Barcelona face Real Madrid this weekend in an El Clasico clash that could have serious repercussions on both title ambitions and managerial futures.
SEE MORE:
Clasico shmasico! Ten WORST Barcelona & Real Madrid players in living memory, with five Arsenal flops
El Clasico XI: Barcelona & Real Madrid combined lineup, with Suarez joining Messi & Ronaldo but no Bale
(Image) Javier Mascherano shows Barcelona keeper where to dive for Sergio Aguero penalty!
Whilst Barcelona have looked almost back to the form of their glory years under Pep Guardiola, Real Madrid look a long way from the side they were just last season that achieved the history ‘La Decima’ European Cup title.
Not to overstate the fixture but this is a Clasico that could potentially spell the end for Carlo Ancelotti at Real and give Florentino Perez the excuse he needs to sack yet another manager.
Whilst it could also be the death knell for Los Blancos’ title challenge; if Barcelona win they will be four points clear of Real in second place with just 10 games remaining.
See how we think Barcelona will line up to strike a hammer blow to their most hated rivals:
GK: Claudio Bravo
Given Luis Enrique has switched between ter Stegen in the cups and Claudio Bravo in the league, you’d expect the Chilean would be back in the starting XI for on the biggest games of the La Liga season.
However, perhaps ter Stegen has put a slighy doubt in Enrique’s head given his impressive display against Manchester City, including a penalty save, in the Champions League in midweek.
RB: Dani Alves
In what could be his last game in a Barcelona shirt against Real Madrid, Dani Alves returns from his suspension at the right time and is set to start for La Blaugrana.
CB: Gerard Pique
Pique gave away a quite reckless penalty against Real at the Bernabeu in November with a stupid handball and so will want to draw on some of his past experiences against Los Blancos when he’s been a regular name on the scoresheet.
CB: Jeremy Mathieu
It hasn’t been a stellar first season for Mathieu at Barca but as it’s gone on he’s continued to grow into both his role and the stature of the Barcelona shirt.
He didn’t have his best game against the Real front line earlier in the season and hopefully will have a better run out here.
LB: Jordi Alba
On the attacking front he’s been nothing short of brilliant, his forays forward might have to be toned down slightly against the likes of Bale and Ronaldo on the wings.
RM: Andres Iniesta
He will look to control the game in the middle with his passing and may have to be on his best behaviour defensively given the likely absence of Sergio Busquest to add a real security to the space behind him.
CM: Javier Mascherano
Again, with the likely absence of Busquets, Mascherano will have to take up the mantle in the middle and will have to do better than he did against City, giving away a cynical penalty in the last ten minutes that had the potential to ruin Barcelona’s delightful display.
LM: Ivan Rakitic
Scored a decisive goal in the Champions League on Wednesday and will be wanting to take that kind of attacking form into the game with Real who he had a torrid game with earlier in the season.
RW: Lionel Messi
Nothing short of stupendous against Manchester City putting on one of the best individuals displays seen in many a year and another to add to the personal highlight reel.
CF: Luis Suarez
Has perhaps been Barcelona’s best player since his World Cup controversy delayed the start to his Blaugrana career; 13 goals and 10 assists so far but not goal against Real as yet, he’ll be wanting to change that today.
LW: Neymar
But speaking of scintillating goalscoring form Neymar has managed a quite staggering 26 goals so far in this campaign. He didn’t have his shooting boots on in Europe on Wednesday night but did manage a goal against Real in November so he clearly has pedigree.