El Clasico: 5 reasons why Real Madrid will destroy Barcelona this weekend

Which is the most hyped club fixture in the world of football? El Clasico. The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona holds such a magnitude that it runs beyond football, which is one of the reasons why this match is so hyped up.

The political tensions between the two states mean that football is the biggest way for Catalans to show their self. Since they were a part of Spain for so long—they only recently announced themselves as an independent state—they only had the glory of Barcelona to behold themselves in.

And right now, they are leading the league by 6 points, and are 11 points ahead of their eternal rivals. However, in the next Clasico to be held at the Bernabeu, it will be the Blancos that will reign over their Catalan rivals—and here are 5 reasons why…

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#5 Chasing the league

Will Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid succeed in narrowing Barcelona's lead? Or will they succumb?

As of now, as mentioned earlier, the Galacticos are 11 points behind their bitter rivals with a game in hand. Since it is already mid-December, a difference of 11 points could render the title race as good as over for the chasing team. Indeed, if Madrid lose, they go 14 points—which essentially makes the league an impossible mission.

And the players know this—Zidane knows this. They know what is at stake in the next Clasico, they know that they will have to win at all costs.

And this is why the Blancos will put their heart and soul and bodies on the pitch, enmeshed with blood, sweat and tears. When Zidane’s men play at their best, there is perhaps no team that can get the better of them—not even Barcelona.

Certainly, not this Barcelona, as…

#4 Barcelona can be exploited

Barcelona can be beaten

Let it be clear that this Barcelona team is unlike the one under Pep Guardiola. That team was a result of the vision imagined by the great Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, passed on to Pep Guardiola, who clasped it with both his hands, loved it like his own child, moulded it likewise, and produced something extraordinarily unstoppable.

That was the Barcelona that won all the trophies available in one calendar year.

However, with the departure of Pep Guardiola and the players that made the vision a reality—Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol—coupled with the decline of Andres Iniesta, the great units of Barcelona are no longer there.

While this Barcelona team might have some really world-class players, it can’t be denied that Madrid have a better squad overall.

However, the only difference between the two teams is Lionel Messi—his performance, or Madrid’s ability to keep him out of the game, will eventually determine the outcome of the fixture.

#3 FIFA Club World Champions have momentum on their side

Madrid are officially the best club in the world

The Blancos might not have yet won 6 trophies in a year, but they came close this year with 5 under their belt—with the latest one stamping their place as the best club in the world, factually at least.

After winning against Gremio in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, Madrid were crowned as the best club in the world for the second time a row. Madrid might have only edged out their opponents by one goal, but the way they played showed some positive signs for the future.

For the first time this season, the diamond 4-4-2 worked with Isco having a great game at the top of the centre circle. However, it was Luka Modric’s imperial form that allowed the Blancos to move around with intent and express themselves fully.

The form of Luka Modric and the return of Gareth Bale gives Zidane and Madridistas hope. Bale might have had a very bad time with the club of late, but his two cameo appearances in the Club World Cup oozed positive signs.

This brings us to the next point:

#2 Fully fit Madrid squad

Madrid have a fully-fit squad

It is very hard to recall the last time the Blancos had a fully-fit squad at their disposal. The French manager has had to shuffle around his first XI because he had something hindering his team in almost every game.

It started with the injury of Jesus Vallejo—the first casualty of the season—and after that, it was like dominoes tumbling over one after the other. Indeed, at one point it looked like Madrid would have to end up playing their Castilla players—and that is despite having such a complete squad.

However, after what seems like ages, the Galacticos finally have some stability in terms of fitness. Zidane now has a fully fit squad to choose from, a welcome headache for the former Juventus player—something he has been bereft of for quite a long while now.

#1 Playing at the Bernabeu

The Bernabeu will give Madrid strength

The last time these two clubs played at the Bernabeu in the league, the lasting image was that of Lionel Messi holding up his shirt after scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game.

However, after that, Madrid won La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup—against Barcelona, no less—and the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Madrid, however, won’t hope that Messi does something similar this time around because if that happens, then there is no way the club are going to have a similarly successful spell like they did the last time.

Under Zidane, the Galacticos have only lost one Clasico—which was the last league game at the Bernabeu earlier this year—and have won three, while only tying once.

Their last encounter at the Bernabeu in the Super Cup ended 2-0 in Madrid’s favour—which puts us in a safe position to claim that playing at the Bernabeu gives the home team an all-important advantage.