Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Match preview | La Liga | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are now set to play the first El Clasico of the season against Real Madrid. A tough match for La Blaugrana, and one that could be quite punishing considering the fact that it is at the Bernabeu as well.

Still, Barça was flawless against Los Blancos last season, so they will be motivated to keep that streak going. Unfortunately, however, things might not be as straightforward this season and especially in this game.

Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona – Match Details

Match Overview:

For starters, the Catalan giants are missing some vital players and it disrupts their structure quite a lot. Considering the fact that both Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski are out, Barça are already stretched thin in terms of their forwards.

Moreover, Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia is also out injured and that is a massive blow for La Blaugrana as well. His performances at the start of the season were extremely crucial, and Wojciech Szczesny has not nearly been reliable enough to provide some much-needed cover.

Yet, games like this are often decided in moments and whichever team can make those moments count. In terms of form, at least, Barça have improved a bit in terms of their recent performances.

Their last two games have ended up in wins for Hansi Flick’s side, while the three before them have seen the team lose twice and win once. Not exactly perfect, but at least there is some improvement to work with.

Over the course of the last five games, Barça has scored 12 goals and conceded 9 goals in return. This difference, despite being a positive one, is definitely worrying and those defensive vulnerabilities are exactly what Madrid will look to exploit.

As for Real Madrid, the team led by Xabi Alonso has four wins and one loss in their last five games. Moreover, they have also scored 12 goals in their last five games but have conceded only six goals in return. This means that, at least in terms of goal difference, they have a much healthier balance.

Ultimately, this game will likely not be a straightforward run for either side. However, with the home advantage and almost their entire team fully available, Los Blancos will certainly look to make things very difficult for a Barcelona side dealing with major injuries and a suspended head coach.