Real Madrid have rebounded from a 1-0 loss to Getafe. First, they were able to get revenge on Alcoyano with a 3-1 victory last Wednesday in the Copa del Rey Round of 32. Then, they turned in a more complete performance on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu, defeating Valencia 4-1. Now, this Wednesday, Real will face rivals Barcelona for a second time this season, as the two historic LaLiga sides will square off in the semifinals of the Supercopa 2022.
Barça will do whatever they can to defeat Real Madrid, as they are obsessed with proving that they are still on that level despite all that has happened to their club. Whereas Los Blancos are the league leaders, La Blaugrana sit outside the top four Champions League slots, having dropped more points this weekend to Granada.
Here is a look at how Los Merengues could line up on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia for this high-charged Supercopa 2022 matchup.
GK Thibaut Courtois
The obvious man to start in goal. Thibaut Courtois is quietly having a season for the ages, and if Real Madrid played a less risky style of football, he would have more clean sheets to brag about. As it stands, Courtois makes a world-class save on a near-weekly basis, including one against Valencia – and a penalty stop. Andriy Lunin was great in the Copa del Rey, but Courtois is needed in every important game, such as this Clasico.
LB Ferland Mendy
Maybe Carlo Ancelotti will have a trick up his sleeve, but Madridisas should expect regular left back Ferland Mendy to start again. Mendy had an assist over the weekend against Valencia, which made up for a poor foul that led to Valencia’s only goal of the night. The former Lyon man was much better offensively this past weekend.
CB David Alaba
David Alaba was the hero in the last Clasico, scoring a sensational solo opener with that rocket of a left foot of his. The ex-Bayern star is a real general at the center of defense for Real Madrid, and after a poor afternoon against Getafe, Alaba has been rock-solid once more for Los Blancos. Alaba’s charging runs up the pitch will continue to cause Barcelona all sorts of problems.
CB Eder Militao
One of the best center backs in the world right now, Eder Militao scored last week against Alcoyano and was sturdy in defense vs. Valencia, with a few lovely long balls to boot. Militao’s speed, strength, and anticipation in defense will make him nearly unbeatable for Barcelona’s attackers. On paper, Memphis Depay, with his skill and ability to score rockets from nothing, may b the only person capable of troubling Militao from open play. But a Luuk de Jong header from a set piece could be more dangerous, as Militao has made a couple of mistakes on corners.
RB Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal is fully expected to return for Supercopa 2022, as per Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti himself. Lucas Vazquez has done a great job in the last three Clasicos, even scoring what turned out to be a gutsy winner in the last matchup at the Camp Nou. But there is no replacing Carvajal, who has been tremendous at times this season when healthy. Carvajal is surely itching to get back on the pitch, and he lives for games like these.
CM Toni Kroos
Arguably the best midfielder in the world, even if some people don’t want to recognize him as such, Toni Kroos is another lock to start El Clasico. The 32-year-old is a good Man of the Match shout, as he should be able to control proceedings against Barcelona, even if La Blaugrana still have a competent midfield. Kroos has been pinging perfect passes all season long, completing roughly 95 percent of his attempts with three assists and 2.4 key passes per game.
DM Casemiro
Who else but Casemiro? After struggling against Alcoyano, Case was significantly better against Valencia, even creating the opening goal by drawing a penalty, with the play starting from his interception. Casemiro is one of Real’s most important players, because there is nobody else who can play in his position with the stability he provides. Eduardo Camavinga was good against Athletic Club, but as we saw this weekend when Case left the pitch, Camavinga is not a direct replacement for Casemiro – at least not yet, anyway.
CM Luka Modric
A part of all of us wants Luka Modric to get rest, but if he is playing this well, how can you rest someone this important to Real Madrid? The best player to start 2022 for Los Blancos, Modric was the only man who did not struggle in the outfield when Getafe blanketed Real. Modric received yet another ovation from the Bernabeu vs. Valencia, pulling the strings in midfield. The Croatian is at peak efficiency once more, and Barcelona will be grasping at straws to stop Modric, just as Real’s other great rivals, Atletico Madrid, were last month.
LW Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior sure loves a good Clasico. We saw that in 2019-2020 when he scored the go-ahead goal, and we saw that again earlier this season when he had Oscar Minguez and the rest of the Barça defense on strings. There is no stopping Vini Jr., who returned from COVID-19 to destroy Valencia with a brace. His close control, skill, and passion on the pitch make him a nightmare for any defense, especially a Barcelona unit that is shambolic at times. Vinicius would love nothing more than to embarrass Xavi’s side once again.
CF Karim Benzema
Luka Jovic is a possibility now that he is back from COVID-19, as he would have started last week instead of Mariano Diaz at Alcoyano. But when Karim Benzema is fit, he starts. Benzema could use some rest, true, but I cannot imagine Benz sitting on the sidelines against Barcelona. This is a must-win match on a personal level for Real Madrid, and Benzema loves adding to his tally in Clasicos. After scoring twice against Valencia, Benz would be dreaming of another brace, shattering Barcelona hearts as he did last year with his brilliant backheel goal.
RW Marco Asensio
Yes, I am predicting almost the exact same lineup as the Valencia match, albeit with a returning Dani Carvajal at right back instead of Lucas Vazquez. The right wing position is the one I am least certain about, but Gareth Bale is still out and Eden Hazard probably won’t be trusted in a free role for this game. Clasicos are always tough, regardless of the difference in quality of the sides this season, and Marco Asensio is the man in form right now. Asensio scored against Alcoyano and was even better vs. Valencia, drawing five fouls and creating Vini’s second goal with his shot. Ancelotti wants Asensio to get in a groove and get confidence, and while he also wants to support Hazard, I have a strong feeling he values Asensio more.