Real Madrid are sitting at the top of the La Liga table and they will be eager to hold onto that spot by beating Barcelona in the El Clasico this weekend.
Madrid have lost just one out of their previous 13 league matches and the last time these two sides met, the Los Blancos scored four goals past their fiercest rivals. Carlo Ancelotti and Xavi are more or less evenly matched when they have come against each other with the Italian winning three while the Barcelona legend has won four matches.
Real Madrid cannot afford anything other than a win this weekend because even a draw will most likely push them down from the top. Girona are tied on points with Madrid so any slipup from Ancelotti’s men and Girona could go top by the end of this gameweek.
Real Madrid’s team news and team selection:
Madrid, in contrast to Barcelona, have a few small injury list with Courtois and Eder Militao the only injury absentees for the weekend.
Camavinga has experience of playing at left-back and we think the Real Madrid manager will use him in that role for the El Clasico. This decision will allow Ancelotti to strengthen the left side of defence and at the same time, it will help bring in another midfielder.
Tchouameni and Toni Kroos were both rested in the midweek win against Braga and we think they will come back into the starting line up.
Jude Bellingham has been on fire since joining Real Madrid and he will be one of the first names on the Los Blancos teamsheet along with Vinicius Jr. The midfielder seemed to have picked up a knock in the Braga game but his manager has made it clear that there are no major concerns.
The Real Madrid boss said: “He is okay. His adductors are a bit charged because the pitch was a bit soft. But nothing special. He will recover. He is okay, a bit tired like everybody else. But that’s normal.”
The absence of a world-class striker has forced the manager to use a 4-2-2-2 system and this is going to be the same formation at Camp Nou.
Real Madrid predicted line up vs Barcelona:
Predicted Starting XI(4-2-2-2): Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, David Alaba, Camavinga; Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.
