Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info for Clasico
By Tim Collins,
Article culled from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2591386-real-madrid-vs-barcelona-team-news-preview-live-stream-tv-info-for-clasico
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Will he or won't he?
It's the question that's been asked relentlessly for almost two months now, never more so than this week, but all of a sudden it's being asked in a very different tone than it was previously.
When Lionel Messi went down with a knee injury against Las Palmas in late September, the question of whether he'd be fit to face Real Madrid in the season's first Clasico was the inevitable focus. But more than that, the question had carried a sense of urgency and anxiety with it, too.
At the moment Messi went down, it wasn't just that Barcelona trailed Madrid in the table by a point, it's that the opening half of the season had already felt set to be an exercise in hanging on for Barcelona. Their squad already small because of key departures and the problematic transfer ban, a spate of injuries had depleted it further, leaving manager Luis Enrique with barely 11 bodies to pick from. "Reduced to a skeleton crew," said Marca.
And then that crew lost Messi.
As such, there was an immediate fear for Barcelona that they'd lose touch with Madrid. Somehow, they had to find a way to just get to January, any way. It didn't matter how. But the Clasico felt as though it had the potential to put distance between the sides; Messi couldn'tmiss it. Hence the anxiety.
Two months on, though, the mood is very different. In the Argentinian's absence, Neymar and Luis Suarez have exploded, Barcelona have lost just once and it's instead Madrid who've stumbled. In a way that hadn't been anticipated, Barcelona sit atop the league table—by three points, too.
It's why that question has a different tone: Now, whether or not Messi plays on Saturday at the Bernabeu doesn't carry the same desperation. Suddenly, it's just a bonus if he does. And the indications suggest he will, to some extent at least—just what Saturday's hosts didn't need.
Manu Fernandez/Associated Press
It's only early in the season, but already this Clasico feels as though it carries added significance for Real Madrid. Genuine weight.
Despite results on paper suggesting otherwise, doubts had been building about the nature and identity of Rafa Benitez's side prior to the international break, and those doubts were given credence by the lack of resistance shown by Madrid as they imploded against Sevilla.
"Tonight's game," said AS in its match report that night, "was an X-ray which showed us what Real Madrid have on the inside—little, or less than we previously thought."
Admittedly, some of the criticism that has followed that performance has been overblown, but there's an unshakable feeling of institutional tension at Madrid, and the heat that would be placed upon Benitez if his side were to come away second best on Saturday would be immense. "Benitez cannot afford to lose," said Marca this week, reinforcing that very point.
Positively for the hosts, Benitez has a full squad to choose from for the first time since late August, his major stars all available for selection. In attack, that means Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema could all feature in the same game for only the second time this season, while the availability of Daniel Carvajal at right-back is important given Danilo's defensive struggles—particularly with the irrepressible Neymar ready to line up on that side.
But even so, the issue for Madrid is that the unrelenting pattern of injuries has prevented them from moving rapidly through a period of evolution under Benitez. With disruptions regular, Los Blancos have been denied the opportunity to establish a rhythm. A modus operandi. A clarity in purpose and identity.
Naturally, Saturday will be a difficult time to do so.
But Saturday would also be a great time to do so.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, November 21
Time: 5:15 p.m. GMT/12:15 p.m. EST/6:15 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| Real Madrid | Barcelona |
| L: 2-3 vs. Sevilla | W: 3-0 vs. Villarreal |
| W: 1-0 vs. Paris Saint-Germain | W: 3-0 vs. BATE Borisov |
| W: 3-1 vs. Las Palmas | W: 2-0 vs. Getafe |
| W: 3-1 vs. Celta Vigo | D: 0-0 vs. Villanovense |
| D: 0-0 vs. Paris Saint-Germain | W: 3-1 vs. Eibar |
| W: 3-0 vs. Levante | W: 2-0 vs. BATE Borisov |
B/R UK
Team News
As mentioned above, Benzema, Rodriguez, Bale and Ronaldo will all be available together for only the second time this season for Real Madrid.
However, AS reports that the Frenchman still isn't 100 percent fit as he recovers from an adductor problem and will likely come off the bench rather than start. Consequently, Ronaldo could feature at the head of the attack again, flanked by Bale and Rodriguez in a 4-3-3 shape that we've seen regularly from Benitez this season.
In defence, meanwhile, Sergio Ramos will start despite being withdrawn early on against Sevilla, Marca reporting that the Madrid captain will undergo shoulder surgery following the Clasico. Marcelo will also return at left-back, while Carvajal is a strong candidate to replace Danilo on the right side of the defence.
For Barcelona, the answer to the question of whether or not Messi will start remains unclear.
Despite the Argentinian being deemed fit enough to join the club's squad for the trip to the capital, it would be surprising to see Enrique rush his superstar back into the starting lineup, and he may use him off the bench in the second half just as he did with great success against Atletico Madrid earlier in the season.
Elsewhere, Ivan Rakitic could also return to the midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, which could see the impressive Sergi Roberto take up the right-sided forward position as he did against BATE Borisov in the Champions League prior to the international break.
Predicted Lineups
B/R UK
In the Spotlight
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
It's that sort of stage, isn't it? The sort he's built for. The sort he's relished.
Back in 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo set a record by scoring in six straight of these clashes. In all competitions against Barcelona, he's scored 15 times—only against Sevilla and Getafe has he scored more. And so, strangely, the Clasico feels as though it arrives at an opportune time for Ronaldo.
To date, the current season has been a strange one for the Portuguese. In 15 appearances, he has 13 goals, but with eight of those having come in the space of four days, there have been significantly more ineffectual appearances than we've grown accustomed to.
But more than that, there have been uncomfortable sensations surrounding Ronaldo. For large periods recently, he's looked detached from those around him, his involvement minimal, his disposition one of frustration. Discontent. Against Paris Saint-Germain, he had no impact; against Sevilla, he had less.
Barcelona, though—well, they've often brought the best out of Ronaldo. They might be just the opponents he needs.
JOSEP LAGO/Getty Images
On the other side, they also have the guy. But that guy hasn't been who it usually is.
Not Messi, no. Neymar.
In the Argentinian's absence, the Brazilian's excellence has been mesmerising. Unrelenting. Joyous. With a maturity some had questioned, Neymar has shouldered the responsibility for a Messi-less Barcelona, dominating in a way that's ominous for his rivals.
At present, he leads the race for the Pichichi, and he's joint second in the league for assists. In his last seven appearances alone in all competitions, he's scored 10 goals and created six.
Continue that at the Bernabeu on Saturday, and Neymar will confirm his ascent towards the pinnacle of the game.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 21-20
Draw: 27-10
Barcelona: 2-1
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