against Real Madrid, a good opportunity for FC Barcelona to raise its head

Usually, the duel broadcast in mondovision between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid allows the winner to send a strong signal in the fight for the title in La Liga, often disputed between the two giants. But, not content with losing its flagship player, Lionel Messi, this summer, FC Barcelona could also see all title hope this season evaporate in the fall.

The case is badly started before the shock expected Sunday, October 24 (4:15 p.m.), as the Blaugranas, strong from 26 Spanish championships, are struggling on all fronts. The figures speak for themselves: the club lost its first two matches in the group stage of the Champions League, a first in the history of the institution created in 1899, five-time winner of the competition. “Barça is a weakened team, crystal clear, not far from an institutional crisis. I don’t see him becoming La Liga champion and going far in the Champions League ”, warns Omar da Fonseca, consultant for BeIN Sports, which covers La Liga every weekend.

Certainly, the Catalans raised their heads against Dynamo Kiev in a third cleaver match (1-0), Wednesday, and retain a chance of qualification, they who have always passed the hens of the competition since the 2000-2001 season . Enough to prepare for the domestic shock with a little more serenity.

“The Spanish clasico remains a brand”

Opposite, Real Madrid is on a series of two unsuccessful matches in the league, but has been able to revive the European Cup at the cost of a resounding victory on the lawn of Donetsk (0-5), on October 19. The club from the Spanish capital is carried by a Karim Benzema at the top of his game (nine goals and seven assists in eight games). His start to the season even places him among the contenders for the Ballon d’Or.

“I don’t think there is anyone who is playing better than him right now. He is the player closest to winning the trophy, he develops a special relationship with the ball ”, Omar da Fonseca raves. If its center forward and captain walks on the water, the Madrid team shows some signs of irregularity, it which remains on a defeat against the promoted Espanyol Barcelona (2-1), on October 3, and a draw at home against Villarreal (0-0).

Benzema’s role resembles that of Lionel Messi last season. The Argentinian had then donned the savior costume on several occasions to allow his people to play the title to the end and win the King’s Cup. But the departure of the Pulga (“the chip”, in Spanish) at Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer hurt the Catalan attack, already orphaned by Neymar and Luis Suarez.

At the same time, Real have also lost two major elements with the departures of captain Sergio Ramos (PSG) and his defense lieutenant Raphaël Varane (Manchester United). A capital duo in the quest for the three consecutive Champions Leagues acquired by Real between 2016 and 2018. What makes the poster less prestigious?

“This duel is less individualized, but the excitement is still there. We had the cream of the crop, but it is not because we have to turn the page that there is a lack of interest. There is a tradition and a memory that exists. The Spanish clasico remains a mark, even if we know less certain players ”, details Omar da Fonseca.

Hope in attack

Even if many lights are red, Barça must capitalize on its positive dynamic of two successes in a row. The last in the league, against Valencia (3-1), highlighted the hope represented by young Ansu Fati. Injured in the meniscus of the left knee since November 2020, the 18-year-old made his comeback on September 26 on the lawns.

The striker – who has recovered the number 10 from Lionel Messi – has already found the net twice and has just extended with the Catalan club until 2027, just like the young Pedri, who extended his lease until 2026. The two players now have a release clause set at one billion euros. A signal sent by the Catalan staff, which intends to rely on the youth to redress the bar. The technical relationship between Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay, seen in sequences against Valencia, can feed hopes in the short term.

Ansu Fati (right) smiling alongside his president, Joan Laporta, during the ceremony to extend his contract until 2027, in Barcelona, ​​on October 21, 2021.

Omar da Fonseca tempers: “The return of Ansu Fati is positive, but the choices are limited. We are waiting, without certainty on the level of the players. Depay is good, but is he already on top of what he can do? If so, it will not be enough. “

Separated by two points before kick-off, Real (3e) and Barça (7e) have at least one thing in common: the permeability of their rearguard. “The defensive fragility of the two teams is likely to be decisive in this first big duel of the season”, the newspaper related about this Marca, Friday October 22. The figures are clear: Barça is only the sixth defense in the championship (8 goals conceded) and Real the tenth (10). The two teams will start the game with an average of at least one goal conceded per game, unheard of for a clasico since the 2010-2011 season.

“There will be two strong teams with two lukewarm defenses, it can create a possibility of seeing goals. Winning the clasico will not make Barça stronger, but this match is the only one where the power of the result is greater than that of the game and can keep the critics away for a few days ”, sums up Omar da Fonseca.

A welcome breath for a Barça who has not beaten Real since 2019 and who could be five points behind his rival at the end of the meeting.


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