The El-Clasico is undoubtedly the most anticipated match an average football lover always look forward to see in every season; It’s the one club game in every season of this world that is guaranteed a worldwide audience.
El Clasico doesn’t just see the rest of Spain come to a standstill. Bars and Pubs across Europe and as far as the United States, China and the rest of viewers across the world are sure to tune in.
The match which comes with a whole lot of ecstasy was initially scheduled to take place on the 26th of October 2019 suffered postponement following political unrest and violent protest in Catalonia. Nonetheless, the postponement has only shifted that moment of frenzy a bit further for every individual that will directly or indirectly take part in the fixture.
Until last season, there was always the Messi versus Ronaldo rivalry to add extra spice of expectancy to proceedings, but even though that particular match-up no longer exists, it doesn’t take away from the enormity of the fixture. Millions of euros worth of playing talent are on show in the game no one wants to lose.
It’s a fixture that Barca faithful can legitimately and authoritatively claim they’ve had the upper hand in, in recent years. The Catalans are unbeaten in the last six league Clasicos, home and away, and have only lost against Real Madrid four times in the last 22 La Liga meetings, stretching back to December 2008.
This encounter is no easy task for both teams as the outcome of the game could cause ripples in the boardroom for any of the managers.
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Ernesto Valverde has an attacking conundrum of his own, which is how to fit Antoine Griezmann into his front line effectively. The French World Cup winner has done his best to integrate into the side, but being shunted into a position that isn’t his natural wing has clearly diluted his influence.
The clamour for Ernesto Valverde to be relieved of his duties will reach an entirely new level altogether if Barca don’t end up with the three points. Pressure has steadily been building on the Basque coach’s shoulders, and a morale-draining defeat against their eternal rivals will be frowned upon at best.
Particularly if Barca continues with a brand of football that many commentators have tagged as “boring.’ That is not acceptable to anyone associated with the club.
However, Real Madrid and Zidane are not better off either as they will be looking forward to snatching all the three points away from the Camp Nou will automatically take the Los Blancos to the summit of the La Liga table. But considering the injury crisis ravaging Real Madrid, to go all out against the Catalans at the Camp Nou is undoubtedly a daunting task to accomplish.
The absence of Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, and Marcelo means that Zidane will have to rely on a debilitated team. Bale, in fact, should have a huge part to play in this one, because Barca are really struggling for any sort of defensive cohesion in 2019/20. Clean sheets have become a rarity, and Bale’s pace will scare the living daylights out of a back four that are nowhere close to their best.
Free of Ronaldo’s shackles, Karim Benzema who currently sits second below six times Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi atop La Liga goal chart will lead the attack against the defending champions of the Spanish Elite League.
The expectation, from president and board of Real Madrid, will be that Zidane will get a league win at the Camp Nou. Should he not do so, questions are likely to be asked again as to his suitability in the role.
It’s so tight at the top at the moment to predict whether the pendulum will swing in favour of any of the heavyweights, that a win for either side could have a huge bearing on the rest of the season.
To that end, this could be the most important league clash between the two Spanish behemoths for years.
