The setups for the el Clasico of Sunday evening are known. Against Real Madrid, Xavi opts to position Gavi on the left wing, allowing him to build defensive security in midfield with Sergi Roberto. In addition to Roberto, Frenkie de Jong will also be assigned a place there. Carlo Ancelotti chooses exactly the same names as last Wednesday against Liverpool (1-0 win). The match starts at 9 p.m. and can be viewed on Ziggo Sports Select.
Barcelona struggled to beat Athletic Club last week, so Xavi felt compelled to intervene. Ferran is the child of the bill and has to give preference to Gavi, who starts in the vanguard alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. The midfield is formed by De Jong, Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto. The four-man defense consists (left to right) of Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araújo and Jules Koundé, while Marc-André Ter Stegen defends the goal.
Barcelona can deal the final blow to its arch-rival and, at least for the time being, title competitor on Sunday. The lead of the Catalans is nine points and after el Clasico there are only twelve games left to play. However, Barcelona have only won one of their last seven LaLiga games against Real. Moreover, the last time Barcelona won a league match against the capitals at home was in October 2018. On the other hand, Barcelona convincingly won the battle for the Supercopa (3-1), while also winning the first leg in the Copa del Rey ( 0-1). Barcelona will miss the injured Pedri and Ousmane Dembele; Ronald Araujo returns from suspension. The home team plays in special Rosalía shirts because of the collaboration with Spotify.
? Deux teams. ? Deux colours. ? One passion. ??? Le @fcbarcelona_fra ???? Le @realmadridfra
#ElClásico #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/m0jKKuRXom— LaLiga (@LaLigaFRA) March 16, 2023
Barcelona is now unbeaten twelve home games in a row and so Real can get to work. Should the Madrilenians take victory, it would be the third consecutive league victory at the Spotify Camp Nou. Only between January 1963 and February 1965 did the club also achieve such a winning streak. Real will also draw hope from the earlier meeting this season, when it was 3-1 in Madrid for coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team. The Italian coach cannot have David Alaba, but Karim Benzema is available. The Frenchman received a blow to his shin against Liverpool (1-0 win), but was fit enough to make the trip to eastern Spain. In addition, Ferland Mendy, who recovered from a hamstring injury, returns to the selection after almost two months.
Barcelona line-up: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Roberto, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi
Real Madrid lineup: Courtois; Carval, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Modric, Camavinga, Duckweed; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Junior
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 25 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 65 |
| 2 | RealMadrid | 25 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 56 |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 51 |
| 4 | real society | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 48 |
| 5 | RealBetis | 26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 45 |
| 6 | Villarreal | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 41 |
| 7 | Athletic Club | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 36 |
| 8 | Rayo Vallecano | 26 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 36 |
| 9 | Osasuna | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | -5 | 34 |
| 10 | Celta de Vigo | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 34 |
| 11 | Real Majorca | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | -5 | 32 |
| 12 | Girona | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | -1 | 31 |
| 13 | Seville | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | -11 | 28 |
| 14 | Cadiz | 26 | 6 | 10 | 10 | -17 | 28 |
| 15 | Real Valladolid | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | -18 | 28 |
| 16 | Espanyol | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | -10 | 27 |
| 17 | valencia | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | -3 | 26 |
| 18 | Getafe | 25 | 6 | 8 | 11 | -9 | 26 |
| 19 | Almeria | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | -15 | 26 |
| 20 | Elche | 26 | 2 | 7 | 17 | -32 | 13 |