Real Madrid Vs Barcelona: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Barcelona at home in the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in the La Liga match day 30, this will be the second El Clasico of the season. The last Real Madrid game was against Liverpool which was a good game in all departments having to defend on several occasions, it was a good win even after some key players were missing .

The team rating for the match against Liverpool can be found here: Team Rating

Currently Real are a recovering side, with few regulars out but need to win at any cost to be alive in the title race. 

Earlier the away game was a 1-3 Win for Real. 

Looking at the

Injury list:

1. Ramos
2. Varane

Suspended:

1. None

Just recovered:

1. Lucas Vazquez
2. Mariano
3. Odriozola
4. Valverde
5. Hazard
6. Carvajal

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection. 

Skipped Practice:

• None

Coach Comments:

• Zidane: "We prepare the games. We knew their full-backs were extremely offensive & they could cause us problems. We prepared well and then it’s down to the players out on the pitch to do the job, but what we did particularly well was the defensive side of things."

Other Comments:

• Courtois: "We’re very pleased with our performance. Liverpool are a great side but we defended very well. They were lucky with their goal but we reacted well and got the third. Let’s hope we can close out the tie there next week. We know it’ll be tough but we can do it." 

Squad Updates:

This will be the Forty first game of the season and Real have been somewhat inconsistent in the matches and so has been the results, they have had 25 wins, 7 Draws and 8 losses. In the last few games except the last three, the performance has been poor especially in attack and with this ailing team it is not making the run any easier.

Barcelona is a good attacking side and are fine in the defense, so Real will need to be careful in both departments and be ready for their counters.

In the goal Courtois will start, he has been in a good form. He has supported the defense really well but has not received the same support from the team and more so with several changes owing to injuries in the defense.

Mendy should start on the left. As Ramos is out injured Nacho should get the nod ahead for the center back position and Varane is out due to Covid and so Militao will start again. Carvajal is now back but might play only as a substitute as he lacks game time. So Mendy, Nacho, Militao and Lucas Vazquez should start. Carvajal, Marcelo and Chust should be available as substitutes.

Modric has been a bit slower in the last few games but was always in control and the performance in the last few games have been great. Same goes with Kroos, who has been exceptional. So, Kroos, Casemiro and Modric should start. Isco, Arribas and Blanco should start from the bench. 

The forwards have been poor all season except last two games, they have been wasting many chances in front of the goal.  Hazard is possibly back but might not start and Vinicius should start on the left, being good in the last two games. With Asensio playing well, he should get his chance ahead of Rodrygo. And Benzema should start upfront.  

As there are 5 substitutions available, ZZ should think for more rotations in the second half especially taking into consideration the team's fatigue and injuries for the next games.

The probable substitutions will be: 

Vinicius > Rodrygo

Modric > Valverde

Asensio > Marcelo

Kroos > Isco

Benzema > Mariano

So the formation would be 4 3 3.

The most probable kit to be used for the game will be the home kit!!!

So the final starting 11 will be: