The stage is set for the one of the biggest fixtures in the world of football at Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon as FC Barcelona will travel to the Spanish capital to face its bitter rival Real Madrid for the latest instalment of El Clasico.
Although, both Barcelona and Real Madrid drew in the Champions League in midweek, but the archrivals’ European results have left them in rather contrasting positions as they approach 185th LaLiga encounter on Sunday. While Real Madrid has comfortably progressed to the knockout round of the Champions League, Barcelona faces a serious fight to avoid a second straight group-phase exit from Europe’s elite club competition. Given how deep the Blaugrana dug to fund a bumper transfer spending spree in the summer, the financial cost of Champions League elimination is one they can ill afford.
Barcelona has struggled in the Champions League, but their league record remains unblemished since their uninspiring goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano to start the 2022–23 season.
Both teams have collected 22 points from their opening eight matches of the 2022-23 La Liga season, with Barcelona at the head of the table due to their superior goal difference.
Real Madrid proved to be far too strong for Barcelona and indeed the rest of the competition in La Liga last term, ultimately finishing 13 points clear of the Catalan giants at the summit, but it does appear that this season’s title race will be a lot closer.
The fact that Carlo Ancelotti’s team has won seven and drawn one of their eight league games this season to total 22 points, but the total is not enough to sit at the top of the table, which is an indication of the level that will be required to finish at the summit in 2022-23.
Real Madrid’s lone loss came against Osasuna at home on October 2. They managed to get back to winning ways in the league last weekend, defeating Getafe 1-0, and then drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
The point was enough for the defending European champions to secure their place in the competition’s knockout stage with two games to spare, despite Ancelotti’s admission following the game that he was displeased with his team’s performance in the European tournament.
Xavi’s side have been victorious in each of their last seven league fixtures against Real Sociedad, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla, Cadiz, Elche, Mallorca and Celta Vigo, and they have scored 20 goals and conceded just once during an excellent start to their domestic campaign.
Considering their recent success, Barcelona hasn’t actually won La Liga since the 2018–19 season. If they can’t secure their place in the Champions League’s next round, they may decide to focus entirely on the league.
This weekend won’t determine who wins the league, but a win for either team would boost morale at a relatively early point in the season.
Xavi’s plan for Sunday’s Clasico against Real Madrid is becoming clearer. The Barcelona coach will still be missing several key players but will have Jules Kounde back. One of the unknowns, though, is how the French defender will be used. There are two scenarios: at right-back or at center-back.
Kounde joined his teammates in today’s training session at Ciutat Esportiva pic.twitter.com/LWX4rVhmEH
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 13, 2022
If Kounde plays on the right, Marcos Alonso will play alongside Eric Garcia in the middle of the back four. Then the doubt is who plays as the left-back: Alejandro Balde or Jordi Alba.
In contrast, if Kounde plays alongside Garcia in the middle, Sergi Roberto would continue at right-back and Alonso would be the pick at left-back.
That is Xavi’s headache as he works out how to best stop Vinicius, who has been marked by Ronald Araujo in recent Clasico encounters.
There are fewer doubts in midfield, where Xavi will bet on Busquets, Gavi and Pedri again. The presence of Vinicius could see Xavi place Gavi on the right side of the midfield as he is more aggressive. Frenkie de Jong is another option, but he is likely to remain on the bench once again.
In attack, Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele are fixed, while Xavi is weighing up whether to go with Ansu Fati or Raphinha as the third forward.
For Real Madrid, the major team news is that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been ruled out of the Clásico. The Belgian has missed the 14-time European champions’ last four games with sciatica, and Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday that He hadn’t trained very much over the past couple of weeks, so he wouldn’t play tomorrow.
???? @thibautcourtois ???? #RMCity pic.twitter.com/MmLgXQ6Z7I
— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) October 14, 2022
However, Rüdiger will be fit to face Barça despite suffering a head injury in the process of scoring against Shakhtar. The German, who rejoined training on Friday and Saturday, will have to wear a protective face mask, according to Ancelotti.
Along with Courtois, Dani Ceballos is also unavailable for Madrid, as the midfielder continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.
The Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona will kick off at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, at 4:15pm local time (7:15 PK Time) on Sunday 16 October 2022.
Match officials
The match referee at the Bernabéu will be José María Sánchez Martínez, with Raúl Cabañero Martínez and Juan López Mir assisting the 39-year-old. The fourth official will be Jorge Díaz Escudero, and the video assistant referee will be Alejandro Hernández Hernández.
Last five competitive meetings
March 2022, LaLiga: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona
January 2022, Spanish Super Cup: Barcelona 2-3 Real Madrid
October 2021, LaLiga: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
April 2021, LaLiga: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
October 2020, LaLiga: Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid
