LaLiga: Maximum anticipation as Real Madrid, Barca enter El Clasico level
Every single El Clasico is important for Real Madrid and for FC Barcelona, but the duel taking place on Sunday could be one of the most significant in recent memory.
That’s because the meeting at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is very much a six-pointer, with both these sides entering the match level on points at the top of the LaLiga Santander table, having collected 22 points each from the first eight matchdays.
There is maximum anticipation as Xavi Hernández takes his Blaugrana team to the Spanish capital, where they thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 in March earier this year.
That result didn’t ultimately cost Carlo Ancelotti’s side too dearly, as they still went on to win the LaLiga Santander title with weeks to spare, but this season’s title race is much tighter.
After FC Barcelona signed star players such as Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Koundé in the summer, they have started the new campaign brilliantly and are in first place ahead of second-placed Real Madrid because of their superior goal difference of +19, compared to Los Blancos’ +12.
Should they be tied at the end of the season, though, the head-to-head record will be the first tiebreaker to split them, not goal difference, making these direct battles so crucial.
It is very rare for both these clubs to be exactly level on points and sitting in the first two positions of the table going into El Clasico, but that is the case this week.
The last time this happened was in 2019, ahead of a rare goalless draw, while this scenario also occurred in 2010, 1959, 1957, 1953, 1952 and the inaugural LaLiga season of 1929. The record across these seven top-of-the-table El Clasico contests is four wins for Real Madrid, two for FC Barcelona and one draw.
Ter Stegen’s run of 624 minutes without conceding
Both these teams have scored a similarly high number of goals this season, with Barça having netted 20 times in eight matches and Real Madrid doing so 19 times. The reason, therefore, for the gap in their goal differences is the Catalan side’s superior defensive record.
The Blaugrana have conceded just one goal so far this term, against Real Sociedad in Matchday 2, whereas Real Madrid have let in seven and only just secured their first domestic clean sheet of the season last weekend, in their 1-0 victory away at Getafe CF.
In FC Barcelona’s own 1-0 victory in Matchday 8, against RC Celta, Marc-André ter Stegen extended his run without conceding to 624 minutes, which is the best such run in Spanish football’s top division since the German goalkeeper’s former colleague Claudio Bravo reached 755 minutes without being beaten in 2014.
This will be the biggest test yet for ter Stegen and for FC Barcelona’s defence, as Karim Benzema, Vini Jr, Rodrygo and Fede Valverde have all been in good form in attack this season. All these players are able to dribble past defenders and able to find the top corner.
Just the third meeting between Xavi and Ancelotti
The two coaches are former midfielders who will want their sides to take the initiative. As such, the midfield battle should be particularly interesting as FC Barcelona field the all-Spanish trio of Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri, while Real Madrid will have the experience of players like Luka Modrić and the freshness of Aurélien Tchouaméni, who’ll be playing his first ElClasico.
Xavi and Ancelotti have great respect for one another, yet this will be just their third meeting as coaches. They’ve won one El Clasico each, with Real Madrid edging Barça 3-2 after extra time in last season’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final, shortly after Xavi had taken over, before the young coach led his team to the famous 4-0 victory in March.
This Sunday’s meeting promises to be much more even, with so much more at stake.
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