Madrid-Barça: A monumental classic

Barça is going like thunder. Madrid is practically indestructible. Barça exudes the enthusiasm of those who have atrocious hunger. Madrid seems insatiable. Barça has changed everything with almost the same pieces. Madrid introduced a big game signing to intimidate even more. Normally when Barça is doing very well, Madrid is experiencing a depression, or the opposite. But sometimes they cross paths with the optimism of those who feel capable of anything.

This is the case of this Saturday’s classic (9:00 p.m.), with a leading Barça and a football and a passion that makes you fall in love, and a Madrid that does not always play well but almost never loses. If it were for brilliance, Barça would be the favorite to attack the Bernabéu. But the white team, current champions, is made of reinforced concrete. If Hansi Flick’s team fails to defeat Madrid today, Ancelotti’s team will equal a historic record. Namely, they will accumulate 43 games without losing in the championship, something that only Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona has achieved to date between 2017 and 2018. Because the Madridistas only suffered two defeats in the entire last season (both against Atlético) and in This campaign they have only bitten the dust in Lille. That they concede a lot to their opponents, yes. That Mbappé has had more flashes than continuity, too. They have regretted major injuries, the latest being those of Rodrygo and Courtois, casualties in the classic, of course. But they always find a way to take refuge in a multi-faceted survival manual. The one in which subordinates like Rüdiger or Lucas Vázquez gain importance.

A victory would allow Barcelona to hit the table and put the ground in the middle in the League.

Although the spotlight, as usual, will be on Vinícius, a white lighthouse for good and bad. The Brazilian, the top favorite to receive the Ballon d’Or next Monday, has just scored three goals against Borussia Dortmund in the umpteenth continental comeback.

Although for samba that of Raphinha, who also endorsed three against Bayern on Wednesday. Barcelona arrives assembled at the Bernabéu, with a superb forward line, with 43 goals scored in 13 games and spreading terror in rival defenses, with the speed of Raphinha, the artillery of Lewandowski and the art of Lamine Yamal. Flick’s team gained confidence at a time when it was short of resources and has been filling the pantry with more items. The normal thing is that the German does not touch the lineup too much or even repeats it, but now he has a wardrobe. Fermín can repeat as the third man in the center of the field or Dani Olmo can enter or introduce Frenkie de Jong ahead of Pedri. Waiting his turn on the bench, a caged wild boar like Gavi. Eric Garcia remains low.

Flick aspires to take over from Martino: the last Barça coach to win on his debut in a classic

Flick aspires to take over from Gerardo Martino, the last Barça coach who debuted with victory in a classic. It was October 26, 2013, eleven years ago this Saturday. Neither Luis Enrique nor Valverde nor Quique Setién nor Ronald Koeman nor Xavi did it. If for the German, facing Madrid as a Barcelona player is a novelty, for Ancelotti it is almost our daily bread. He has faced Barça up to 22 times with his different teams, with ten wins and nine losses for the Italian.

A victory would allow Barcelona to take a step up the table and put a foothold in the League. A victory would help Madrid to trap its rival and undermine it morally. The game doesn’t come in particularly hot but it has plenty of ingredients. Make a game.

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