Barça and Madrid fight in the new era of the Classic
Lamine Yamal, Gündogan and Bellingham give new life to an ancient rivalry
BARCELONA, 27 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The first Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc is just around the corner and will be, starting at 4:15 p.m., the media focus on Saturday as the protagonist of a fight between eternal rivals seeking to impose their style in a ‘new era’ duel and new protagonists, with the addition of the leadership of LaLiga EA Sports being at stake.
Many Blaugranas could play their first Clásico, with fewer possible debutants at Real Madrid. The feeling, perhaps because Jude Bellingham is the great white sensation, is that this new era is opening, that new Clásico contest between an improved Barça that can finally speak face to face with its rival. But with a Real Madrid that, as the leader that it is, wants to make things clear in Barcelona.
A Clásico is, for sure, one of the most watched sporting events in the world. An added pressure for all those young players, or those who have never experienced it firsthand, who can take to the Montjuïc grass. Beyond this media and popular attention, the truth is that the duel comes at a good time for both and appears even, open and ‘hard’, wanting to contribute more ‘rock and roll’ to an event in which Barça will show off the famous Rolling Stones tongue.
Montjuïc, the usual venue for big concerts, will now be the green carpet for two great teams that want to raise the bar again for the Classics. With Xavi on the bench, Barça had a great time in the clash of the last Spanish Super Cup, but Real Madrid is the current champion of the Copa del Rey after eliminating Barça in the semifinals, 0-4 at the Spotify Camp Nou (0-1 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu).
There is ‘give and take’ and, with it, there is greater spectacle and enjoyment. The arrival of Bellingham, the improvement of Rodrygo Goes or the confirmation of Fede Valverde, on the white side, and the emergence of several La Masia diamonds such as Lamine Yamal, Fermín López or Alejandro Balde at Barça add firepower to a Clásico that, On the benches, he is also luxurious thanks to Xavi Hernández and Carlo Ancelotti.
The ‘president’ Kessié will not be there on this occasion, transferred this summer by Barça and who was the scorer of the goal, in added time, of the 2-1 that gave Barça the victory in the last League. Key goal for the ‘culer’ title and a result that, obviously, the Blaugranas would sign again. With a single point difference between Real Madrid, currently leader, and Barça, third (Girona is second with the same 25 points as the whites), it would be synonymous with temporarily becoming leaders.
Nor will the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, be in the Montjuïc box, as a protest against the recent tweet by a Blaugrana manager insulting Vinícius Jr., although relations between both institutions are already affected by the ‘Negreira case’ – -Real Madrid is a private accusation in the case against the Blaugrana club–.
However, with all the heat that a regular Clásico is in itself, since it seemed that it could be even hotter, it seems that the waters – despite the obvious fact of not seeing Florentino Pérez in the stadium – will not go away. more and they will stay on their course. And, there, Xavi has part of the ‘fault’ (positive) who in the previous days has had a war against the media asking for calm, avoiding controversial questions, protecting the referees (another ‘hot potato’) and calling for calm . He shared fight, in part, with ‘Carletto’.
CLASSIC OF MEDICAL NEWS?
Regarding the purely sporting aspect, as to how both teams arrive and which elevens can star in these open fights, there are doubts. Especially on the Blaugrana side, with
The one who seems to have the most numbers to be able to return to the ‘convo’ is Robert Lewandowski. The Polish forward, with a sprained ankle after the European duel against Porto at the beginning of the month, has accelerated his recovery and has already trained with the group.
Pedri is more of an unknown, with an injury that is more difficult to overcome, and Raphinha could be another surprise for Xavi who seems to have no miracle in the form of the recovery of Jules Koundé, Frenkie De Jong or Sergi Roberto, the certain casualties.
With this, Xavi could have more cards to play and put on the table. The goal is immovable, for Marc-André Ter Stegen. At the back, Ronald Araujo defended Vini Jr. well in previous Clásicos but Koundé’s injury may make his presence necessary in the central axis of the defense. And this time there is a guaranteed right back in João Cancelo, although his continuous rises and losses of the ball in the creation can be a problem against the deadly white counters.
In the midfield, Pedri recovering could change everything, but it seems that Oriol Romeu will be the destroyer that allows Ilkay Gündogan and the all-rounder Gavi to do their thing. Above, Lamine Yamal and João Félix – with a mere blow against Shakhtar (2-1) during the week, in ‘Champions’ – seem fixed and the question is whether Robert Lewandowski reappears or if he is not one hundred percent , continues to leave his position as ‘9’ to Ferran Torres who is taking advantage of the opportunity.
In the white box, much less doubt. Ancelotti’s new system to give freedom of movement to his new star Bellingham as a playmaker seems set in stone, too. The British recovers, creates, assists and scores. He does it all in a Real Madrid that, with Vini and Rodrygo at the top, and arriving in the second line of Valverde or the full-backs, does a lot of damage in positional play and, above all, in counterattacks after a rival loss.
The main doubt is the left back, with Ferland Mendy who seems to have Ancelotti’s OK despite being less offensive than Eduardo Camavinga. The rest, unless Nacho – forgiven after his sanction, reduced from 3 to 2 games – takes David Alaba’s place in the defense, it seems that he will not be touched up and that it will lead the Italian coach to repeat his ‘eleven of gala’.
All of this in a Clásico refereed by Extremaduran Gil Manzano, who is making his debut directing Barça this season and who only has two Clásicos under his belt, despite being one of the oldest referees in LaLiga. That neither he nor the VAR is the protagonist, it will be good for a ‘rock and roll’ Classic for the Stones, for the presence of Bellingham, Vini and company for the first time in Montjuïc and for a Barça that knows it has reasons to go and enjoy of the ‘concert’ and leaving it with a prize.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Oriol Romeu, Gündogan, Gavi; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and João Félix.
REAL MADRID: Kepa; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Bellingham; Vinícius and Rodrygo.
–REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño).
— STADIUM: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.