Barcelona defender praises Real Madrid superstar before El Clasico – ‘Great players do that’ | OneFootball

On Sunday, Real Madrid lock horns with arch-enemies FC Barcelona in a top-of-the-table encounter in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Merengues suffered defeats in each of the four El Clasico encounters last season, which cost them the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

New manager Xabi Alonso will therefore be eager to flip the script and secure all three points against Hansi Flick’s men.

For that to happen, Alonso and Real Madrid will need their superstar forward Vinicius Jr. firing on all cylinders. But the Brazilian could find himself in a duel with Barcelona heavyweight Ronald Araujo.

Araujo praises Vinicius

Indeed, in the past, former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez utilised Araujo at right-back to counter the threat of Vinicius, something that Flick too might consider amid question marks over Jules Kounde’s availability.

Leading up to the game, Araujo spoke to Movistar+, discussing his past duels with the Real Madrid winger and praising him for his quality.

“He always brings out the best in you. What I see is what he does on the pitch, which is spectacular. Great players do that,” said Araujo.

“Personally, I love players like Vinicius and I love facing them, players who are daring and take risks. I don’t pay any attention to what goes on outside the pitch,” he added.

On the Clasico and Barcelona’s mindset heading into the encounter, the defender, who has not started in each of their last two matches, noted:

“It will be a difficult match. It’s a beautiful and important match, and that’s why there’s always that anxiety. It generates motivation.

“But I think the Clasicos we’ve enjoyed have gone well, and that’s what we should do. We have the conditions and quality to win it.”