Who: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
What: El Clasico in Spain’s La Liga
Where: Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
When: Sunday at 4:15pm (14:15 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 1:15pm (11:15 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Los Blancos are aiming to redress the balance on Sunday in La Liga with the help of returning superstar striker Kylian Mbappe after last season when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 4 to record four Clasico victories.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s reign came to an end when his side won a domestic treble, defeating Madrid twice in La Liga and the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals.
Xabi Alonso’s replacement, the Italian, has started well, and Madrid is now two points clear of Barcelona in the standings ahead of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The first Clasico of the season is examined by Al Jazeera Sport.
What is Real Madrid’s current standing ahead of Real Madrid?
After falling to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals this summer and being thrashed 5-2 by Atletico Madrid in a derby in September, Madrid have some doubts about their performance in big matches.
While Flick’s Barca are yet to reach the same level they did last season, a victory at El Clasico would close a five-point gap with their rivals and lessen those worries.
What is Mbappe’s Real Madrid form like?
Mbappe has reached new heights in the current campaign after completing the previous campaign strongly despite the doubts regarding Madrid’s credentials.
Before Wednesday’s Champions League win over Juventus, in which Jude Bellingham scored the only goal, Mbappe had scored in all 11 of his previous goals for the club and nation.
The 26-year-old has scored 10 of Madrid’s 20 goals in La Liga, leading Spain’s scoring charts, and has scored 15 more goals for his club overall, bringing in 54% of their goals.
Although the statistics suggest otherwise, Alonso said last week, “We’re not dependent on him.”
“We are very pleased with how he performed. He is being decisive.
Why did Mbappe struggle last season at Real Madrid?
In his first season at Madrid, Mbappe struggled for form and confidence, and his first Clasico was a huge disappointment.
Barcelona won the match 4-0 at the Bernabeu exactly one year prior to the weekend’s Clasico, which was notable for the French superstar’s struggle to defeat the Catalans’ high defensive line in his first game against them for Madrid.
Mbappe was given eight offside penalties total, including one for offside, and was only allowed to concede one goal. The Spanish newspaper AS reported that the forward was “shrunken and without venom.”
As Madrid continued to fall, Mbappe pledged a few weeks later that “it’s time to change my situation and show who I am as a player.”
By the time Mbappe next faced Barcelona in the January Spanish Super Cup final, he was in a higher echelon.
Mbappe found the net in the Madrid match, which was 5-2, as he did in the much tighter Copa del Rey final defeat.
Mbappe scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in May, but Los Blancos still lost 4-3 at the Olympic stadium, almost sealing their league title.
This was last year… twitter.com/QCXkedaq5K
What else is influencing Real Madrid’s performance before the Barcelona game?
Turkish international Arda Guler has started to form a strong relationship with Mbappe, having a talent for identifying the forward’s bursts behind the defense this season.
Alonso remarked, “Arda finds Mbappe well between the lines,” adding that.
Madrid are confident that Mbappe will be able to put a devastating punch on Sunday given how badly Barcelona were doing in their defense at the start of the current campaign.
Why has Yamal of Barcelona and Real Madrid been in the news?
Lamine Yamal, a teenager winger, has been in the limelight in the Spanish capital after making jokes about Real Madrid that he “steal” and “complained.”
However, the assistant coach of Barcelona claimed on Saturday that the anger could affect the youngster.
At a press conference, Flick’s assistant, Marcus Sorg, said, “I think the criticism will be motivating for him.”
“I hope everyone sees him give the best performance,” he said.
Alvaro Carreras, a left back for Madrid, will be the 18-year-old Spain international’s opponent, who he had trouble playing for Benfica three times last season when they faced Barcelona in the Champions League.
According to Sorg, “Lamine is always motivated, and if I recall correctly, we won all three games against Benfica.”
Flick didn’t speak before El Clasico, so why?
Sorg will take over the duties on the touchline while Flick is suspended for the game after receiving a red card last weekend for their win over Girona.
Since Hansi is the most significant member of the team, Sorg said, “Hansi is missing whenever he isn’t there.”
It’s a disadvantage, of course, but it’s the same as missing players, “. We must handle it. Everyone is aware of his expectations, and I believe we will fulfill them.
Raphinha from Barcelona will he make another appearance at El Clasico?
Raphinha, who returned from a hamstring injury, has suffered a setback in his absence, according to Barcelona.
Every team would miss him, but that’s how it is, Raphinha. We need to deal with it because we have enough players,” Sorg said.
Head-to-head
Real won 105 games and Barcelona won 104 of the 262nd Clasico, which is the second time this season.
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid apprehensions Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, and Dean Huijsen. Due to groin and muscle injuries, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are both out.
news from the Barcelona team
Jules Kounde is a doubt due to a minor knock, but Frenkie de Jong has recovered from his illness.
Raphinha is currently out with hamstring injuries, while Dani Olmo, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, and Joan Garcia are all confirmed absentees.
Real Madrid had a starting lineup in mind.
Carreras, Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius, Courtois, Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras, Guler, Tchouameni, Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius
Barcelona had a starting lineup in mind.
Source: Aljazeera
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