El Clasico, a rivalry between two cities. Two political spectrums and two world-renowned football teams. It doesn't get much bigger in world football.
From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, from Gareth Bale to Neymar, Andres Iniesta to Xabi Alonso - Players who have dominated an era of Spanish and world football are all on show and it doesn't stop there, the game at the Mestalla is a cup final. A Copa Del Rey final to be exact. With the Catalans out of the Champions League and falling off the pace in La Liga's run in tomorrow's game could prove to be the biggest of their season. As for Madrid, the La Decima dream is well and truly on and even the prodigious treble fantasy is still alive and a win tomorrow will take Ancelotti's side one step closer. The last Clasico was full of controversy, drama, goals and a hint of Messi magic. What Clasico isn’t? Even though Martino's side were given two debatable penalties what they had that Madrid didn't was that their big game players showed up. Messi, Iniesta and Xavi all came to the forefront whilst the opposite trio of Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo half showed with the Frenchman scoring twice whilst Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot but all in all he had a quiet game by his standards. More though is expected from the Welshman Gareth Bale who showed glimpses of what he can do.
Tomorrow the game will miss a few huge players from either team. Madrid will be missing top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and La Liga champions Barcelona will have no Gerard Pique who is a major doubt for the game. Barcelona's defensive crisis doesn't end there, the possible absence of Marc Bartra is also on the cards which leaves Martino with just two out and out centre back's at his disposal.
Predicted Line-ups
Barcelona
Martino will more or less field the same team that lost to Granada at the weekend, defensively Carlos Puyol will have a fitness test later to see if he can play the full 90 minutes, Marc Bartra is also still in contention. Offensively, the Catalans won't change much, no new injury worries to their star players is a huge boost for them heading into the game. Fans will be hoping Lionel Messi can have a change in fortune as he was heavily criticsed following Barca's exit from the Champions League last week.
Formation: 4-3-3
Pinto
Alves Mascherano Bartra Alba
Busquets Xavi
Fabregas
Neymar Messi Iniesta
Key Men/Tactics
That's the team which has been predicted and rumored to try and secure Barcelona's first piece of major silverware this season, the front three are vital - Expect Iniesta and Neymar to interchange, Messi to drop into pockets of space to affect the game whilst Cesc will be given the role of instigating and creating. The back four is arguably the biggest weakness for the Catalans, a lack of height could prove to be their downfall especially with the height Madrid possess. Alves and Alba push very high up the field, which could leave gaps in behind which Madrid will look to exploit, Busquets and Xavi will be looking to make things happen from deep. Martino's main tactic will be to get Messi involved as much as possible, he showed at the Bernabau what he can do when given space and time. Neymar will look to step up to the mantle of the Clasico; recently recieving praise for the enthusiam he's been showing. The game won't be decided on heart and desire as that's already intergrated into both teams, it will be decided on how clincial and effective both teams are. We've seen many times in the past how much posession Barcelona have yet they sometimes don't utilise it properly.
Real Madrid
Ancelotti knows deep down his team have the advantage even without Cristiano Ronaldo, with Barcelona's dodgy backline Bale and co can cause a host of problems. After the all whites 4-0 win over Almeria at the weekend they go into this game full of confidence, Madrid are in pole position and many people believe they should win the game with ease. It won't be anything like that when this fixture comes around as Barca tend to step it up a gear whilst Madrid tend to drop down a gear. One thing's for sure, all is to play for.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Lopez
Carvajal Ramos Pepe Marcelo
Alonso Modric
Di Maria Isco Bale
Benzema
Key Men/Tactics
The team above is what Ancelotti will be hoping do the business come Wednesday night, Bale and Di Maria will be key as aforementioned Alba and Alves like to wander high up the pitch which will create space for Madrid on the counter but also cause problems down the flanks which will require Bale and Di Maria to do some defensive work. Isco will play just in front of Barca's backline as he'll try to create that bit of magic. Alonso and Modric will have a similar role to play as Busquets and Xavi they'll look to break up play whilst also creating from deep. Marcelo and Carvajal will look to get up and down the flanks for the overlap. Carlo's tactics will be very simple as they've done all season, play on the counter-attack and utilize the pace of Bale and Di Maria, at the end of the day when you have a Ferrari what's the point of driving it like a Nissan? - Benzema will have to have a really good game, during periods of the season the Frenchman has been too wasteful at times and he can't afford to do that tomorrow, Madrid have the upper-hand but in games like this that means nothing.
Individual Battles
Lionel Messi - Isco
The former may be on a completely different level to the latter, but tomorrow night both players have similar roles to play for either side. Messi will be the spark in the Barca side whilst Isco will be the creator in the Madrid side, Messi clearly is more important but Ancelotti will be hoping Isco can come to the helm and put in a big match performance. Both players will look to run at defenders and create space for other players to run into, the dribbling ability of both players is fantastic, Messi's near super-natural touch and pace is beautiful to look whilst Isco possesses a sort of Iniesta-esque running style in the way he drifts and glides past players. Goal scoring is something Messi will have huge responsibility for tomorrow, Isco not so much but he'll be given a fair few of chances and when given them he'll be expected to score. Isco is an out and out number 10 whilst Messi is his own unique role, a 9.5 almost in his abilty to drop deep and spray a 40 yard pass whilst also being able to play a few neat touches inside the area and score. If the Messi who scored a hat-trick at the Bernabau shows up tomorrow night it's argued that there can only be one winner however if Isco plays to the best of his ability, he too can have a real effect on the game.
Neymar - Gareth Bale
The marketing value of Messi - Ronaldo has been hindered slightly by the two new summer signings Gareth Bale and Neymar as they are set to take to the field on Wednesday, both have played in both Clasico's prior to this one with Neymar scoring in the first one of the season at the Nou Camp whilst Bale is yet to register his first goal. If his performance at the Beranabau is anything to go by he isn't far off, the Brazilian has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks with his all round game looking much sharper, and this could be a huge game in his bid to win over a few doubters. As for Bale he's having a fantastic season, he's in double figures for assists and goals but many people are doubting his big match performances and tomorrow he could prove a big point. Neymar is a very different player to Bale, the rivalry itself is very similar to Messi and Ronaldo's - Bale is this tall, pacey player whilst Neymar is a short, agile, tricky player and both on their day can flip a game on it's head.
Prediction
With Barca in a fragile state of mind and without Pique who's been a significant figure this season the odds are stacked against them but if there was one group of players that can come out with a big match performance it's this Barcelona side. Also with many doubting Messi I think we're all due a Messi inspired performance and tomorrow could be his night. As for Madrid with or without Ronaldo they still have a special team, step forward Gareth Bale the stage is set for the Welshman to have the game of his life. So with all the talk nearly over, when both teams meet tomorrow night we're guaranteed one thing, goals galore. It won't be a cagey encounter of any sort as it could either define Barcelona's season or kick-start Madrid's race to the treble?
Final Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona