Three times Clásico in four weeks: In Spain it comes to the decisive duels of the two archrivals. FC Barcelona starts today with a few handicaps.
Which Clásico duels are coming up?
In the semi-finals of the Spanish cup competition, the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will face each other on Thursday (March 2, 2023, 9 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de). It is the first of three duels in this Spanish classic in the next four weeks and the 251st Clásico overall. The second leg will take place in Barcelona on April 5th. In between – on March 19th – there will be a clash in the Primera Division for possibly decisive points in the championship.
What is the current situation at Real and Barça?
Both teams more or less botched their dress rehearsals before the Clásico. Barça disgraced themselves in the championship against UD Almeria (0-1) and, according to coach Xavi, showed their worst performance this season. “We played really badly”said the coach, who had previously lost with his team in the Europa League against Manchester United.
“Dizzy attack at the leader, grin at Real”, commented the Spanish newspaper “AS” after Barcelona’s defeat by Almeria. Instead of rushing the royal team by ten points on matchday 23 in the championship, Real even made up a point despite their own draw (1-1) on Saturday (February 25th, 2023) with a majority against Atlético. The Madrilenians are also taking the momentum from the 5-2 win against Liverpool in the Champions League.
Seven points separate the arch-rivals in La Liga. The Spanish media celebrated the renewed tension in the title fight.
What is the personnel situation?
FC Barcelona will be without the injured Robert Lewandowski in the first leg of the Copa, with youngster Estanis Pedrola taking the Pole’s place in the squad instead. The 19-year-old has scored five goals for Barça’s second-choice team this season and is yet to make his senior debut. Lewandowski pulled a hamstring in his left thigh in the recent 1-0 draw with UD Almeria.
Particularly bitter: The Blaugrana are also missing midfielder Pedri and winger Ousmane Démbélé. The trio could then be back in the second leg on April 5th.
Frenchman Ferland Mendy and Austrian David Alaba are missing at Real due to injury. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti announced that it would be possible to play without Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Kroos recently struggled with gastrointestinal problems. Now the 33-year-old doesn’t seem to be in the best of health again, at least that’s what Ancelotti suggests. “Maybe Kroos won’t be in the team because of his energy. On the other hand, he has the personality and courage you need to play this kind of game.”according to Ancelotti.
How did the last duels go?
Real Madrid lost 3-1 to FC Barcelona in the Supercopa final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in January. Gavi, the Catalans’ top midfield talent, played outstandingly and contributed a goal as well as two assists for Lewandowski and Pedri. Benzema only managed the connecting goal in stoppage time.
In the league, however, the Catalans lost the first leg against Madrid in October last year in the capital 3-1. It was also FC Barcelona’s only defeat in the league until the bankruptcy in Almeria.
In March 2022, Barcelona won La Liga 4-0 in Madrid. Before that, the capital city won five competitive games in a row against Barça.
A look at history: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have already met in 250 Clásicos across all competitions. The balance sheet is just in favor of the “Royal”, who won 101 times. Barça won 97 times and drew 52 times.