LA LIGA PREVIEW: REAL MADRID VS BARCELONA (El CLASICO)

INTRODUCTION

Can Barcelona put their european disappointments behind them and continue their imperious La Liga form?

The Catalan giants travel to the spanish capital for the first major test in La Liga. They visit the revisioned enemy ground of their opponents, with whom they're currently tied at the top spot in the league. Both come into this clash as the only remaining undefeated teams in Spain, although that's likely to change soon. 

Real Madrid enter into this mouth watering clash on the back of a 1-1 draw in the Champions League to Shaktar Donetsk, disappointing by their own standards, which prevented Ancelotti from moving past Sir Alex Ferguson as the coach with the most UCL wins. It was enough to seal their qualification for the Knockouts though. Other than the 1-1 draw against Osasuna, they have also been quite imperious in La Liga, behind Barcelona only because of goal difference. They'll want to change that.

Barcelona however, are at the other end of the spectrum. Their Champions League campaign looks to have ended after the energy zapping 3-3 draw with Inter. It's been a disappointing european campaign, but their domestic run has been on point so far. Boasting the best attack and defense in the league (ironically at this point), they have reason to be confident, knowing that two out of the three possible outcomes of the El Clasico will favour them. They'll be focused on the win though, just like the last time they visited the Estádio Santiago Bernabeu.

INTERESTING STATS

Barça were on an extraordinary run against Real, which included an unprecedented four consecutive league victories at the Bernabéu, and saw them finally match the all-whites for wins in official Clásico meetings.

However, that brilliant was interrupted in recent years, with Madrid winning four league Clásicos in a row and also beating Barça in the Super Cup in Riyadh.

 Barça then enjoyed yet another massive Win in the Madrid, 4-0 with goals from Aubameyang (2), Araujo and Torres.

Real Madrid now lead the all-time count 100-96. Although, if non-official matches are also counted, Barça lead the all-time series.

Barça also won the most recent meeting between the sides in a preseason friendly in Las Vegas, Raphinha scoring the only goal of the match. 

Last five competitive meetings
20/03/22 (LIGA) Real Madrid 0-4 Barça
12/01/22 (SUPER CUP) Barça 2-3 Real Madrid
24/10/21 (LIGA) Barça 1-2 Real Madrid
10/04/21 (LIGA) Real Madrid 2-1 Barça
24/10/20 (LIGA) Barça 1-3 Real Madrid

TEAM NEWS

Real Madrid

Los Blancos will be without their number one, Thibault Courtois. This is definitely a massive blow for the whites, who have the Belgian to thank for their impermeability in defense throughout much of last season. Dani Ceballos is also out. Antonio Rudiger, despite suffering a head injury against Shaktar Donetsk, is deemed fit, but is unlikely to start, with Alaba and Militao likely to get the nod in central defense. Everyone else is fit for this clash.

Barcelona

Barcelona will be pleased to have Koundé return to the squad in time for this game, but his level of fitness will be assessed on the job. Gerard Pique will likely make way. Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Memphis Depay and Hector Bellerin are still unavailable through injuries. TerStegen has conceded only one goal so far in La Liga, a stark contrast to his stats in europe, through no fault of his for the most part anyways. Frenkie DeJong is also available to start in Midfield, along with Frank Kessie. Xavi will also have to make some changes in front, with Fati likely to get the nod alongside Dembele/Raphinha and Lewandowski.

Where and when are Real Madrid vs Barcelona playing?

• Location: Madrid, Spain
• Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
• Date: Sunday 16 October
• Kick-off Time: 15:15 BST / 10:15 EST / 07:15 PST
• VAR: Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez
• Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez

CONCLUSION

It's the El Clasico. It can go any way. That being said, it's important to note that both teams have stumbled a bit in form heading into this clash, each also have reasons to be confident against the other. Barcelona will always be capable of springing up a surprise, but Real Madrid will want to inflict more pain to the Catalans in what has been a vastly disappointing week.

UCL PREVIEW: BARCELONA VS INTER

INTRODUCTION

Barcelona aim to save their UCL credentials as they welcome Inter to the Spotify Camp Nou.

It's a really crucial week for FC Barcelona, as they look to salvage their chances of UCL qualification after failing to win at the San Siro in a game riddled with controversies. Save for their opening victory against Viktoria Plzen, they have lost their other two games, and anything other than a win here will spell doom for the Catalans. 

Domestically, Barcelona has faced little problems, even though their last outing saw them escape with a narrow win (and another clean sheet) against Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou. Their record domestically remains impeccable, and they'll hope it translates to tomorrow's Champions League game and continues with the El Clasico looming next weekend.

Their opponents, Inter, are hardly a great team themselves, evidenced by their struggles in Serie A, but they followed their controversial win over Barcelona last week with a 2-1 win over Sassuolo during the weekend, courtesy of an Edin Dzeko double. A draw is enough to put them in a strong position to qualify, and they'll be well aware of how to frustrate their Spanish opponents to ensure at least that.

INTERESTING STATS

- Xavi Hernandez’s side are on a run of four successive wins at home.

- Barça have won their last 6 home matches against Inter in all competitions, and have scored at least two goals in 5 of those encounters.

- The hosts’ defeat to Inter on Matchday 3 was only their second defeat against them in 11 UEFA Champions League games (W6 D3 L2).

-Barcelona have only lost once in the last 17 games they have hosted an Italian side in the UEFA Champions League (W13 D3).

- Inter’s last UEFA Champions League away win over a Spanish team came in October 2004, when they won 5-1 at Valencia. Since then, they have lost seven of their previous eight such games (D1).

Last Five meetings 

4/10/22 Inter 1-0 Barcelona

10/12/20 Inter 1-2 Barcelona

2/10/20 Barcelona 2-1 Inter

6/11/18 Inter 1-1 Barcelona

24/10/18 Barcelona 2-0 Inter

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Franck Kessie and Frenkie DeJong have recovered in time for this game, giving Xavi more options and profiles in midfield, depending on the state of the match. Jules Kounde was thought to have recovered in time but was subsequently left out. Araujo, Bellerín, Christensen and Depay remain sidelined.

Xavi's team selection against Celta Vigo showed that he had this game in mind. Eric Garcia, Sergi Roberto and Dembele all came from the bench against the team from Balaidos, so we should expect them in the starting lineup. Regarding the two forwards who will star beside Robert Lewandowski, your guess is as good as mine.

Inter

Inzaghi will be remain without Marcelo Brozovic, Joaquin Correa, Dalbert, Alex Cordaz, and Gabriel Brazao. Romelu Lukaku is not expected to start but could feature sometime during the game. This means Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez will partner up in front of a 5 man midfield and 3 man defense, just like last time out.

Andre Onana is expected to be the shot stopper once again for this one, returning to the home of his former employers.

Where and when are Barcelona vs Inter playing?

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou

Date: Wednesday 12 October

Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 EST / 12:00 PST

VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)

CONCLUSION

  It's all or nothing for Barcelona, who must win in order to stand a chance at qualification. Even though they've been hurt defensively through injuries, the overall quality is still there, and provided they're clinical enough, without much controversy from the referees, they should be able to get over the line against a stubborn Nerazzuri who are sure to be ultra defensive for most of this game.