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There are countless derbies happening over the course of a calendar year, but nothing matches the grandeur and competitiveness of the El Clasico. The most celebrated and awaited derby in every season of football, the two eternal rivals - Real Madrid and Barcelona going head to head is an event the world awaits. The fans from the coastal Barcelona to the Spanish capital of Madrid.resonate with zeal and energy.
This season the story about the Clasico has been a lot different with the contest being deprived of the head-to-head clash between the two greats of the game - Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo's move to Juventus from Real Madrid last summer has contributed to a decline in Real's attacking force. However, the Los Blancos have been able to hold their fort well after the departure of the man who led them to multiple titles in his tenure of wearing the legendary white jersey. This was evident in the last Clasico that took place almost three weeks back at the Camp Nou. The two teams had to settle for a tie with a goal apiece from each team.
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The double Clasico week is already on as both teams prepare to take on their formidable opponents twice in four days. The legendary Santiago Bernabeu, in the heart of Madrid, is going to be the battlefield as the two superclubs fight for supremacy. The first match will decide the team that will progress into the final of the Copa del Rey. The following match will go a long way in deciding who will win the La Liga. Barcelona could stamp their authority and widen the gap between them and second-placed Atletico Madrid. On the other hand, Real could cut down the deficit to nine points, with a game in hand.
Let us take a look at the five talking points about the upcoming doubleheader
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1) Lionel Messi - The Extraterrestrial
For a player who has been the heartbeat of FC Barcelona since the dawn of the last decade, Lionel Messi's spell with the Catalan club has been nothing short of a fairy tale. Considered by many as the greatest ever player to have graced the football field, the diminutive Argentinean has mesmerized spectators with the magic he creates, each time he has the ball at his control.
Lionel Messi was going through a rough patch of late, with a few goal-less matches in which he failed to inspire Barcelona over the finish line. However, one can't write Messi off and he proved that once again against his favorite opponents- Sevilla. After scoring a memorable equalizer, he piled on the misery at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium by scoring the 50th hattrick of his career.
Messi has a bad habit of scoring in the El Clasico and he has troubled Real Madrid many times over. Even though Vinicius Jr. says Real don't fear him, the world is a witness of the destructive powers of this little man. Messi would be heading into the matches full of confidence and that would definitely be a bad omen for Real Madrid.
2) The return of Sergio Ramos
This man has seen it all and has been through all of Real Madrid's highs and lows in the last 13 seasons. From being a decent defender who showed a lot of promise when he signed from Sevilla to becoming one of the best center-backs in the modern game, Sergio Ramos is the real leader of the pack.
Whenever the Los Blancos are in need of a goal and the opposing defense is proving too difficult to break down, the majestic defender comes forward and heads in a corner with perfect precision. Madrid fans still swoon to the equalizer in the final of the 2014 UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
Ramos has the bad reputation of collecting red cards for some rash challenges. However, the Real Madrid captain is back against Barcelona after sitting out in the last game against Levante due to suspension. His return could be a potential cause of worry for Barcelona because there is no player who can step up to a big occasion more than him.
3) The battle of the midfield maestros
Real Madrid and Barcelona have had a rich history of midfielders marshaling the game for their respective sides. This time it is no different as the best in the game lock horns with each other, in another attempt to cement their supremacy over the other.
Real Madrid's midfield is undoubtedly, one of the finest in world football right now. Spearheaded by Luka Modric, the man who broke the Messi-Ronaldo jinx over the Ballon d'Or, Real's midfield boasts of the mercurial Toni Kroos and the resolute Brazilian holding midfielder Casemiro. These three can destroy opponents all by themselves on their day. Besides them, Marcos Llorente and Dani Ceballos are quite reliable too.
Barcelona does not lag behind a lot. Sergio Busquets is the last remaining midfield general of the legendary trio of Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets that formed the core of Barcelona's Golden Generation. Ivan Rakitic never fails to perform on his day and can destroy defenses all by himself. Arturo Vidal is a human engine and is a proven performer on the pitch. The rise of Carlos Alena and Arthur Melo ensures manager Valverde has a very potent midfield at his disposal.
4) The wonderkids - Vinicius Jr. vs Ousmane Dembele
No one in Europe had heard about his name when he signed for Real Madrid from Brazilian club Flamengo. His exploits weren't really unheard of and he was snapped up by the Los Blancos in 2017.
Fast forward through 18 months and Vinicius Jr. has already cemented his place at left- wing of the Real Madrid starting XI with some really amazing performances. He is never afraid to dart in at defenders and he can pull a rabbit out of a hat by changing the game in the flick of an eye. He has really come of age and what's more, he is only 18. He would definitely be looking to dazzle against Barcelona.
Ousmane Dembele's transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona was a topic of huge debate because of the staggering sum of 105 million euros that was paid for his services. Initially, he failed to impress and had to sit out due to long injury spells, but he has slowly grown into the Barcelona team.
There is an uncertainty about the kid because he can devastate opposition defenses at will and open up the game with a deft through pass. He has scored 13 goals so far and assisted six times this season. Each time he is on the field, he contributes to the team's cause. He could be Barcelona's X-factor as they go up against their eternal rivals.
5) Solari vs Valverde - The battle of minds
Football pundits will say that Ernesto Valverde hasn't quite been able to replicate his predecessor Luis Enrique's success at the Catalan club. However, he has done much more than that. Valverde came in during a phase when Neymar left the club in search of fresher pastures and Iniesta had one good season left in him.
He brought back the tika-taka to Barcelona, albeit a much more direct one. He has very successfully implemented his style into the team and stabilized a sinking ship. The team has prospered under his tutelage and youngsters like Dembele, Arthur and Alena are settling in well. His style negates the need for too many passes as opposed to the traditional tika-taka.
On the other hand, Santiago Solari was handed over the reins of Real Madrid at a time when the entire club was in disarray. The club was on a poor run of form, with multiple defeats degrading the scenario and then manager, Julen Lopetegui was sacked. Since then, Solari has done an amazing job by turning Real's season upside down and onto the right track.
The team morale is excellent and this helps the players in the 4-3-3 system to prosper. He has given the youth a chance and players like Vinicius, Ceballos, Odriozola, and Sergio Reguilon have been getting consistent game time. His focus is on channeling the attacks and switching the 4-2-3-1 into the 4-3-3 with less focus on possession play.
