Barcelona’s Spanish coach Quique Setien holds a press conference at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi in the outskirts of Barcelona on February 29, 2020 on the eve of the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
It’s a big one. The world’s most renowned match will kick off on Sunday evening…
Whenever Real Madrid and Barcelona meet, the world surrounds at their TV. I know what you’re thinking. El Clasico has taken a turn for the worse in recent years and since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid, the excitement isn’t quite the same.
You’re right in saying that. Recent El Clasico fixtures haven’t had the same buzz as they once did. However, this fixture is set to be a big one as there is a lot at stake.
Heading into this match, I have to side with Barcelona. It’s either going to be a draw or an away win, in my opinion. Here are five reasons why I think so…
1. Gaining some ground on Real Madrid
League positions are never indicative of who will win a tie. I know that, I wasn’t born yesterday.
However, being the side ahead certainly does help. While some may argue it leads to complacency, no side is ever complacent in a Clasico fixture. Well, Real Madrid have been in recent years but that’s a story for later on.
Barcelona sit just two points ahead of Real Madrid, which is hardly a convincing gap. However, should Barcelona get the better over Madrid then they will lengthen the gap to five points which stands them at a much more convincing lead.
Quique Setien and his men will know what’s at stake. Losing to their fiercest rivals means giving up their top spot which is the last thing they’d want.
Squawka, Barcelona have not lost any of their last five meetings with Real Madrid? There have been some astonishing scorelines too. My personal favourite was back in 2018 when Barcelona hammered Real Madrid five goals to one.</p>
<p>Barcelona will have all the confidence heading into this match. While Quique Setien is inexperienced managing El Clasico, the players he’ll select will have Zidane’s number and they won’t settle for anything less than a win.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/02/29/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-5-reasons-barca-will-win-important-clasico/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A poor defence vs A flying attack </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-479165" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/02/29/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-5-reasons-barca-will-win-important-clasico/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F1208043320-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 22: Players of FC Barcelona celebrating a goal during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and SD Eibar SAD at Camp Nou on February 22, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>4. Real Madrid have been struggling defensively</h3>
<p>Not only have Real Madrid been struggling to score goals in their last couple of matches, but they have also been in poor defensive form. Los Blancos have shipped an astonishing 10 goals in their last five games which is not a good sign for them heading into this match.</p>
<p>The defensive frustration was personified when Sergio Ramos was given a red card in their midweek match against Manchester City, a game which they lost at home.</p>
<p>Real Madrid have one of the best defensive pairings in the world in Ramos and Raphael Varane but if they have another bad game then Lionel Messi and co will be on hand to punish them.</p>
<h3>5. Barcelona have been flying in the final third</h3>
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<p>Conversely, and perhaps worryingly for Zidane, Barcelona have been efficient in the final third. Particularly Messi, who in the last La Liga matchup, scored an incredible four goals against Eibar to give his side a 5-0 win.</p>
<p>Antoine Griezmann has also been scoring a few lately, most notably the only goal his side scored against Napoli in midweek.</p>
<p>This frightening attack against Real Madrid’s out-of-form defence could be the telling factor of the match. Although, anything can happen in El Clasico so it would not surprise me if Real Madrid pull out a defensive masterclass.</p>
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<p>What is your score prediction for Sunday’s El Clasico?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">