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Madrid, meanwhile, will want their midfield two to protect their centre-backs, forcing Barca to create from wide rather than central areas. They’ll hope to play off Bellingham, looking to release Vinicius and Mbappe on the counter.
Where is the game? Barca, I imagine, will look to control the ball and stretch the pitch, hoping to get wide overloads or one-on-ones. Their midfield three are so good at finding angles and directing their first touches away from pressure, while Yamal and Raphinha will fancy themselves against Madrid’s full-backs. To beat them, you probably have to score three.
Some reading:
West Ham have taken the lead at Old Trafford. Follow that game along with the rest of the early-afternoon action, here:
I’ve seen a fair bit of Madrid this season, so I wasn’t surprised they were so ruthlessly undressed by Arsenal. They no longer have midfielders able to control a game – or no longer deploy midfielders instructed to control a game – instead kicking about until someone good does something good, or not. That’s enough to win most weeks because the talent is so extreme, but there’s no excuse for the lack of balance and cohesion.
Madrid are also unchanged following last weekend’s win over Celta Vigo. I’m relieved Ancelotti has finally stopped wasting Fede Valverde at right-back – though he may be a better one than this version of Lucas Vazquez, his absence from midfield was more keenly felt, especially in that Arsenal first leg. Otherwise, though, they look extremely vulnerable at the back, shorn of Rudiger, Militao, Mendy, Carvajal and Alaba – against this version of Barcelona, a very significant problem.
Barcelona are unchanged following a brutal 120 minutes in San Siro. I guess that makes some sense – Hansi Flick won’t to suggest to any of his players that he’s disappointed in them, and also wants to field his first XI. But I’m surprised he’s not freshened it up a little, just so there’s are some legs in the side – I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to get Lewandowski going again, for one.
I’ll write these down, then we’ll consider what they might mean.
Teams!
Barcelona (4-3-3): Szczesny; Garcia, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Yamal, Torres, Raphinha. Subs: Ter Stegen, Balde, Araujo, Gavi, Lewandowski, Fati, Pena, Christensen, Lopez, Casado, Victor, Fort.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Tchouameni, Fran; Valverde, Ceballos; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe. Subs: Modric, Rodrygo, Lunin, Endrick, Vallejo, Diaz, Yusi, Ramon, Mestre, Munoz.
Preamble
It’s amazing, given what we know about football – the pettiest existence in the world save government – that sometimes, we forget there are fall-guys.
We’ve been in raptures these last two-and-a-half weeks, kvelling at all-time great Champions League tie between Barcelona and Inter; rightly so. But because most of us are ambivalent as regards who actually won it, instead centring our experience of watching it, the potentially life-altering manner in which glorious victory turned into – was turned into – devastating defeat, is not our preoccupation.
Make no mistake, though, Barca are nurturing a penetrating sickness they may never fully assuage. So the last thing – but perhaps also the first thing – they need this afternoon is the visit of Real Madrid, league title on the line.
If Barca win today, they go seven points clear with three games to go, their lead almost unassailable. But if they lose it’s down to a point, with a nasty run in to come: an away derby, fifth-placed Villarreal at home, Athletic Club away; by way of contrast, Madrid face Mallorca home, Sevilla away, Sociedad home.
And make no mistake, Carlo Ancelotti’s men know this is their time. They’ll still be smarting after their own Champions League exit, beaten home and away by Arsenal, their structural weaknesses paraded in front of the world. Or, in other words, their season stands on the cusp of failure – they’ve also been walloped 4-0 in their home clásico, then again 5-2 in the Supercopa clásico, and last month they were pipped in extra time of the clásico Copa del Rey final. Not many Real Madrid sides have endured a season of so many humiliations, never mind one comprising some of the best and most expensive players on the planet. This, though, is their chance to save themselves – and if they do, this timer you can be sure we won’t neglect the unfathomable misery of the losers.
Kick-off: 4.15pm local, 3.15pm BST
