There is no bigger match in club football than Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona where the world just stops for 90 minutes and watches the arch-rivals take on each other in a match of high intensity and high tensions.
The greatest game in the world of club football is set to be played between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in a crucial league game at the Estadi Olimpic Luis Companys on October 28.
The Los Blancos will travel to the unfamiliar conditions of the Estadi Olimpic — a ground Barcelona are playing in as Camp Nou is being revamped — as they prepare to increase the gap of one point between the two sides in the points table.
Real Madrid currently sit in the second position, behind Girona, with 25 points and they are followed closely by Xavi Hernandez’s men with 24 points.
This game is of great importance as any result, other than a draw, will affect the standings of both teams.
The Catalan club is yet to taste a defeat in Spain’s top-flight football this season as in 10 games played, they have seven wins and three draws while the Whites have eight wins, one draw and as many losses in the same number of matches.
Xavi’s record against his counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti, is something to talk about as in seven games the two managers played against each other, the former emerged victorious four times with a win in the Spanish Super Cup final as well. While Ancelotti has never drawn in 13 Clasicos he has managed and has six victories and seven losses during his time on the bench of Real Madrid.
Both teams are missing their crucial players due to injuries but the number of injuries in Barcelona’s camp is slightly worse than the Los Blancos and it is still uncertain as, with just seven hours left in the game to play, the Blaugrana’s squad is still yet to be revealed.
Xavi is probably considering his options if Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Jules Kounde are not declared fit to play, which is highly likely.
Xavi may be planning to do what he has been doing this season; calling players from La Masia and getting their services. During this season, Xavi has called up players like Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez and most recently, Marc Guiu, who scored an 80th-minute winner against Athletic Bilbao last week.
Real Madrid will be without Arda Guler, Dani Ceballos, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao, the latter two out till April following their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear.
The Los Blancos will, once again, hope for Jude Bellingham to perform and deliver as he has been doing this season with 11 goals and three assists in 12 games.
Predicted lineups
FC Barcelona (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Inigo Martinez, Alejandro Balde; Joao Cancelo, Ilkay Gundogan, Gavi, Fermin Lopez; Ferran Torres, Joao Felix.
Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Eduardo Camabinga; Fede Valverde, Aurilien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos; Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius.