The eyes of the world will be on the Nou Camp on Saturday night for one of the most eagerly awaited games of the La Liga season as Barcelona host Real Madrid in El Clasico!
Before Johan Cruyff passed away, it was expected that Barcelona might rest some players with a tough Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night in store against Atletico Madrid.
But, with it being the first game after Cruyff’s death and with a pre-match display paying homage to the legendary Dutchman who played for and managed the club with such distinction, Barcelona will be desperate to win.
In terms of the La Liga title race, Real Madrid have all but given up but a win for Los Blancos in this match would change things somewhat.
Los Blancos are ten points behind with only eight games remaining and the talk coming out of The Bernabeu has been more about the Champions League than the domestic title race of late.
The first El Clasico of the season was a complete disaster for Real Madrid and their coach at the time Rafa Benitez, who was sacked weeks later.
Real Madrid were torn apart at The Bernabeu with their side a complete mess against the onslaught of a Barcelona side that was shorn of Leo Messi, returning from an injury lay-off, who came on as a late substitute.
Barcelona won 4-0 in November thanks to goals from Luis Suarez (2), Neymar and Andres Iniesta and the heavy loss paved the way for Zinedine Zidane to take over at Real Madrid.
Zidane has done relatively well so far as coach of Real Madrid and will wisely use Casemiro again in a holding midfield role to try and pin down the Barcelona midfield that was so elusive in the first game.
Sergio Busquets so rarely gets the credit he deserves but once again the Spanish midfielder will be key if Barcelona are to dominate.
Whether Real Madrid can stop Barcelona’s front three seems hugely unlikely, quite simply they are the best forward line in football history and Leo Messi needs one more goal to reach 500 career goals.
But, Real Madrid’s front three are also incredible players and their goals-to-games ratio this season is hugely impressive. But, the likes of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have just spent too much time injured to make an impact on the La Liga title race.
Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo though are hugely effective players on the break and if Barcelona are not at their best, could make the Catalan side pay.
This is a huge test for Zinedine Zidane, yet another fascinating battle between Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo plus Barcelona would take a huge step to the La Liga title with a win.
Throw in the immense historical significance of this fixture and Johan Cruyff’s passing – this is an enormous game and not one to miss!
Predicted starting line-ups:
Barcelona
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