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Barcelona vs Real Madrid, La Liga: Match Preview, Team News, Where To Watch
Messi-less Barcelona looks up to wrap the week with a victory over Arch-rival Real Madrid. (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 904100134,1038040072 - GRADIENT ADDED) (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images,)
The world-famous Spanish rivalry returns as Barcelona lock horns with Real Madrid for the 272nd game between them at the Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona on Sunday evening. It will be the first time since 2007, where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will both not feature in the El Clásico.
While Real Madrid will not have their top scorer of the past seasons after his sensational move to Juventus in the summer, the Barcelona Captain misses out due to an arm injury he picked up.
Barcelona will hope to fill the Void left after Messi, who broke his arm during last weekend’s win against Sevilla. Barcelona has not looked promising this season despite sitting at the top of the table. In the first nine games, they have dropped nine points after drawing against Girona, Bilbao and Valencia and losing against Leganes.
A victory against the arch-rival will give them a sense of satisfaction and more importantly keep them on the top-spot with 21 points after ten games into the season. On the other hand, Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui will have a lot to lose, including his job at the Bernabeu if his team puts up a terrible performance.
Real Madrid comes to the match after an unconvincing but very much welcomed victory against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League. Before that, they witnessed a back to back humiliation in five games, overall scoring just one goal. A victory at the Nou Camp will restore their confidence and more importantly show that they can cope with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi’s absence has certainly made the task easier for them.
Real Madrid will be boosted by the return of Marcelo, who has scored Madrid’s two goals out of three in the past two games. On the other side of the defence, Dani Carvajal won't be featured, enabling either Nacho or Oridizola to start. Brazilian teenage starlet Vinicius Jr may star after his ban from the reserve side was overturned.
Predicted Line-ups: Barcelona- (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Rafinha, Suárez, Coutinho.
Real Madrid- (4-3-3): Courtois; Nacho, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Isco
When and Where to Watch- In India, you can watch the El Classico on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD at 8.45 PM.
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