Analyzing FC Barcelona's tough fixtures ahead: Ideal lineups, formations, tactics and key players

#1 Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Santiago Bernabeu, 2nd March 2019

Expected lineup for Barcelona vs Real Madrid: LaLiga 2018-19

The final fixture in a very engaging twenty days or so for Barcelona will be their arch-rivals Real Madrid, again.

Three days after a game in the Copa Del Rey semis, for the third time in under 25 days, the two heavyweights will lock horn at Santiago Bernabeu, this time in LaLiga.

From the previous Clasico which was played in the Copa Del Rey, we make three changes to the starting lineup.

Alena comes into the team replacing Rakitic, Semedo slots in at right-back, and Dembele takes his place in the left-wing.

If everything goes well for Barcelona against Sevilla, their lead over Madrid coming into this game could be six points. It can also extend to 9 points with a win and also drop to 3 with a loss.

Tactics:

Semedo back in the lineup for the more crucial El Clasico adds the defensive solidity that should be there to complement the attacking prowess.

Sergi's only weakness is a defensive contribution but Semedo has got that covered. Alena is handed a start in a crucial game against Madrid in the league. Why is the experienced Rakitic not in the lineup? The reason for Alena's inclusion is his better game tempo.

Rakitic is a slow midfielder, not sleek with one touch passing and stuff, Alena, on the other hand, is quick to react to passes, attempts line-breaking passes, is a good one-touch passer etc.

Alena is young with not much prior experience playing against Modric and Kroos, true, but a certain Arthur Melo had a similar profile, and he schooled with both of them. The main purpose of adding Alena over anything else is to make sure that the defense is not slow in this game.

Rakitic is slower compared to him. In the Copa Del Rey, that can be excused, not in the league, there are no margins for error in the league now.

Even though we are starting Messi in almost every game, we did not speak a word about him in the previous game. It is because we would not mind Messi keeping a low intensity in that game, not looking to do pretty much everything, just walk around and then spell some magic when he has the ball.

But in this game, we need the exact opposite of the diminutive Argentine. We need a Lionel Messi who is looking to tear Madrid apart with each and every pass, each and every dribble, each and every shot.

To point a game out, we need a Messi who showed by against Tottenham in the Champions League. In the Copa Del Rey Clasico, we need the Messi who played for 15 minutes against Sevilla, take a slight break when off the ball, and then switch personality again.

Well, Lionel Messi's best of performances have come at the Bernabeu. His brace against Madrid in Champions League, his hattrick in 2013/14, his recent exploits in the 3-0 win, everything came at the Bernabeu.

Ousmane Dembele is back into the lineup and he is back after a good rest. Barcelona needs what they always get from Dembele, dribbles, passes, and goals. He does all three really well.

That is where Dembele and Vinicius are set apart. Dembele's decision making and passing are much better than the 18-year-old Brazilian.

Other than that there is nothing much to talk from a tactical point of view because more or less, the style of play would be the same.

Possession football, control in midfield, exploiting the wide spaces, both teams would look for these things. But there is one thing which does not set the balance right. We will mention it below.

Key Player: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the Camp Nou's solution to each and every problem. Each time the team struggles the stadium sings his name. Football, bloody hell.

If there is something separating or you might say keeping the balance right between Real Madrid and Barcelona, based on current form, is this man. Lionel Messi is sometimes the only thing that separates the two sides.

In some games where he has a low work-rate, he might seem lazy and all but when he wants to win a game, his intensity shoots up. If Barcelona stands a chance to survive the next twenty odd days, this man is the key to it.

Whether his intensity is high or not, his presence on the pitch matters, not only in this game but every game. Gracias D10S.