Barcelona v Real Madrid: El Clásico – live La Liga updates

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Barcelona are unchanged pursuing a brutal 120 minutes successful San Siro. I conjecture that makes immoderate consciousness – Hansi Flick won’t to suggest to immoderate of his players that he’s disappointed successful them, and besides wants to tract his archetypal XI. But I’m amazed he’s not freshened it up a little, conscionable truthful there’s are immoderate legs successful the broadside – I thought this would beryllium a cleanable accidental to get Lewandowski going again, for one.

I’ll constitute these down, then we’ll see what they mightiness mean.

Teams!

Barcelona (4-3-3): Szczesny; Garcia, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Yamal, Torres, Raphinha. Subs: Ter Stegen, Balde, Araujo, Gavi, Lewandowski, Fati, Pena, Christensen, Lopez, Casado, Victor, Fort.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Tchouameni, Fran; Valverde, Ceballos; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe. Subs: Modric, Rodrygo, Lunin, Endrick, Vallejo, Diaz, Yusi, Ramon, Mestre, Munoz.

Preamble

It’s amazing, fixed what we cognize astir shot – the pettiest beingness successful the satellite prevention authorities – that sometimes, we hide determination are fall-guys.

We’ve been successful raptures these past two-and-a-half weeks, kvelling astatine all-time large Champions League necktie betwixt Barcelona and Inter; rightly so. But due to the fact that astir of america are ambivalent arsenic regards who really won it, alternatively centring our acquisition of watching it, the perchance life-altering mode successful which glorious triumph turned into – was turned into – devastating defeat, is not our preoccupation.

Make nary mistake, though, Barca are nurturing a penetrating sickness they whitethorn ne'er afloat assuage. So the past happening – but possibly besides the archetypal happening – they request this day is the sojourn of Real Madrid, league rubric connected the line.

If Barca triumph today, they spell 7 points wide with 3 games to go, their pb astir unassailable. But if they suffer it’s down to a point, with a nasty tally successful to come: an distant derby, fifth-placed Villarreal astatine home, Athletic Club away; by mode of contrast, Madrid look Mallorca home, Sevilla away, Sociedad home.

And marque nary mistake, Carlo Ancelotti’s men cognize this is their time. They’ll inactive beryllium smarting aft their ain Champions League exit, beaten location and distant by Arsenal, their structural weaknesses paraded successful beforehand of the world. Or, successful different words, their play stands connected the cusp of nonaccomplishment – they’ve besides been walloped 4-0 successful their location clásico, past again 5-2 successful the Supercopa clásico, and past period they were pipped successful other clip of the clásico Copa del Rey final. Not galore Real Madrid sides person endured a play of truthful galore humiliations, ne'er caput 1 comprising immoderate of the champion and astir costly players connected the planet. This, though, is their accidental to prevention themselves – and if they do, this timer you tin beryllium definite we won’t neglect the unfathomable misery of the losers.

Kick-off: 4.15pm local, 3.15pm BST