La Liga leaders Barcelona visit rivals Real Madrid today in a mouthwatering Clasico, aiming to strike a significant blow in the Spanish title race.
Barcelona hold a three-point lead over the second-placed Spanish and European champions, who are struggling for consistency and balance as they head into Kylian Mbappe’s first Clasico as a Madrid player.
It is also Barcelona coach Hansi Flick’s first Clasico and his team’s 4-1 demolition of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday demonstrated how he has revitalized the Catalan giants in a matter of months.
Photo: Reuters
Madrid had their own European epic on Tuesday in a repeat of last season’s final against Borussia Dortmund, as they produced a classic Los Blancos comeback from two goals down to destroy the visitors 5-2.
Their poor first half gave way to an explosive second as Madrid flexed their muscles, with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick.
“Very timid, with little control,” Ancelotti said of his team’s first half against Dortmund. “But we woke up after the break and did very well, in all aspects, intensity, pressing, quality, everything ... it was spectacular.”
The coach was in no doubt over which version of Madrid he expects to see today at the Santiago Bernabeu under the lights.
“It’s not too complicated ... the second-half Madrid,” the Italian coach said.
Vinicius’ hat-trick was a timely show of his quality ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, where he is expected to win the accolade for the first time.
“We’ll go for it, in our stadium, with our fans, and we will fight for everything this season like always,” Vinicius said.
Barcelona have nine wins from 10 games in La Liga.
The coach said the emphatic win over Bayern was the best way to arrive at the Clasico.
“If you win this type of game you have to celebrate it, for the team it’s incredible,” Flick said. “It gives us the confidence to believe in ourselves ahead of Saturday’s game.”
Victory would put Barca six points clear, while defeat would leave the rivals with nothing between them.
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