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Each edition of El Clásico is packed with its own storylines, each part adding a new layer to the historic rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Described by La Liga as a “genuine cultural phenomenon capturing the attention of millions of fans around the world”, Sunday’s match at Barça’s Camp Nou stadium will hold a lot of significance as the result could all but settle the title race.
A victory for Barça would give a 12-point lead at the top of the table, making the league title a high probability, if not a mathematical certainty, while a win for Real Madrid would keep the race alive with 12 games left. go afterwards. Sunday’s game.
Los Blancos will travel to the Camp Nou backed by beating Liverpool 1-0 on Wednesday to seal their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-2 aggregate victory.
Called “the best in the world” by Real coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday, Vinícius Jr. excelled in that win, creating Karim Benzema’s only goal of the match, and his battle with Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo could be the key are to the decision The classic.
“He’s had a bit more trouble in recent games, but Viní Jr. is always Viní Jr,” Ancelotti said on Saturday, according to the Real website.
“His mobility gives us so much, I’m thinking about putting him on the right because he’s capable, but we’ll see. That freedom and playing without a fixed benchmark could be crucial.
“It’s another problem for the defenders. I joke that he plays on the right…he will be on the left, but with more freedom.
Benzema, another mainstay of Real’s attack, will play on Sunday despite taking a beating during the week, Ancelotti said.
While Benzema will take the field for Los Blancos, Barça will have to miss Pedri and Ousmane Dembele due to injury, two of the most impressive players this season.
La Blaugrana has already beaten Real Madrid twice this year, in January to win the Spanish Super Cup final and in March to take a 1-0 lead in the Copa del Rey semi-final. The second leg is on April 5 at Camp Nou.
However, Real triumphed in October in the league match at Bernabéu, Ancelotti’s team won El Clásico 3-1.
Barça coach Xavi downplayed the idea that his team was the favorite to win Sunday’s game.
‘They are strong. Very strong lately,” Xavi said, according to Barça’s website. “They are much better physically than in January. I’m sure they will put pressure on our defense.”
“This Madrid team are European champions and they won the last competition comfortably. It will be an exciting game and I say we have a 50% chance.”
It has been a one-sided season for Real, trailing Barca in La Liga and 1-0 down in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, but on track to defend the Champions League title.
Before Sunday’s game, Ancelotti addressed speculation about his future at the club, saying he would “stay at this club for the rest of my life, but that is impossible”, adding that it is “a decision for the club to make “.
“If they want me for three months then I will make the best of it and the same as if they want me for three years… Anyway, I am sure we will win something this season and that will clear the doubts. We are at a disadvantage in the Copa and La Liga, but that is not the case in the Champions League.”
Barça, meanwhile, fell short again in Europe, failing to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League and losing to Manchester United in the Europa League, while the club is also embroiled in a referee payment scandal.
“We are just focused on competition,” said Xavi on Saturday. “We try to stay natural with the players and not get distracted by everything that can happen at a club like this.”
El Clásico kicks off Sunday afternoon at 4pm ET at Camp Nou, Barcelona. It can be seen on the following channels:
Australia: Optus
Canada: TSN, RDS
Brazil: Star+, ESPN
UK: Premier Sports, La Liga TV, ITV
USA: ESPN