TIME TO SHOW THEIR DEPTH
The clash could not have come at a worse time for Real Madrid as they are under pressure to perform on the domestic front. Manager Julen Lopetegui’s job is under threat as Real are placed seventh in La Liga standings and have been average in Champions League, which they have won thrice in succession under Zinedine Zidane.
contest in their last five visits to Nou Camp.
HOW REAL FARED IN LAST SIX MATCHES
Total While their forwards have been wasteful, Real’s problems have been compounded by slack defending, such as conceding five times in the opening 20 minutes of games in all competitions.
Real have also been hampered by injuries, Bale, full backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal, and attacking midfielder Isco have all done their time on the treatment table, thus affecting the team’s balance.
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WASTEFUL UPFRONT
Lopetegui’s main problem has been lack of goals by his millionaire stars. When the former Spanish national coach took over at the start of the season, there were early signs that Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and
Marco Asensio would take on goal-scoring responsibilities held by Ronaldo. But they have failed to do so and, at one time, Real had gone over eight hours without scoring.
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3 Though the Catalans were brilliant in the 2-0 win over Inter Milan despite playing without the talismanic Messi, they are sharing the top spot with Espanyol at 18 points and could slip to second if they lose on Sunday. Barca suffered a freak 2-1 defeat by Leganes and have gone four games without a league win thus far.
They will look up to the likes of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho to score goals and make for the absence of Messi, but both of them are struggling for form. A win against archrivals Real will prove a big morale booster in these difficult times.
Barca won
Drawn
Matches
FORM GUIDE
Barca: Real:
Real won