Real Madrid Predicted XI Against Barcelona: A Change in Formation?
Sunday’s Clasico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will likely decide the league title. Here’s how Los Blancos could line up.
Real Madrid have come out of yet another loss after going down 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City, and they now need to put that behind them and focus on a match that could define the rest of the season.
Real Madrid take on Barcelona as they aim to regain their spot at the top of La Liga. Losing this match will put them five points behind the Catalan team and make their mission to win the league a lot more difficult.
Los Blancos are coming out of a very low point in the season for them after impressing throughout the majority of the campaign, which makes this game even more vital as a win can kickstart their fight back to the top.
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Goalkeeper:
Real Madrid will start this match with Thibaut Courtois in goal. The Belgian hasn’t necessarily been at his best in recent matches but can’t be blamed for the sudden drop in form of the team in general.
He will need to be at his best on Sunday night though as Barcelona will definitely have their fair share of opportunities.
Defenders:
Our starting defenders really haven’t been at the top of their game, particularly at the right-back position.
However, with no suitable backup in the team, it is expected that Dani Carvajal will get yet another chance to redeem himself while Raphael Varane will be starting in the center alongside Sergio Ramos who got suspended against Manchester City earlier this week.
On the left, Ferland Mendy is the best option we have and is expected to start the match on the night.
Midfielders:
During the Champions League match, Zinedine Zidane made a shocking call by benching Toni Kroos but and starting with Valverde in his position. However, I predict we will see the return of the German as Carlos Casemiro will start behind Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde.
In what I expect will be a change of formation, I also believe that Zidane’e best choice on the night would be to start Isco in front of them rather than on either one of the wings and give him the full freedom to move the ball behind the forwards.
Forwards:
There is no denying that Karim Benzema will get a starting spot in the team but if Zidane goes for a change of formation, we will be seeing either Bale or Jovic next to the French attacker.
I think that it will end up being Luka Jovic starting on the night after coming on as a substitute against Manchester City on Wednesday. Real Madrid need goals and even though the Serbian hasn’t been at his best so far this year, he has shown that he is extremely clinical when given the opportunity.
Full Predicted Lineup:
It will be very intriguing to see if Zidane does in fact alter the formation a little ahead of this massive tie. If he decides to do so (and I predict he actually might), then things could be interesting to watch as El Clasico comes to the Santiago Bernabeu:
Next. 3 takeaways from Real Madrid's loss to Manchester City. dark
Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy, Carlos Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, Isco, Luka Jovic, Karim Benzema