In what is arguably one of the most scintillating domestic football showpieces, two of the most successful Spanish teams will go head to head in a tie which could ultimately prove vital in the title race for the league crown. Real Madrid who had initially lost ground on the race for the title have responded strongly and now enjoy a four point lead over the Catalans. The Castilians suffered a defeat in the return leg back in October when they suffered a 2-1 loss at the Camp Nou and will be looking to make amends this time around.
Here are five ways Real Madrid can get the better of their bitter rivals and gain an important advantage in the title race.
Make use of set pieces
One of Barcelona’s most notable weaknesses in recent years has been their vulnerability at set pieces. The Spanish giants conceded 12 goals from set pieces last season in La Liga and Champions League which was 21 percent of the total goals they conceded.
What is a worry for Barcelona and their fans is the fact that their weakness still persists and Barcelona have continued to concede goals from set pieces this season and this will be a flaw Real Madrid will definitely be looking to exploit. With expert set piece takers such as Xabi Alonso, Angel Di Maria and Gareth Bale in the squad and with the physical presence of the Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Pepe in the box to meet the corner, Barcelona will find it very difficult to prevent Real Madrid to score from corners.
Play a three man midfield
The appointment of Carlo Ancelotti at the beginning of the season has seen Real Madrid revert to a 4-3-3 formation, a set up which has been a revelation so far. In the match against Barcelona, Madrid should continue to play three in the middle in order to limit the threat posed by the Catalans formidable three which can cause a nuisance if given any freedom to operate.
Last time the two sides met Ancelotti chose to play Sergio Ramos in the middle a tactic which miserably backfired. Los Blancos will severely miss midfielder Sami Khedira who has emerged as an important player in such matches running up and down the field tirelessly to close down oppositions. However Madrid do have other players at the helm who can do the job and must step up in the title defining match against Barcelona. Xabi Alonso’s role will be vital in the game, the former Liverpool man is a terrific play breaker and should he and his fellow cohorts successfully dominate the midfield, Madrid have a good chance of emerging victorious.
Play a high line
This is a tactic mastered by Ancelotti’s predecessor Jose Mourinho who got the better of Barcelona by playing a high defensive line. The tactic resulted in a more compact midfield and made it very difficult for the Barcelona players to find passes and maintain possession. As a result the Catalans failed to penetrate in the final third and both of Jose Mourinho’s last Clasicos resulted in Madrid’s favour.
This set-up also benefited the Castilians during counter attacks since the likes of Benzema and Ronaldo were always close to the midfield as well as the defensive line and could quickly interchange passes to initiate attacks. This compressed shape also opened up more spaces behind Barcelona’s defense line another thing which Real Madrid’s attackers successfully exploited.
Maintain discipline and concentration
What is inevitable is the fact that Barcelona will maintain the larger proportion of the possession in the match. At times it can be frustrating for the opponents to play without the ball for such long periods which can ultimately result in them losing focus and concentration.
However it is important that Real Madrid remain committed and attentive throughout the course of the match knowing that in a game as big as the El Clasico it can take only a tiny lapse of concentration to change the entire outcome of the game. Real Madrid do have a few players who have a history of indiscipline including the likes of Sergio Ramos and Pepe. Both defenders are rock solid on their day but tend to make rash decisions at times. It is important that both men keep their cool on Sunday and put a world class performance which they are capable of.
Play counter attacking football
Real Madrid are one of the most ruthless teams on the break and the addition of Gareth Bale to the squad have made them even more vicious when counter attacking. In contrast Barcelona do not have the quickest of the defenders and do not fare well in one on one situations.
Furthermore both their full backs tend to attack more often than necessary and even though this puts their counterparts under pressure, the opponents know that once they get hold of the ball they can quickly counterattack and take advantage of a Barcelona defense which only consists of two centre backs with both of Dani Alves and Jordi Alba caught behind the ball.
Conclusion
Barcelona’s 7-0 win over Osasuna clearly sent a stern message to Real Madrid that the Catalans are up for the challenge after a few disappointing results which saw them losing to Valladolid and Real Sociedad. However Real Madrid have been in incredible form as of late and are currently unbeaten in their last 31 games. Even though it is difficult to name a favourite in a Clasico, Real Madrid do seem like the stronger side heading into the match.
