Real Madrid are preparing to defend their home turf against rivals FC Barcelona on La Liga’s Matchday 26, and here are three key matchups for Zinedine Zidane‘s side to watch.
Los Blancos are coming off back-to-back losses, as they fell 1-0 to Levante in La Liga last weekend before blowing a lead late against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. Real Madrid’s loss to Levante dropped them to second place behind a reenergized FC Barcelona, but they can more than rectify that by defeating their biggest rivals on Sunday night.
It won’t be easy, though. Barca are playing better football after signing Martin Braithwaite from Leganes, and their defense looks healthy and ready to shine at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Still, Real will like their chances, especially if they can get the better of these three matchups.
CAM Isco vs. CDM Sergio Busquets
FC Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets has long been an annoyance to Madridistas, but even the most ardent of Los Blancos supporters has to show the utmost respect for what Busquets has accomplished for both Barca and the Spanish national team.
Busquets has lost a slight step with age, but he remains a classy defensive midfielder. He leads the club with an average of 81.9 passes per game and 2.6 tackles per game, per WhoScored.com, highlighting the profound impact he makes in the middle of the park.
Real Madrid have an in-form attacking midfielder in Isco who shows up in big games, as he’s played well against Barcelona, PSG, and Manchester City this season. Isco has been scoring goals again, and his creativity means the world to Real’s attack.
If Busquets can keep Isco in check, then Real are in massive trouble. But if Isco can use his dribbling skills and vision to make noise in the final third, Los Blancos should like their chances at picking up a win.
CF Karim Benzema vs. CBs Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti
Sergio Busquets is Barcelona’s leader in tackles per game in La Liga, but 26-year-old defender Samuel Umtiti tops the charts in interceptions per game with two. Umtiti is coming off a quiet game against Napoli in the Champions League and has had injury issues again this season, but when he’s healthy, he’s one of the best center backs in the world.
Gerard Pique had a massive Clasico performance in December and can be thanked for keeping Barcelona’s clean sheet in the 0-0 draw. Karim Benzema has been in a slump lately, so if Real Madrid are to win, they need him to be at his best in all phases of the game, but especially in front of goal.
That will be a tall order against Pique and Umtiti, who have the ability to completely take Benzema out of the game.
CB Raphael Varane vs. FW Lionel Messi
On the other side of the pitch, Raphael Varane’s ability to cover for the rest of the defense and keep one eye out for Lionel Messi’s through balls will be crucial. Messi loves sending the ball over the top of the defense to the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Arturo Vidal making those late runs, and Messi’s own knack for moving in the final third means that every defender in Real’s back four is on alert.
But the real key is Varane, who is arguably the best center back in world football. Varane had a tremendous January that led the way for Los Blancos, as they did not win or draw a single match that month. Recently, he’s shown some flaws in his game, and when he isn’t playing perfectly, Real suffer due to the risks taken by the other defenders.
Varane vs. Messi isn’t a one-on-one matchup, but these two will have a chess match in terms of how they approach the game, manage risk, and deputize their teammates. The France captain’s calmness on the ball, athleticism, leadership, and quality in the tackle will be tested by Messi’s range of passing and movement.
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