After two away defeats against Real Sociedad 3-1 and Real Valladolid 1-0 , Tata Martino’s men are hoping to beat Real Madrid this Sunday in the most popular game of the Spanish La Liga, El Clasico.
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Watch Match Highlights – Full Match Replay– Available after the game end
With 10 rounds remaining Barcelona FC trails behind league-topper Real Madrid four points, and anything but a win against los Blancos would only increased the gap, and practically leave the Catalans out of the league title hunt.
Both teams have ensured the progress in the Champions league, Barcelona FC with two 2-1 wins over the English Manchester City, while Real Madrid with a total of 9-2 eliminated the German side, Schalke 04. Speaking of the La Liga competition both teams have won in the last round, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal, Real Madrid defeated on tour Malaga 1-0, while the Catalans at the Camp Nou with Lionel Messi’ hat trick enrolled a 7-0 win.
Their first league encounter this season back in October 2013, Barcelona has won with 2-1, but since that game, Real Madrid have not lost a single game in all competitions and have made up 10 points on the current champions in that time. Both teams first stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in superb form which suggest us that we like usually could watch brilliant match between the best two Spanish clubs.
EL CLASICO FACTS by Fourfourtwo.com
– Real Madrid have only won two of their last 11 league meetings with Barcelona (D2 L7), and both came by the odd goal
– Since the 2008/09 campaign, Barcelona have won three more Clasicos (five) than Real Madrid have (two) at the Bernabeu.
– Real Madrid and Barcelona have both found the net in each of the last 14 Clasicos in all competitions (Real Madrid 24, Barcelona 25).
– Real Madrid have won their last nine home matches
– Real Madrid and Barcelona have both found the net in each of the last 14 Clasicos in all competitions (Real Madrid 24, Barcelona 25).
– Leo Messi is the top scorer in league Clasicos amongst current players (11).
– Indeed if he scores in this game, Messi will overtake Alfredo Di Stefano as the top scorer in all-time Clasicos in all competitions (currently tied on 18).
– Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in seven of his last 10 Clasicos (nine goals in total).
Victor Valdes has conceded more goals at the Bernabeu than at any other away venue in his La Liga career (17
– Barcelona have only lost one of seven games in all competitions against sides managed by Carlo Ancelotti (W3 D3): 1-0 in October 2004
Barcelona playmaker , Andreas Iniesta is hopeful that his side can draw inspiration from past wins at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“More than ever before, we need to be brave,” he said. “We have had to go there and win to claim La Liga in other years, so if we want to repeat that this year we’ll need to do the same. We’ll have to play the perfect match.”
“There cannot be any negative thought or doubt – what we want is to win and to put pressure on the leaders.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday he is aiming for his first win as a manager against Barcelona in ten years , but to achieve the first win , Ancelotti will need to make the first lineup without Jese Rodriguez,Sami Khedira and Alvaro Arbeloa who are sidelined. Regarding Barcelona FC, Martino doesn’t have any problems with the players injuries.
TEAM PROBABLE LINEUPS
Real Madrid : Diego Lopez – Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo – Xabi Alonso, Modrić – di Maria, C.Ronaldo, Bale – Benzema(Morata)
Barcelona FC : ictor Valdes – Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Jordi Alba – Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta – Neymar, Messi, Pedro
Ancelotti hopes to break his Barca hoodoo
Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino said on Saturday that his third-placed Catalans must win against table-topping Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clásico at the Bernabéu (KO 20.00 GMT) if they are to be crowned La Liga champions for a second successive season. Barca are four points off first place in the table and defeated Los Merengues in the reverse fixture earlier this campaign; since then, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have not lost in their last 31 games in all competitions.
Barca must beat Real to retain title’
Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino said on Saturday that his third-placed Catalans must win against table-topping Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clásico at the Bernabéu (KO 20.00 GMT) if they are to be crowned La Liga champions for a second successive season. Barca are four points off first place in the table and defeated Los Merengues in the reverse fixture earlier this campaign; since then, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have not lost in their last 31 games in all competitions.
Tata Martino Full Press Conference
Victor Valdes Press conference
Match Prediction : With attacking pedigree that these two teams have and the recent form of their top strikers , Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi anything but a over 2,5 goals would be a total surprise.