Real Madrid: 3 keys to victory against Barcelona on LaLiga’s Matchday 10

Real Madrid sent a clear message across to their arch-rivals FC Barcelona with an emphatic 0-5 win away from home against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The week would be a crucial one in the season for the Catalans, first, they had to get past Dynamo Kyiv by hook or by crook. They did succeed there with a slender 1-0 margin. Next up, is the biggest club fixture on the planet, El Clasico.

While Barcelona had their hurdles in the season so far, they have just lost once in the league and are riding on two back-to-back wins, first a 3-1 win over Valencia and then a 1-0 win against Kyiv. El Clasico, however, is a very different game, a game where pride is at the stake of two distinctive sets of supporters from two historically rich parts of Spain. As such, the pressure a derby game brings is beyond description and Los Blancos would go in as favorites to win the game given the way Barcelona’s season has progressed so far.

Here are the keys to victory for Real Madrid to extend their run to four consecutive Clasico victories.

1. Real Madrid must deny space to Barcelona’s attackers

FC Barcelona hasn’t been in excellent scoring form either, let alone their nightmarish defense. However, the few marquee goals that they have scored have come from moments of individual brilliance from the young Ansu Fati, who now has two golazos to his name in the league scored from the edge of the box with thunderbolt strikes.

The next key player to track is Memphis Depay who is creating problems with his movement and excellent dribbling. He has four goals and two assists to his name that includes two penalties, per FBref. Nonetheless, these are the two players that Los Blancos need to be mindful of. The key is to deny space and keep an effective press, the one thing Real Madrid has been a little off about. They are more intent on outscoring than draining themselves on high-intensity press.

Barcelona’s midfield is already plagued by the absence of Pedri and they have been low on creativity which is why their goals have been results of brilliance rather than team effort at least for the last few matches. Los Blancos only need a little more concentration and they should have the better of the Blaugrana. The margin for error would be next to none in the biggest Derby game on the planet.