• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Tension mounts as Real Madrid battle Barcelona in El Clasico

El Clasico

There can be no other choice for the top LaLiga match this weekend than El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona taking place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on the night of Sunday March 1.

Sunday’s match promises to be a pretty key battle with regards to the title race. Barca head to the Spanish capital two points clear of Los Blancos after the weekend’s results.

This is the world’s biggest club football game, putting together two age- old rivals in a clash which will go a long way in deciding the destination of the title. The two teams are well out ahead at the top of the log in a battle for domestic glory, with Barcelona looking to defend their hard-won championship, while Real are hoping to meet the number one goal of manager Zinedine Zidane, who has targeted a return to La Liga glory as the first stepping stone in getting Los Blancos back to their status as the world’s most feared team.

Rodrygo banned, Hazard out

Real Madrid will not be able to call upon Rodrygo for Sunday’s El Clasico with Barcelona after the forward was sent off playing for Castilla.

The Brazilian was in line for a recall to Zinedine Zidane’s first team with Eden Hazard injured with a broken ankle, reports Goal. Yet Rodrygo is now suspended after picking up a bizarre red card playing for the B side.

The 19-year-old scored a final solo goal in their 2-0 win over SS Reyes, but was then given a second yellow card for goading the goalkeeper.

With Hazard expected to be sidelined for three to four months, Zidane had personally reassured Rodrygo he was part of his plans – having not been included in the match day squad for the last three La Liga games.

Pique a doubt

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has not been ruled out of Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid despite sustaining an ankle injury at Napoli.

The central defender limped out of Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at the Stadio San Paolo after landing awkwardly on his ankle, with fears that he would not be able to make Sunday’s crucial clash in the Spain title race.

El Clasico Key Stats

Real Madrid have not won any of their last 7 LaLiga games against Barcelona (D3 L4).

Barcelona have won their last 4 El Clasicos at Santiago Bernabéu in LaLiga.

Barcelona have only won one of their last 4 away LaLiga games, the last one, 3-2 vs Real Betis (D2 L1).

Barcelona (6151) have scored more goals than the Madrilenian side (6150) for the first time since December 1962 (1932 goals Barcelona and 1930 Real Madrid).

Barcelona’s Quique Setién has won just 2 of his 8 managerial LaLiga games against Real Madrid (D2 L4), however both wins did come against Zinédine Zidane, becoming the only manager to win twice against him in the competition (two).

Zidane has lost just 2 of his 8 managerial games against Barcelona in all competitions (W3 D3), with both defeats coming at the Santiago Bernabéu in LaLiga.

The headline fixture for this weekend’s Premier League action comes from Goodison Park on Sunday as Everton play host to Manchester United. This is a clash between two teams with European club ambitions for next season.

The Toffees have made major strides since Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as their permanent manager, with fears of being sucked into a relegation scrap replaced with hopes that they could feature in the UEFA Europa League or – at a stretch – perhaps even the UEFA Champions League next season.

The ban handed down to Manchester City from UEFA earlier this month has opened up the possibilities for many clubs in the mid-table.

Manchester United, meanwhile, continue to struggle for consistency, though the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in midfield has helped to liven up their attacking play, while Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo provides an interesting alternative in attack.