La Liga: El Clasico or High Noon?

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

It’s the biggest game in La Liga, possibly even the world. But this Sunday’s El Clasico could have dramatic repercussions reverberating around European football.

Barcelona sit at the top of the league after nine games, but Ernesto Valverde’s side hasn’t yet been as dominant as last season. The Catalans’ early-season issues are nothing compared to Real Madrid’s, though. After four defeats in six games and just a single point from their last four league games, Los Blancos are looking a shadow of the side which won last season’s Champions League.

But despite head coach Julen Lopetegui’s strife at the Bernabeu, his team is still, miraculously, only four points from Barcelona at the top. And while La Liga 2018 odds don’t give them much chance of wrestling La Liga back from the Camp Nou, they will be just a point adrift of the favourites after a win.

Talking Points

Is Julen on borrowed time?

The La Liga 2018 news spreading around world football is the rapidly escalating rumour of Antonio Conte’s impending arrival at the Bernabeu, assuming Lopetegui faces the sack in the event of a defeat in El Clasico. Even skipper Sergio Ramos is said to approve of Conte, which isn’t exactly a vote of confidence in his current boss.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has scored four headed goals against Barcelona in La Liga — Sergio Ramos leaves the field at the end of Real Madrid’s Champions League game vs Viktoria Plzen

It’s been a funny old time for Lopetegui over the past four months, controversially leaving the Spain national team days before it flopped at World Cup 2018. But I bet he didn’t think he’d be under so much pressure so soon after jumping ship towards Madrid. Losing at home to Levante last week was another blow to Los Blancos who are enduring their worst run in recent history. Marco Asensio had a goal narrowly ruled out by VAR and Karim Benzema hit the woodwork but, with respect to Levante, Real should be putting teams like this away if they are to be any kind of challenge to Barcelona.

Look at the players in last week’s team. Raphael Varane and Ramos at the back and Isco and Luka Modric are the midfield creators. These are truly world-class operators, but they lack the beautiful white teeth of Ronaldo with only one goal in five games. And maybe Ramos’ admiration for Antonio Conte isn’t helpful…

Will Barca still dominate without Messi?

Barca knocked Sevilla off the top of La Liga last week with an entertaining 4-2 win,

but their talisman was substituted after just 23 minutes of the Catalan’s win and he could be out for up to three weeks with a suspected broken arm.

Now, no one likes to see any player injured, and opponents always say they want to face up to the very best. Well, unfortunately for Los Blancos, they will have to face Barca without Leo! I wonder how Lopetegui feels about it. Beat Barca with Messi and he may improve his chances of keeping his job, but now questions will be asked whatever the result. Real Madrid simply have to win and then he’ll find out.

But you only have to look at the other scorers in the win over Sevilla. Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic were all on target, and that will send shivers down Julen’s spine. And make no mistake: Barcelona will be ruthless, all out to add to Madrid’s misery, but even more focused on cementing their top spot.

Let’s see how Ramos and Varane cope with Barca’s attacking menace.

History

A narrow Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Los Blancos, and that may have relieved the pressure, ever so slightly, on Lopetegui.

Barca failed to pull away at the top of La Liga; the Catalans have drawn two of the last three games, but are unbeaten in five in all competitions. Valverde’s side certainly has more momentum than its opponents.

The overall head-to-heads are very much in the hosts’ favour, with 29 wins to Los Blancos’ 19 and there have been 17 draws. And Barcelona had the best of last season’s El Clasicos, winning 0-3 in Madrid, though they shared the points in a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou.

Los Blancos would take that right now…but will their owners?

Betting Tip

	Barcelona vs Real Madrid	Barcelona to win @ 1.96
	October 28, 23:15 (GMT+8)

I fear this battle will end with another blow for the beleaguered Real Madrid boss. Sure, he has a galaxy of talent in his team, but they simply aren’t performing for him.

The SBOBET odds on Real Madrid to win are at 3.70 to win and the draw is 3.45 but I’m not tempted by either; though if you want an alternative, with a result for Madrid, then the double chance, Real Madrid or draw is at 1.77.