Squaring the defensive line, pressing high and winning individual duels, keys for Barça in the classic

After the emotional boost of the result against Bayern, Barça visits the Bernabéu with the intention of maintaining the lead in the League and, if possible, expanding the lead in points. But to do this, you will have to do many things well. These are my tactical keys for this great game:

1.- Perfect high line:

One of the great hallmarks of this great start to the championship has been the coordination and good practice when it comes to placing the defense very high up. A very productive practice to date (68 offsides caused by rivals) but risky against quality teams. And without a doubt, Madrid is. And the fact is that the Madrid team has excellent passers (Bellingham, Modric or Camavinga) and, above all, very good footballers who are good at breaking into space (Vinicius, MBappé or Valverde). So Barça will have to be brave to maintain the proposal but at the same time, they will have to be perfect in it. Attention, communication, anticipation and coordination at the highest level will be essential tonight. The first and, perhaps, the great key to the game.

2.- Press your exit:

Barça is the team that recovers the most high balls in the League and Madrid is a team that tries to come from behind. So Barça has to believe and activate this factor to its fullest extent. Because it is so true that Ancelotti’s team has players with very good footing, and that they also open up quickly to attack. A recovery can be a clear option to score.

3.- Isolate Lucas Vázquez:

One of the focuses that Barça will have to attack will, without a doubt, be the left peak of the attack. And the fact is that Carvajal’s loss has enormous weight on the Madrid team. Lucas Vázquez will play and we should not underestimate him because he is a footballer who always delivers but it is also true that he is much easier to overcome than Carvajal. Even more so, if the Barça team manages to isolate him from the help with quick circulation from the right side, with the fixation of Lewandowski on the central defender on the side or through two-on-one situations. Raphinha and Alejandro Balde have to exploit it. If they do so, they can clearly be protagonists.

4.- The Lamine effect:

It will be the first Clásico since the youth player has entered the new football dimension. And Lamine is being decisive in every game this season. He has recorded seven goal assists and five goals in the thirteen games between the League and the Champions League. He makes an impact in each game every 80 minutes. And although today he will have a good scorer in Ferland Mendy, he has many numbers to be decisive again. Whether in individual overflow, through his dribbling, or with his exquisite crosses with a changed leg.

5.- Koundé vs Vinícius, Cubarsí vs Mbappé:

In big games, winning duels is very important. And today they are going to occur on all lines of the field. Defensively, there are two duels that will have a capital weight in the history of the game. The first, and perhaps most important, is the one that Jules Koundé is going to live with Vinicius. The French full-back is having a spectacular season offensively and also defensively. Since last season Xavi placed him as a full-back permanently, he has evolved a lot in the profiles of his pair and in the moments of entering the court. Today he will need both things to stop what remains Madrid’s most productive player (eight goals and four assists between the League and the Champions League). Also transcendental is the role that Pau Cubarsí can have with Kilian MBappé. Because although it is true that the Frenchman plays centered, he always seeks to lean slightly to the left to begin attacks.