FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Injury Update for both sides (29/11/2016):

Real Madrid:

1. Gareth Bale:

• Injury: Ruptured tendons in ankle.
  
• Status: Out.
  

2. Toni Kroos:

• Injury: Fractured foot.
  
• Status: Out.
  

3. Alvaro Morata:

• Injury: Hamstring tear.
  
• Status: Out.
  

4. Fabio Coentrao:

• Injury: Muscle injury.
  
• Status: Doubtful.
  

5. Danilo:

• Injury: Muscle injury.
  
• Status: Doubtful.
  

6. Raphael Varane:

• Injury: Knock to the right knee.
  
• Status: Cleared
  

7. Case:

• Injury: fractured foot.
  
• Status: Cleared
  

Barcelona:
1. Piqué: Cleared.
2. Iniesta: Cleared.
3. Umtiti: Cleared.
4. Arda: Cleared.

You guys have me rolling in laughter!

You are talking about we expect from the players and coach as if it was your mentality to have effect on game! We are just fans you know!

I can understand the mentality having effect on game for fans at stadium, but for you Internet fans, that's just an illusion on your part.

I'm sure we all want the same result here and we are fully entitled to our hopes, expectations and confidence, but to say

"Bottom line is, don't assume anything before a big game. Just go in with the mentality that losing is not an option and give everything  you have and then some more on the pitch."

Is what I would expect Zidane is saying to his players, not what Internet fans should do?

@futbol_bill, every fan in every sport does and has done that since the beginning of time...if you tune into any sports show covering the game the day before, pundits who are fans will probably say the same thing. as a matter of fact, that probably contributes to a significant share of topics on forums; fans stating what their teams should do or expect from their teams

if not, the forum, sports shows, sports news papers, podcasts and programs will just be filled with one host saying "i expect the coach to tell his team to play hard" and another saying "i expect the coach to tell his team to play hard". the nature of sports makes fans feel a part of something that those not interested in the sport (e.g. my wife) find ridiculous...and its the same even with journalists.....

zidane isn't listening to what marca is suggesting before games. its all just healthy dialogue and banter sometimes for excitement before a game.

oh and sometimes we psyche ourselves up in the hope it has some sort of intervention/influence on someone like ramos not to go out there and get himself sent off within the first 5 minutes of the game

I think the following are going to be the lineups

Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic, Isco; Lucas, Benzema, Ronaldo

Ter Segen; Roberts, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Ratic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

For us, it's Isco vs Casemiro and questions re balance with bith Benz and Ronaldo in lineup.

For them, it's an unfit Iniesta, suspect defense, midfield efficency.

Iniesta is key. If he can be effective, that's makes it much harder for us. If not, advantage goes to us.

For us, the defensive effort (or not) of both Benz and Ronaldo.

I'm hoping for a 5 man midfield with Lucas Isco Modric Casemiro and Kovacic.

ZZ took out Isco at half time so heis definitely starting. Casemiro played the full game so he has enough of a fitness level to come on as a sub. I hope we dont pay for the lack of a DM. Against Atleti it worked because we played with an extra midfielder we wont on Saturday. ZZ better not screw this up with his team selection

In a game like this one, playing with an extra midfielder is a must, an absolute must. If Z plays Benzema and we end up losing, he'll have only himself to blame.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:In a game like this one, playing with an extra midfielder is a must, an absolute must. If Z plays Benzema and we end up losing, he'll have only himself to blame.

So you're saying that we only have to play with one striker, because in the Atleti game we had Bale and Cristiano. i don't agree with you at all, Benzema must play, Ronaldo would be isolated if he plays solo upfront

Did Bale play up front with Ronaldo? I recall Ronaldo getting "support" from a roaming Isco with Bale and Lucas providing much needed width on the wings.

That being said, if it is a 4-4-2 formation which I have a strong suspicion it is gonna be, Benzema is needed. But good Lord, I hope he pulls his weight with either work rate and/or absolute clinical finishing.

La Real clearly showed any team with the talent to pull it off the blue print to neutralize Barcelona effectively.

Whether we like it or not, Ronaldo and Benz are starting.

The only question mark (there have been articles saying both scenarios) is whether Isco or Casemiro starts.

As to formation it is the 4-3-3 offensively but 4-4-2 defensively, Lucas being the extra midfielder. What's different than the Atleti game (other than both Ronaldo and Benz defensive issues) is the free role of Isco. How he will have to pay more attention to the left side defense and if it is Casemiro starting then that left side is Kovacic' responsibility leaving the so called free role up to Modric.

On the positive side, I'm hearing Iniesta's fitness is a big question and even if he starts, he no doubt won't be able to play a full game.

Seems like the view is Isco is starting rather than Casemiro at least according to media.

And there is another survey saying public wants Mariano to start over Benz LOL.

Earlier there was a similiar for Morata. And to top it off fans openly jeered Benz in last game.

Either he comes up with a big game against Barca or the fan pressure on him is going to ramp up as season progresses

I imagine this doesn't sit well with you know who. Soon he will be saying all Spanish fans don't know Fútbol!

Has Benz ever been favoured in a poll? Everytime they do a poll of Benz vs whoever it always ends in 70+ of the other player vs 30- of Benz. I swear even some no name Castilla player would be overwhelmingly favoured over him. It's a shane ZZ has to choose between Isco and Casemiro when both should play

Hala Madrid!

Hala Madrid y nada más

Isco with an early yellow thanks to benzema

Um, we have been better than Barca with the ball but not by much. Isco and Modric doing wonders while Kovacic is struggling to get anything from this match. Benzema and Ronaldo aren't closing down fast enough at all to stop Barca from playing out in the back but it didn't matter since Barcelona hardly has gotten much penetration bar one or two scares.

Our back line minus one time Ramos was all up under Suarez has been disciplined in their approach. Hopefully 2nd half goes in our favour.

Kovacic is nervous asf I think

God how much i despise him. Can ZZ put Mariano on already. Sick and tired of seeing him dragg his arse around like it weighs a ton

smh

i hope this substitution is not too little too late

get in there

We were robbed of two penelties today!

How does Benzema keep starting for Madrid, I'll never understand.

I HOPE HE NEVER STARTS A GAME FOR US AGAIN. Our strikers should be Morata and Mariano. The other one can *bleep* off. Oh and Casemiro should play even if he only has 1 min of match fitness. Don't ever want to play without a DM ever again. Ramos saved ZZ's arse. To think that I was ecstatic with a draw should tell you all. What a calamity of tactics ZZ came up with.

As soon as benzema came off, we played much better. Not a coincidence