Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 32 games, a spell that saw them win their 11th UEFA Champions League title. That spell also sees Zidane’s side six points clear at the summit of the La Liga.
On Saturday, they head into their biggest game of the season – against the old enemy, who for a change, are struggling. Los Blancos come into the game full of confidence and having had adequate rest. Manager Zinedine Zidane trusted his young guns in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey Round of 32 clash against Cultural Leonesa – one in which the manager’s son, Enzo, got his first goal for the club.
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As Gerard Pique said, Real can afford to lose this game while Barca simply cannot. Having said that, this is easily the biggest game of Real’s season – the bragging rights from which they will not want to miss out on.
Toni Kroos, with a foot injury and Gareth Bale, after undergoing ankle surgery, will surely miss out for Madrid, while there are lingering doubts over the availability of centre-backs Pepe and Raphael Varane – although the Frenchman did play the second half of the Copa Del Rey game.
Here’s a look at the XI Real’s French manager must ideally field.
GK: Keylor Navas
Navas has been in terrific form for Real this season. After he missed the first six league games of the current campaign, Navas has conceded only five goals in the seven league games that he has played. What makes that even more special is that in no league game this season has Navas conceded more than one goal.
Having said that, this will be the Costa Rican custodian’s biggest test of the season. The MSN trio have been misfiring for Barcelona lately, but there is little doubt that they will be raring to go in a game of such magnitude, especially given the circumstances that the champions find themselves in. It does not help Navas that there are doubts lingering over the availability of Pepe and Varane. Even the right-back, Danilo is a doubtful starter.
But Madrid’s defence has looked reasonably secure at least in the La Liga. In contrast, in the Champions League, they have conceded eight goals in five games and not kept a single clean sheet. If ever there was a time for Navas to guard his goal unscathed, it would be on Saturday at the Nou Camp.
Defenders
RB: Dani Carvajal
The Spaniard did not play in the Copa Del Rey match with Danilo replacing him, but he should be back for the Clasico. In recent games against La Blaugrana, Carvajal has had some tough battles with Neymar, and the Brazilian has gotten the better of him more often than not.
So, as usual, he will be looking to the likes of Isco and Lucas Vazquez to track back and help him out. It will not just be the threat of Neymar on the left flank as Jordi Alba will also bomb forward when the opportunity arises, and Andres Iniesta prefers moving from the centre to the left side, while building Barcelona’s attacks.
The challenge for Carvajal will be to ensure that he stays relevant even as an attacking option despite the threat that Barcelona will pose.
CBs: Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane
Ramos is one yellow card away from a one-game suspension and Zidane will have breathed a sigh of relief as he came through without being booked against Sporting Gijon last weekend. Varane came through a serene second half against Cultural Leonesa and his presence will add serenity to the Madrid back-line. With Ramos prone to moments of madness, Varane’s composure becomes even more important for Real.
Also read: We are ready for the El Clasico, declares Zinedine Zidane
Ramos and Varane will be important in both boxes for Real. The Frenchman has already scored once this season, and the Spaniard’s threat from set-pieces is well-documented. Add to that, Barca’s shakiness while defending set-pieces and both the centre-backs could become potent weapons for Zidane to use.
Having said that, their primary job will be to stop Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In the past few games that they have played, Barca fans have termed Luis Enrique’s strategy as “pass to Messi and hope.” Suarez and Neymar, though, will not want to be left too far behind, especially on as big a stage as this.
LB: Marcelo
The Brazilian’s defending is not his stronger suit. Cristiano Ronaldo will be the man ahead of him on the wing, and as usual, Marcelo will not expect too much defensive help from his winger. Messi will start from the right flank for Barca, but he will not stay on the wing, for sure. That makes Marcelo’s communication paramount.
Messi has the ability to make runs from both in-to-out and out-to-in. So, the Brazilian will have to ensure that he is on the same wavelength as Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, to ensure that there is always one person tracking Messi’s movement.
Like Carvajal on the other side, Marcelo’s biggest weapon will have to be pinning the opposition wide players back by getting forward. But against players of the calibre of Messi and Neymar, Real’s full-backs will have to get the balance absolutely perfect.
Midfielders
CDM: Mateo Kovacic
In the absence of Kroos, and Casemiro, Kovacic has filled in brilliantly in the heart of the midfield. He has not scored in the ten league games that he has played this season, but has been an ideal central midfielder for Zidane. He has a passing accuracy of 91% in the league this year and has won 87% of the duels that he has been in.
LCM: Luka Modric
Modric has been his typical consistent self all season. He has pressed well, been positionally superb and sprayed the ball around the pitch beautifully, giving Real a foothold in the games that they have played this season.
RCM: Isco
Isco had a stunning Madrid derby, with all three goals stemming from his vision and ability to pick out the perfect pass to set Real on their way in the counter-attack. James Rodriguez is also an option that Zidane has at his disposal, but there are two reasons why the Colombian should miss out. As has already been said, there is no reason to change a midfield that is performing as well. Also, James played the full game in the Copa Del Rey, meaning that the other three will physically be much fitter than he is.
There might be a temptation for Zizou to play Casemiro with the Brazilian being a defensive midfielder. That could be an option for Real to disrupt Barca’s rhythm, but there is no reason that he should disband the Croatian partnership or put Isco on the bench.
Attackers
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese superstar already has 12 goals this season, and in Madrid’s biggest game before this, the Madrid derby, he scored a hat-trick as he put Atletico to the sword. In all El Clasicos that he has played, Ronaldo has scored 16 goals, seven behind Lionel Messi, and the Portuguese is third on the all-time Clasico scorers’ list.
ST: Karim Benzema
Benzema might have his fair share of critics, but it is an undisputable fact that he can score goals. His positioning, timing of his runs and finishing are the perfect foil to the ability that Ronaldo and Bale possess. Benzema has scored in five of the last seven Clasicos, although only one of those goals came at the Nou Camp.
RW: Lucas Vazquez
While Barca have their famed triumvirate fit and available, Real are missing the Welshman, Gareth Bale. Lucas has been an able replacement for Bale, though. The 25-year-old and Marco Asensio have been important for Zidane, as they give him options when Plan A is not working.
