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An unprecedented face to face of coaches between Ronald Koeman and Zinedine Zidane; the premiere of Neto in a classic against the firmness of Thibaut Courtois; the duel of kings between Leo Messi and Sergio Ramos and the young stars of Ansu Fati against Vinicius plus the responsibility of the goal for Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema, are some of the great attractions of a classic that returns eight and a half months later.
Ronald Koeman-Zinedine Zidane
There is a new pulse on the benches between Ronald Koeman and Zinedine Zidane, with the Dutchman returning the illusion to Barcelona based on bets on young talents and leaving gestures of authority in command, and the Frenchman in one of his lowest moments, questioning the embedding of his message in a squad that always believed in his message but shows signs of relaxation on the pitch.
The casualties affect Real Madrid, without undisputed holders such as Eden Hazard or Dani Carvajal, nor the contribution of their only novelty of the course, Martin Odegaard. Zizou with a hole on his right side, where Álvaro Odriozola is not injured either, while Koeman is watching over Jordi Alba but has found the freshness his team needed with a clear commitment to youth. Doors open to the talent of Ansu Fati, Pedri, Trincao or Sergiño Dest who have changed the face of Barcelona that came out humiliated by Bayern in the last Champions League.
The tactical duel starts from a new drawing in Barcelona with the arrival of Koeman. He understands the 1-4-2-3-1 as the perfect drawing due to the qualities of his players. Double pivot and Leo Messi in the zone of 9 with three players with a lot of goals behind him like Ansu Fati, Coutinho and Griezmann. Zidane is testing between various systems, each time getting less performance than the classic 1-4-3-3 and with the option of going to 1-4-4-2 when he wants to add Luka Jovic to the equation. So far without scoring success. With the first approach, Marco Asensio would be the bet and if he wants more control in the center of the field, Luka Modric would enter. Zidane has in his hands the record of coach with the best numbers at home for Barcelona in the history of Real Madrid. He never lost at the Camp Nou in five visits (two wins and three draws) and needs to extend his streak at a time when criticism is focused on his figure.
Zidane, one of Real Madrid’s designated players.
Photo:
EFE
Neto-Thibaut Courtois
Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury opens the doors of his first classic for Neto, who to date has lived up to the responsibility that Barcelona’s goal entails and has made him not miss the figure of one of the best goalkeepers of the world. Four matches in his career against Real Madrid and in none of them he managed to leave a clean sheet. It will be your challenge at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid does play with its starting goalkeeper and the most outstanding player of its start to the season. Courtois in a saving role, with key saves every game and even shining in the two painful defeats against lesser rivals such as Cádiz and Shakhtar. Without him, there would have been thrashing.
Leo Messi-Sergio Ramos
They are the kings of the classic, the footballers who have played the most in the history of an eternal confrontation, icons of their generations and absolute references for Barcelona and Real Madrid. They define the word leadership in different positions on the pitch. Messi protagonist after a turbulent summer in which he decided without success to put an end to his career in the Barça team.
In an endless pulse with the board and with the threat at the end of the season to seek new challenges, which could cause it to be his last classic at the Camp Nou if the Copa del Rey or the Champions League does not prevent it. The Argentine is the top scorer in the history of the classics with 26 goals. He scored in 17 of the 43 he has played but to find his last goal against Real Madrid you have to go back to May 6, 2018. He has not scored in the last five meetings. Playing in the zone of nine after the departure of Luis Suárez, he will meet again with the narrow marking of Sergio Ramos. More than once sparks flew and it cost the camero some expulsion.
Clash between Ramos and Messi.
Photo:
archive
The Madrid captain will force himself to be in the game with his left knee touched after a strong blow a week ago. His presence is key in a low moment. It incites to the fight and the maximum delivery to each one of its companions in a hard battle. To fight to the end with his saving goals. It will be his classic 45. At 23 he received a card. Up to five ejections in duels that raise your heart rate to the maximum. He scored in four and is prepared in case there is a penalty to extend his streak without failure.
Ansu Fati-Vinicius
The duel of the two young pearls of the greats, footballers who play in any stadium with the nerve of the street, without feeling responsibility and giving way to the inspiration they feel. Ansu without turning 18; I came with 20 years. The Barcelona player has knocked down all the doors early due to his soccer qualities. Breathe goal. Barcelona’s top scorer of the season with three goals in just six shots. The reliability that the Brazilian lacks, who is improving his pending account. They are the high hopes of your hobbies for your bravery.
They always pull forward, receive and face, generate imbalance starting from a band. The confidence that Ansu feels since the arrival of Koeman is not the same as Vinicius with Zidane. It does not feel indisputable and must always prove to have continuity. Although he is a unique footballer in the Real Madrid squad. Neither is capable of leaving rivals behind with their skill, nor generating their danger every time they receive the ball. This season he is the top scorer, ahead of Benzema with 3.8 shots per game and the top scorer thanks to his improved shot. Three goals in six games and each game defining more precisely, giving him the second break he needed. He was the hero of the last classic with the goal that decided the match at the Bernabéu.
Ansu Fati and Vinicius, the two young promises.
Photo:
Griezmann-Benzema
The French forward duel of the classic comes with two players who need the goal. Griezmann still unpublished in the new season and only one from Karim, a leading scorer since Cristiano Ronaldo’s goodbye for a Real Madrid that needs more punch from their tips. Forced to clear the doubts the Barcelona player in his second year, to release his true identity that has not been seen in the shadow of Leo Messi.
He demanded to play in the position in which he does with France and found the answer from Koeman who is the first to expect more from a player who has given four starts without conceding a single goal in return. The Madrid team is the one that Griezmann faced the most in his career. Up to 30 clashes and eight goals, none with Barcelona waiting for its best version on a perfect day to show it.
Benzema must regain his aim. He is the player in the League who has tried the most with 19 shots but only one ended in a goal. He scored 9 goals for Barcelona in 34 classics. The last in 2017 in the Super Cup, he has eight without scoring. A bad streak that Zidane’s team needs to strike at the eternal enemy’s house. EFE
