Real Madrid v Barcelona
The biggest derby in the world takes place in Spain on Sunday with Real Madrid and Barcelona clashing in a potential season defining El Clasico.
There is a lot at stake for both teams as 10 games remain in the league and a win for Madrid will most likely see them lift the title while a win for Barca will keep them in the title race, which could go down to the wire. La Liga leaders Real sit three points clear of surprise package Atletico Madrid, with Barca a point further back in third. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have something to prove as they have not lost in the league since the 2-1 defeat to champions Barcelona in October.
Real Madrid looked fully prepared for the El Clasico after Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half goal gave them a 1-0 win in Malaga last Saturday night to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 30 matches. Madrid already have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Schalke 6-1 in the first leg of their last 16 tie in Germany three weeks ago. This gives them the opportunity to rest key players on Tuesday and go into this match at full strength.
Recently Madrid have been hugely effective in overcoming sides with minimal fuss. They look in control and that stems from their newfound defensive solidity, with Ancelotti’s back four conceding just six goals in the 18 matches they have played so far this year. The Los Blancos have the best defence of La Liga in 2014 and have kept clean sheets in four of their last five games. They have been sublime all season at the Bernabeu, except for one slip up against Atletico Madrid going 1-0 down. Besides that they have won all 12 matches, scoring a mammoth 42 goals and conceding just 10 times.
Madrid have the most expensive attacking trio on the planet this season following the €100 million signing of Gareth Bale. The Welshman has often played on the right flank, with €94m man Ronaldo on the left, while Karim Benzema – who cost €41m in 2009 – working through the middle with great effect of late. In the short space of time that they have played together they’ve proven a deadly combination, most notably scoring two goals apiece in that 6-1 drubbing of Schalke. It’s no secret that Ronaldo has been the standout performer in the league this season, topping the scoring charts with 25 goals, three more than Diego Costa and seven more than Lionel Messi.
Four-time World Player of the Year Messi has set his sights on beating Real Madrid next weekend after leading Barcelona to a 7-0 thrashing of Osasuna on Sunday. Messi overtook Paulino Alcantara to become Barca’s all-time leading scorer with his second goal of the afternoon before completing his hat-trick to take his tally for the club to 371.
Alexis Sanchez, Andres Iniesta, Cristian Tello and Pedro also got in on the act in a sparking attacking display. Messi is hoping that a win in the Spanish capital will put his side right back in the La Liga title race. “I hope we see a good version of Barcelona and we can get a positive result, which we need to still be in there fighting for La Liga just a point behind,” he told Barca TV. “We have a unique opportunity to cut the gap on Madrid. It will be a very difficult game because we are playing away from home and Real Madrid is a great team playing with a lot of confidence. It will be difficult, but it all depends on us.”
The Argentine’s first hat-trick of 2014 means he has now scored 12 times in his last nine games and he believes he is slowly getting back to his best after missing the last two months of 2013 due to a hamstring injury. “I feel good, as I have said before, little by little I am getting better after the injury. There were very difficult moments because I had a run of injuries, but I am feeling good and hopefully I can maintain this level until the end of the season.”
It’s on the road where Barcelona’s title credentials have been questioned. They have been inconsistent winning only eight of their 14 away games, losing three times.
Real Madrid are unbeaten against Barcelona at the Bernabeu in the last three meetings, winning twice and drawing once. Barcelona might be able to control possession but Real Madrid have the defence to keep them at bay and the likes of Ronaldo and Bale could take advantage of Barca on the counter. The home win is tipped which could eliminate Barcelona from the title race for the remainder of the season.
