Real Madrid won the first leg at Camp Nou earlier this season 2-1
La Liga leaders Real Madrid head into El Clasico on Sunday to record a sixth straight win against Barcelona, but they will welcome a side in renewed form under new boss Xavi.
The European giants have already met twice this season, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side winning LaLiga at the Nou Camp before also beating their Catalan rivals in extra time in the Supercopa de Espana.
It will be the first Clasico at the Bernabeu since March 2020 after Real returned to their iconic stadium earlier this season as part of ongoing renovations. Sunday’s game will have a capacity limited to a sold-out 60,000 fans.
Real will start the game 15 points clear of the visitors, who are third behind Sevilla and unbeaten in the league since December 4, when Xavi suffered his only defeat in the competition against Real Betis.
It will also be a Clasico that looks a little different to the eye – neither club will play in their traditional colors, with Real set to wear a black kit this month to celebrate their 120th anniversary, while Barcelona will wear a yellow kit and red will carry the Catalan flag.
What’s at stake?
For Real Madrid, Stolz and El Clasico, the rights are bragging as the leaders sit 10 points clear of second-placed Sevilla. Earlier this week, however, Ancelotti recalled the time his AC Milan side gave up a 3-0 lead against Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final to say the title race was not over.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are struggling to finish in the top four and secure the Champions League for next season. Since the 2003/04 season when Xavi was a player they have not failed to reach Europe’s elite competition.
It was also the last time Barcelona failed to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League until this season as Xavi failed to salvage the club’s group stage after replacing Ronald Koeman in November when he finished third and dropped to the Europa League.
With both clubs boasting huge global fan bases and with El Clasico often the most-watched game in the world, La Liga president Javier Tebas described the game as a “powerhouse”.
Who will make the difference?
Karim Benzema is the top scorer in La Liga this season but will miss El Clasico
Real Madrid will be without in-form striker Karim Benzema, who has scored 22 goals in 25 games in La Liga this season after suffering a calf injury in Monday’s 3-0 win over Mallorca.
“We never take risks,” said Ancelotti. “He can’t play because he hasn’t trained, he’s unwell [but] it’s a minor injury. Karim is 34 years old, that can happen.”
Former Real Madrid forward Hugo Sanchez said the French striker would be a huge failure for the hosts.
“Benzema has a lot of quality, he’s full of talent and now he’s going to become a leader at Real Madrid,” he said. “Since he’s injured, the game will be completely different.
“He needs to be looked after and protected. If I were Ancelotti, I wouldn’t send Benzema onto the pitch.”
However, Real can also boast of the second-highest goalscorer in the league, the exciting Brazilian Vinicius Junior, who has scored 14 goals.
“Vinicius Junior will be a key player,” added Sanchez, who has scored 208 goals in his seven years at the club. “[But] It’s complicated to replace Benzema.”
Ancelotti is confident he has options to replace Benzema including Gareth Bale, Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic, while the Italian will also consider using Isco and Rodrygo in the position.
Aubameyang has scored seven goals in his last seven games
Barcelona have their own frontman in clinical form, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Europa League round of 16 winner against Galatasaray on Thursday scoring his seventh goal in ten games since joining from Arsenal.
“The Clasico is the biggest game in the world for sure because everyone is talking about this game even when we’re out of the game,” the 32-year-old told La Liga TV.
“It means a lot to everyone at the club and of course I know what the derbies are like – I’ve played a few in the past – and there’s this excitement and this feeling that it’s something special, something different and that’s what we do like.”
Aubameyang’s form is a stark contrast to his final months in north London, when the Gabonese international fell out with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and was sacked after a misconduct of the club.
However, Xavi said he feels lucky to have the striker.
“Auba was a godsend,” he said after Aubameyang scored in last weekend’s 4-0 win over Osasuna, calling him a “positive player” and a “coaching privilege”.
Another former Premier League player, Ferran Torres, scored twice in that win after signing as part of Xavi’s rebuild from Manchester City in the January window.
Barcelona’s other recruitment has largely consisted of free transfers or loan deals due to the financial difficulties that saw them lose Lionel Messi to PSG in the summer – deals including the signing of winger Adama Traore from Wolves.
A break in style?
Xavi and Carlo Ancelotti meet for the second time this season
Xavi is pretty much Barcelona as they come, having progressed through the club’s La Masia system and spent the majority of his career there before joining Al Sadd in Qatar, where he also began his coaching career.
The 42-year-old said this week he wants his side to take inspiration from Barcelona Femeni, comparing the club’s all-conquering women’s team to the one he played in under Pep Guardiola and the early ’90s Dream Team, the one of Johann Cruyff was trained.
“For several years they have shown us how they play, how they compete and how hungry they are, even though they won everything last year,” he said.
“We’ve been watching them and it’s a miracle to see them play. They’re leaders in the same way as the Dream Team were in their day or Pep’s Barca side later. They’re an example for the men’s team.”
They face a more pragmatic Real Madrid under Ancelotti, who is in his second spell at the club after winning the 2013-14 Champions League.
“From a tactical point of view, our approach will be very important because such games are often decided by small things,” said midfielder Toni Kroos on the club’s website.
“We just have to keep going like we have in the last few games, show discipline and be aware of the importance of this game, not only in La Liga but also for our fans.
“We have to prepare diligently, show discipline in defense and then we’ll always do something upstairs.”
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