little restraint in fielding an ultra-attacking side and with a potential seven point deficit against their bitter rivals hanging over them, the Italian coach is expected to follow suit field a side without a recognised holding midfielder.
Teams (From)
Real Madrid : Iker Casillas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Isco, Toni Kroos, Luca Modric, James Rodriguez; Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema.
Barcelona : Claudio Bravo; Dani Alves, Jeremy Mathieu, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba; Javier Mascherano, Xavi, Iniesta; Neymar, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez.
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