Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Competition: Spanish Primera Division
Date: Saturday, April 02 2016
Start Time: 19:30 BST - 2:30 PM
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Competition: Spanish Primera Division
Date: Saturday, April 02 2016
Start Time: 19:30 BST - 2:30 PM
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona team are nine points clear at the top of the table and 10 points in
front of Real and they can virtually seal the title with a win here
with just eight games remaining. The Blaugrana failed to get all the
three points for the first time after the first match for 2016 (0:0 vs
Espanyol) last time out when they dropped a 2-0 lead against Villarreal
before the International break. Anyway, Enrique's men enter El
Clasico on the back of 11 consecutive home wins, scoring 43 goals in
them and unbeaten at home for more than one year.
Messi,
Neymar and Suarez have all returned without injury but defender
Mathieu is out for the rest of the season. Adriano is a certain
absentee while Jordi Alba is a major doubt but should start the match.
Andres Iniesta was not called into the latest Spain squad after
suffering with a slight muscular problem, but he is expected to start
alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic in the middle of the park.
Real Madrid is third in the table with 66 points having won 20 games,
drawn 6 and lost 4. They are on their best run of form since Zinedine
Zidane's appointment, with four successive wins since a 1-0 home loss to
Atletico. The Galacticos come into the El Clasico on the back of a
stunning 4-0 win over Sevilla with Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo,
Gareth Bale and Jese all getting on the score sheet. Anyway, given that
they are already out of the Spanish Cup due to disqualification and the
title all but in Barcelona’s hands, we expect Real Madrid team putting more
focus on the upcoming UCL match.
Sergio Ramos and Pepe both return from suspension and will be included in the starting XI. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale were not involved in the recent international break and both are expected to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the final third. A more defensive midfielder such as Casemiro is favourite to start with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, ahead of Isco and James Rodriguez.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season FC Barça clearly outplayed Real and walked away with all three points in an impressive 4-0 win at the Bernabeu when Los Blancos were still under Rafa Benitez. Recent history favours the hosts as the Catalans have won four of the last six Clasicos while Madrid have only won one of their seven previous trips to Barcelona.
Sergio Ramos and Pepe both return from suspension and will be included in the starting XI. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale were not involved in the recent international break and both are expected to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the final third. A more defensive midfielder such as Casemiro is favourite to start with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, ahead of Isco and James Rodriguez.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season FC Barça clearly outplayed Real and walked away with all three points in an impressive 4-0 win at the Bernabeu when Los Blancos were still under Rafa Benitez. Recent history favours the hosts as the Catalans have won four of the last six Clasicos while Madrid have only won one of their seven previous trips to Barcelona.
Possible Line-ups:
Barcelona 4-3-3: Bravo; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Turan; Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
Real Madrid 4-3-3: Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Barcelona 4-3-3: Bravo; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Turan; Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
Real Madrid 4-3-3: Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Barcelona last 5 matches:
03/03/16 Rayo Vallecano 1 – 5 Barcelona06/03/16 Eibar 0 – 4 Barcelona
12/03/16 Barcelona 6 – 0 Getafe
16/03/16 Barcelona 3 – 1 Arsenal
20/03/16 Villarreal 2 – 2 Barcelona
Real Madrid last 5 matches:
02/03/16 Levante 1 – 3 Real Madrid05/03/16 Real Madrid 7 – 1 Celta de Vigo
08/03/16 Real Madrid 2 – 0 AS Roma
13/03/16 Las Palmas 1 – 2 Real Madrid
20/03/16 Real Madrid 4 – 0 Sevilla
