The first El Clasico of the season is on the horizon, a match that could mark Real's first escape from first place in the La Liga table or a new turnaround and Barcelona's return to the top.
Although it seems that they still haven't really got going, the two giants are pushing ahead as planned in the championship - Real won 24 out of a possible 27 points, while the current champion has two fewer thanks to the debacle against Sevilla and the draw with Rayo Vallecano...
It is interesting that the new El Clasico comes exactly 12 months after Barca's rhapsody at the "Santiago Bernabeu", because on October 26th last year, a penalty expedition Hansia Flick came to the Spanish capital and humiliated its biggest rival when it won 4:0...
- I don't care what happened last year. We can learn something from every game, whether we played it against Barca or someone else. El Clasico is always a special match, but it's also Real Madrid's first since entering this new project and we need to show that we are on the right track. My players need to understand that this is a big derby, but that it doesn't change lives - tomorrow we have to keep working again, no matter how it ends - said the Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.
In the last two league derbies, Barça has scored four goals against the "Blancos", last year they also scored five in the Super Cup, and three in the Copa del Rey.
- We want to challenge ourselves on the pitch, but Barça wants the same. I will be satisfied if we impose ourselves and use the qualities we have in the right way. Of course, football is also a game of individuals, but as a team we have to make our striking strengths come to the fore - says Alonso.
Barça enters El Clasico weakened. No Danila Olma, Gavija, To Robert Levandovski i Rafinje who had recovered before renewing the injury on Friday. The "blaugrana" will also be without a coach after Flik received a red card against Girona last weekend.
- I would like Flik to be on the touchline because he is someone the players trust, he gives them confidence. I am honored to lead a big club in a big match and I hope that after the derby I will have many reasons to be happy - said Flik's first assistant Markus Zorg.
Barca are cautious, Alonso's Real is different and more unpredictable than it was when he led it Carlo Angelotti.
- Real Madrid have improved, that's clear to see. They are now putting a lot of pressure on their opponents, trying to thwart their attacks from the start, and that's what we need to pay attention to. The Bernabeu is a stadium where you never know what to expect, and it's important to keep a calm head and put emotions aside - added Zorg.
Barcelona are on a four-game winning streak against Real in three different competitions, scoring 16 goals in that run...
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