FC Barcelona and Real
Madrid will meet this Saturday in ElClasico, which will be the 255th meeting of
these two clubs in official competition, with the head-to-head record so finely
balanced. Real Madrid have won 102 encounters, FC Barcelona 100 and in the
remaining 52 they have drawn. This is a historic rivalry that goes back more
than 100 years and that will be experienced, for the first time, by the
talented summer signings like João Félix, Jude Bellingham, Kepa Arrizabalaga
and João Cancelo.
Without forgetting the
impressive start to the season of Girona FC, the main prize at stake in this
game is the potential to finish the matchday as the leader of LALIGA EA SPORTS.
That only adds to the usual tension that comes with this match. On this occasion,
it’ll be taking place in a new setting, at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, given
that Los Azulgrana’s usual home ground, the Spotify Camp Nou, is currently
being redeveloped. As such, this rivalry will move to a new stadium, similar to
what occurred when the match was played at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano
during the Covid pandemic.
Both teams have made a
strong start to the season, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side taking 25 points and
Xavi Hernandez’s charges collecting 24 in the 10 games played so far. The capital
city side come into the clash on the back of a draw against Sevilla FC, while the
Catalan outfit managed to overcome Athletic Club in the final minutes in
another thrilling game last matchday.
Barça have yet to lose at their new
stadium and have won all five LALIGA EA SPORTS matches they have played at
Montjuïc, living up to the nickname of this being a magic mountain. Los
Blancos will be keen to break that streak and get back to winning ways at
their opponents’ stadium. Last season, Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat in the
away ElClasico in league play, but they had won 2-1 and 3-1 respectively when
visiting FC Barcelona in 2021/22 and 2020/21.
In terms of absentees,
Xavi will be without the injured Frenkie de Jong and Jules Koundé, while Real
Madrid have been without Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão all season due to
serious knee injuries. Although those are significant losses for both coaches
in ElClasico, these players can be replaced by other top talents.
Real Madrid have the
competition’s top scorer, in England’s Jude Bellingham, who has scored eight
goals to start the season and who will go up against last season’s Pichichi,
Robert Lewandowski, who has already netted five this term. Those two
world-class stars will be joined by others such as Vinícius, João Félix,
Rodrygo and Ferran Torres, all of whom will be targeting a goal in ElClasico.
Between the posts, they’ll face two giants, in Marc-André ter Stegen and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Meanwhile, the defensive lines will be marshalled by Ronald Araújo and Antonio Rüdiger. There is also so much talent in the midfield, where Gavi, Eduardo Camavinga, İlkay Gündoğan, Fede Valverde and co. will get to work. On top of that, this fixture brings together two top coaches, who boast the brains and experience to succeed in this type of top-level scenario. This is ElClasico, with new faces but with all the importance and weight of the history of both these shirts.
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