How will Barcelona line up against Real Madrid in the first El Clásico of the season?

Get ready for the biggest clash of the season as Barcelona takes on their arch-rivals Real Madrid in the highly anticipated El Clásico.

• By
  
  Renato Gonçalves
  
• on October 27, 2023 5:00 am

In what has been the most crucial week for Barcelona so far, they have secured two hard-fought wins against Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk. However, their true test awaits them this Saturday as they go head-to-head against their biggest rivals, Real Madrid, in the highly anticipated El Clásico at the prestigious Montjuïc Olympic Stadium. The top spot in the La Liga table hangs in the balance, adding even more intensity to this already monumental showdown.

Despite their unbeaten record this season, Barcelona enters this match as the underdogs due to their ongoing injury crisis, which has sidelined some of their best players. Under these circumstances, avoiding defeat would be considered a positive outcome, while stealing all three points would be an exhilarating dream scenario to cap off this crucial week on a high note.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, is determined to win this match and establish themselves as the early favorites for the title. Expect an intense battle on the field. Now, let’s take a look at how we predict Xavi Hernández will line up his team for this epic clash.

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Defense

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Due to the injury crisis, it remains uncertain how many, if any, of the six first-team players will be fit for this match. However, Xavi has stated that he won’t take any unnecessary risks, making it highly unlikely to see the injured players in the starting XI. Therefore, we can assume that the coach will work with the available squad, which presents a few critical decisions despite the limited options.

The biggest decision revolves around the defensive line, particularly the right-back position. João Cancelo is the primary choice at right-back, but he may not be the best matchup for this specific game. Xavi’s tactical innovation as Barça boss has been utilizing Ronald Araujo at full-back to handle the threat posed by Vinicius Junior. The dilemma is whether the coach will stick with a formula that has proven successful over the past two years or opt for the more attacking option in Cancelo.

In our view, the solution is a combination of both: Xavi will likely deploy Araujo at right-back and push Cancelo further forward as a right winger. As for the center-backs, Andreas Christensen and Iñigo Martínez are expected to play, with Alejandro Balde taking up the left-back position. This lineup allows the Araujo-Vinicius matchup to remain intact while granting Cancelo the freedom to make an impact in the attacking phase. Furthermore, the Portuguese will be responsible for providing support to Araujo, ensuring that the Uruguayan isn’t isolated against the dangerous Brazilian throughout the game.

When it comes to Clásicos, Xavi tends to favor a more defensively solid approach, which has often proven effective against Real Madrid. Although Cancelo’s role presents an intriguing decision for the coach, his attacking capabilities make his inclusion a tactically sound choice rather than a purely defensive one.

Midfield

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Gavi returns after missing the Shakhtar Donetsk game due to suspension, which turned out to be beneficial considering his heavy workload for both club and country. Gavi will be fresh and ready to contribute, and Ilkay Gündogan is expected to partner with him in midfield.

The question remains regarding the third midfield spot, or whether Xavi will opt for a four-man midfield to match Real Madrid’s numerical advantage in that area. In the latter case, both Oriol Romeu and Fermín López are likely to start, with López playing in a more advanced role as a false left winger.

However, since we anticipate Cancelo’s presence as a right winger alongside two natural forwards, there are only three available midfield positions, and one player deserves the final spot: Fermín López. At just 20 years old, he has already established himself as a reliable contributor and has proven his readiness for big games like the Clásico in recent matches.

Attack

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If our prediction of Cancelo as a right winger holds true, then the final two spots in the lineup become clear: Ferran Torres and João Félix will complete the front three. Lamine Yamal will likely start on the bench for this match. Even if Cancelo plays as a right-back, Xavi would likely opt for a four-man midfield initially to prioritize a solid defensive structure.

Lamine Yamal’s performances have slightly declined compared to the early weeks of the season. However, the 16-year-old still possesses the ability to make a significant impact as a substitute, especially if the more experienced players establish a strong start and create opportunities for him to shine in the second half of the Clásico.

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Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Christensen, Iñigo, Balde; Fermín, Gündogan, Gavi; Cancelo, Ferran, Félix (4-3-3)

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How do you think Barcelona should line up against Real Madrid? Let us know your thoughts, predictions, and preferred lineups in the comments below!

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