Barcelona vs Real Madrid

I know there is international friendlies inbetween but lets start this discussion now. We have quite a few players out of form but many in very good form.

Marcelo, Casemiro, Benz, Bale and Carvajal were not picked for their NTs for whatever reason so they will be fresh for this game

Alves and Alba are obviously their weakest links. I have no hope about that left side because Ronaldo is never there but Bale should have fun against Alba. Also after last time's embarrassment I dont think Isco/James will start this one. Have a feeling Zizou will continue with Modric/Casemiro/Kroos which i dont mind really. We need some steel in there

The line-up against Sevilla was just the best, except for Nacho and Danilo. Danilo is a difficult case. He has been playing at a starter's level for the past 4 games, but there is carvajal.

I think Marcelo's only contribution in attack these days is that he stretches the opposition's defense with his position. His crosses rarely hit the target; he makes a good dribble and spoils it with a bad pass,shot or cross.
On top of that, he has been leaving too many gaps in defense.
Considering all these and Danilo's recent form, i will bench Marcelo for Danilo.
vasquez, james/isco and Jese can come in.

An unlikely comprehensive victory against barca will be consolation for the title loss

the last thing we need is danilo instead of marcelo in the clasico. had enough of him last time when he was many times our most advanced attacker

This will be an interesting one. Because I can't tell if Barca is playing casually on purpose in recent times to save energy because the league is already won anyway and because Arsenal didn't pose much of a threat or if we are actually in a bit of a bad form. Arsenal and Villarreal created too many chances for my liking but I can't tell if this was just because those games were glorified friendlies after the 2-0 away result against Arsenal and the 9 point gap in the league or if this is our normal form. So I can't wait for this game.

I think we're gonna get roflstomped.

I wouldn't be sure after last game. We were pretty much outplayed in every aspect was that due to complacency or genuine gaps in team don't know. But last match did atleast have raised some doubt. Though under Lucho we have performed well in every big match lets hope that continue to be so because RM sure as hell are not the weak team that they were under Rafa.

Come on now Barca fans, we all know they'll be at their very best against Real Madrid. personally i wouldn't get so worried about a 2-2 draw against Villareal. Champions League's final stages are close and Barca is saving up some energy for them.

Having said that i'm expecting a narrow 2-0 or 3-1 loss for Real Madrid considering our current form.

Fine, I would entertain Futbol and Lucy a bit. Yes, Barcelona is going through a very slightly case of "going through the paces". They do just about enough to win matches but I fully expect them to turn it up ten fold in the Clasico as they do since Pep.

Arsenal is basically Barcelona's son and Villareal was not actually out played so them coming back was not entirely out of placed but I see no reason to think their machine is slowing down.

I respectfully disagree with the Barça fans who were nice enough to stop by and give their take on the game, and here's why:

El Madrigal has been a fortress this season. They defeated Real Madrid, Atlético and Sevilla there before drawing you. Barça is the only big team that went there and came back with a point. Therefore, and given all the circumstances, Your criticism, or shall we say skepticism, of your team's performance against the yellow submarine doesn't hold water, I'm afraid.

Your game against Arsenal was already done and dusted the second the final whistle went in London. You knew it, Arsenal knew it. And even then, you managed to win. That's the difference between you and any other team - it's even when you play really bad, you somehow still manage to get results.

Like Doc said, I expect you to turn it up ten fold in the clasico. You're favorites you're playing against your arch-rival and you're at home; not to mention that you're coming up against a team with so many weaknesses.

I expect both teams to give their all even though the title is already in Barça's bag for one simple reason: it'll be a great opportunity for both teams, and especially for Real Madrid, to test their strength and see whether we stand a chance of winning the CL. Z is also in the equation here. If he wants to be taken seriously, he needs to show that he's tactically capable of beating a CL contender.

This game will determine our season. If we lose, the players will lose belief and won't bother with the CL. If we win, it'll be a huge confidence booster. This is it; our last chance of redeeming ourselves in what has been a horrible, horrible season.

Cant wait for Casemiro to hack the life out of the Barca players to disrupt their gameplan. Ramos is back though to gift his customary goal

All things considered i like our chances. Bale has been unbelievable and Benzema doesnt even need to be in good form to perform in a clasico much less the form he is in now. Ronaldo might end up being a liability but he is a proven scorer. Nerman wont play against pre Zizou Danilo this time

I predict a 2-1 win for us

Your optimism is annoying yet refreshing Hala.

This place needs my optimism trust me. I am even more positive towards Danilo these days. Weird I know

Is it kinda confirmed that danilo will start over carvajal ?

Meh... we'll see. It depends how we start. We're not tough mentally so we can't fall behind.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:I respectfully disagree with the Barça fans who were nice enough to stop by and give their take on the game, and here's why:

El Madrigal has been a fortress this season. They defeated Real Madrid, Atlético and Sevilla there before drawing you. Barça is the only big team that went there and came back with a point. Therefore, and given all the circumstances, Your criticism, or shall we say skepticism, of your team's performance against the yellow submarine doesn't hold water, I'm afraid.

Your game against Arsenal was already done and dusted the second the final whistle went in London. You knew it, Arsenal knew it. And even then, you managed to win. That's the difference between you and any other team - it's even when you play really bad, you somehow still manage to get results.

Like Doc said, I expect you to turn it up ten fold in the clasico. You're favorites you're playing against your arch-rival and you're at home; not to mention that you're coming up against a team with so many weaknesses.

I expect both teams to give their all even though the title is already in Barça's bag for one simple reason: it'll be a great opportunity for both teams, and especially for Real Madrid, to test their strength and see whether we stand a chance of winning the CL. Z is also in the equation here. If he wants to be taken seriously, he needs to show that he's tactically capable of beating a CL contender.

This game will determine our season. If we lose, the players will lose belief and won't bother with the CL. If we win, it'll be a huge confidence booster. This is it; our last chance of redeeming ourselves in what has been a horrible, horrible season.

I dont think so, if its a really close game and we lose or tie, I think that would give us confidence that we can at least hang with the best. If we lose decisively, then the players take an early vacation.

@Valk, no it will be Carvajal. They have been rotating since Danilo improved. And since Danilo played this past game Carvajal will play the next

Barca's three best midfielders are injured and didnt go for international duties. This implies that they will be fresh for the clasico.
I smell foul play especially with Busquet and Rakitic who had to leave their camps. Modric should please come back in one piece. He was absent this time last season. Now is the time we need him the most.
Navas, casemiro and BBC are fit; any 5 players can complete the squad. These days, it almost doesnt matter who they are. As long it's not arbeloa..Danilo beasting in RB and LB. Pepe, Varane and Ramos are having average seasons. Nacho is Nacho.

Marcelo and Modric better be at the top of their game. Without them we are half the team

other than dribbling, marcelo is a liability lack of tracking back and awful crosses.

We have been surprisingly quiet; acting like we aint getting the pre-clasico jitters. I like the fact that we have stopped being over-confident against barca. for the past 6 seasons, whenever we believe we are performing well and would finally get one over Barca, we have failed woefully.

Something within me is slipping back to that pre-clasico confidence; something within me says 'never have we had BBC and modric fit and in-form, something withing me is predicting an outrageous victory with a 3-goal difference or more, but i remind myself of what has become the status-quo in recent clasicos.
We must not get accustomed to being the second best.
Fingers crossed.

This clasico has literally no stakes... it doesn't impact anything. It's only about pride and, frankly, that's not much of a motivation these days.

I think it's more important to be competitive and not have injuries... win or lose, doesn't matter much.

This is the most low key Clasico I have experienced since Jose's last season where we won and no one really cared too much. Only legit things at stake here are pride and Barcelona feeling slightly uncomfortable going into a UCL quarter final with a Clasico loss. And also the minute matter of how Zidane's ideas fair against top opposition.

Atletico are too inconsistent to have Barcelona feel bothered in the league and we are too far behind to trouble them.

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Casilla and Yanez.

Defenses: Pepe, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo, Danilo Carvajal.

Midfielders: Kroos, James, Bale, Casemiro, Modric and Isco.

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Lucas Vázquez and Jesé

Lol Zidane treating Kiva like Carlo treated Illarra. One bad game and never gets a look in after that

This game will tell whether Z deserves to stay or go.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:This game will tell whether Z deserves to stay or go.