Real Madrid vs Barcelona – La Liga – Preview

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Sreya

As La Liga resumes after the last international break of the year, the El Clasico is the talk of the town in Madrid with the defending champions Barcelona visiting Santiago Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid on Saturday, 21st November.

Both teams are neck to neck in the race for the La Liga championship this season, with Rafael Benitez’s Real Madrid just a position and three points behind Luis Enrique’s side.

Team News

Real Madrid do not have any injury concerns ahead of the crucial home game, with Karim Benzema passing his fitness test. Barcelona will be without Rafinha and Douglas. Although Javier Mascherano is available after serving out his suspension, Ivan Rakitic has been listed as a doubt.

Real Madrid Possible Starting Line-up: Keylor Navas, Danilo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema.

Barcelona Possible Starting Line-up: Cluadio Bravo, Dani Alves, Jeremy Mathieu, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“We are on a good run of form and have only lost one match so far, although there is room for improvement. I hope we improve over the course of the season and go on to win the title.”

– Gareth Bale, Real Madrid.

“These are very unpredictable games, two teams with the kind of player who can change a game at any moment.

If there is one thing we need to be clear about it is ourselves. We have our idea of playing football, we have our way of organizing our play and we shouldn’t make any mistakes which give them a chance.

We have to play a game which is practically perfect.”

– Andres Iniesta, Barcelona.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Real Madrid have won 29% of the El Clasicos while Barcelona have won 43%. Barcelona have won twenty seven of their last thirty two La Liga fixtures, while Real Madrid have won in nineteen of their last twenty two home games in the league.

Real Madrid’s only loss came during their trip to Sevilla before the international break. Barcelona, on the other hand, have lost two of their eleven games so far, but none in the last four. The Catalan club, in fact, have scored thirteen goals in their last four matches.

As has been the case for most El Clasicos in recent years, it should be a closely contested affair, but Barcelona might hold a slight advantage and are more likely to win with a probable result of 2-1.