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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Sports / El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm (2738 Views)
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El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:05pm On Nov 11, 2015 |
The first Clasico of the season comes up on Nov 21. Barcelona visit Santiago Bernabue as league leaders just 3 points clear of Madrid. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:30am On Nov 17, 2015 |
Real Madrid team news
Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Isco
have all recovered from their respective
injuries and reported to Rafa Benítez for duty.
All three trained with the rest of the squad
ahead of 'el Clásico'. The only player who
trained alone was Keylor Navas, who is still
trying to recover from a muscle strain in time
for Saturday's big game (18:15). |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:34am On Nov 17, 2015 |
Attack or Defend, Benitez has a decision to make.
Rafa Benítez will currently be busy mulling
over all his available options to decide on
Real Madrid's line-up for their upcoming
Barcelona showdown.
This marks Benítez's first crunch match in his
time at the 'Los Blancos' helm. He has
welcomed back some key players and now
comes the tricky part - how best to fit all the
pieces together.
The Spanish coach will be puzzling over a
number of potential strategies to topple
Barcelona, hinging on his pick of attacking
stars.
Benítez must first decide on whether to opt
for the BBC trident. If so, he will then have to
choose from amongst the full arsenal he has
available to him in midfield.
Option A would be a repeat of the plan seen
in recent games, that is, Casemiro as a
defensive midfielder, flanked by Toni Kroos
and Luka Modric.
Another potential choice, also headed up by
BBC, could be to bring James in, resulting in a
domino effect in which Kroos would take over
from Casemiro and move into the holding
midfielder position.
In option C, again featuring the Colombian, it
would be Kroos who, having failed to convince
so far this season, would be dropped from the
starting line-up. Lacking his form of last term,
the German was subbed off at the Pizjuán
when Real needed to turn things around. In
this scenario, Casemiro would rack up his
ninth straight start. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:37am On Nov 17, 2015 |
HE IS BACK.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was back in
training on Monday five days before the La
Liga leaders play at second-placed Real
Madrid in the first of the season's two
'Clasicos'.
Messi has not featured since sustaining a
knee injury at the end of September, depriving
the Spanish and European champions of their
talisman and top scorer.
Barca have performed well in the Argentina
captain's absence, however, with Uruguay
striker Luis Suarez and, especially, Brazil
forward Neymar in fine form.
"The session included Leo Messi, who is
continuing his recovery from the left knee
injury he picked up on Sept. 26," Barca said
on their website.
Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic, sidelined since
damaging a calf muscle in the Champions
League Group E game at home to BATE
Borisov on Nov. 4, was also back in training,
they added. With 11 matches played, Barca,
who are chasing a sixth La Liga title in eight
years, lead Real by three points, with Atletico
Madrid a further point behind in third. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:31am On Nov 19, 2015 |
It is back to business for Karim Benzema. The
Frenchman has been sidelined for more than a
month owing to a combination of a hamstring
injury and legal troubles surrounding his
involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena
blackmail case. Now with the 'Clásico' on the
cards, the striker is desperate to focus on
football and experience the thrill of hitting the
net again.
As it so happens, Benzema has a habit of
making his mark against Barcelona. His
record reads seven goals and six assists in 20
appearances against the 'Azulgranas' and he
has got on the scoresheet in the last four
'Clásicos' at the Bernabéu.
Leaving aside his stats, the feeling is that
Benzema lifts the game of all around him. The
France international's technical ability and
vision make him a perfect foil for his strike
partners, in particular Cristiano Ronaldo, with
whom he has special chemistry.
After a tempestuous few weeks, the 27-year-
old is eyeing an oasis against Barça. He can't
wait to pull on his boots and trot out at the
Bernabéu again to take on one of his favourite
opponents. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:37am On Nov 19, 2015 |
We must avoid falling into a panic ahead of
'El Clásico'". Such is the objective that Spain's
security corps have set as the Real Madrid vs
Barcelona clash looms large. Since the horrific
terrorist attacks committed in Paris, key
figures have been working flat out to ensure
the safety of the just under 80,000 supporters
who are expected to take in one of the biggest
fixtures of the La Liga season.
A meeting was held to discuss safety
measures at the city police security
department on Tuesday, where chief, Javier
Barbero sought to send out a reassuring
message to those attending the match: "I'd go
to the game safe in the knowledge that the
policing has been intensified".
In the coming days further meetings are to be
held to determine just what measures are to
be implemented by Madrid's police forces.
Today at 18:30, the Anti-Violence Committee
will be joined by the Secretaries of State for
Sport and Security at a meeting called to
inform about the special measures, and to
officially announce the game's classification
as a high-risk fixture.
On Thursday at 18:00 a meeting will be held
with government officials, due to be attended
by all of the relevant security bodies, at which
decisions will be taken with regard to the
specific teams who will be responsible for
ensuring that the match passes off without
incident. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 7:38am On Nov 19, 2015 |
The Barcelona players went through their
paces at the Joan Gamper training complex
ahead of Saturday's 'Clásico' encounter at the
Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid (kick-
off: 18:15).
The biggest news to have come out of the
Barcelona camp this week still remains the
fitness of Lionel Messi, with the 'Albiceleste'
forward having made a return to full training.
The 28-year-old's recovery has exceeded all
expectations, as he has been able to take his
place alongside the rest of his teammates,
and carry out the full range of training
exercises. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 2:23pm On Nov 20, 2015 |
Barcelona star Andrés Iniesta believes Lionel
Messi is "a fundamental player" for the team
and is confident the Argentine can feature in
the starting line-up against Real Madrid.
"If he's in the squad, it'll be because he's
ready, whether it's from the start or on the
bench. If Leo starts the game, it will improve
the team's chances", he said.
"Saying Real Madrid are weaker would be
foolish and that's not what we think. They
have so many qualities that can hurt us and
with the match being at their ground, it's even
more important for every aspect of our game
to be spot on", he warned.
"I love these types of matches because of
what they involve and transmit. I hope they
keep getting my juices flowing", he explained.
The Spain international also revealed what
Barcelona will need to do to win the game : "If
there's one thing we must be clear about, it's
that we have to be ourselves, play our game,
try to dominate possession and take the game
to them as much as we possibly can".
Iniesta added that "it's still very early" and
the outcome of 'El Clásico' "won't be decisive"
in terms of the title battle, although a win over
their longstanding rivals is always
"emotionally very important".
As for the Paris attacks, the midfielder
remarked that, "This situation makes everyone
feel uneasy, it's inevitable. It's a shame it
stops us talking about sport and football, but
it's the reality we're living in and you can't
avoid it". |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 2:24pm On Nov 20, 2015 |
Gareth Bale goes into the 'Clásico' in perfect
working order. This may even be the best
physical shape he's been in since joining Real
Madrid.
Having been given leave to sit out the
international break, the Welshman heads into
the biggest match of the season so far well
rested and having undergone a tailor-made
training programme to ensure he is firing on
all cylinders. "He's looking better than ever" is
the word of some eye witnesses at
Valdebebas.
Fitness aside, Bale is also in a good place
mentally. He is feeling determined and sure of
himself, having resolved to step up to the
plate and show he can be the main man that
Real Madrid want him to be.
It hasn't been an easy start to the season for
the former Tottenham star. Dogged by injuries
and placed under the microscope owing to
comments by his agent, he has failed to really
get going. He has only played seven matches
at club level - six in La Liga and one in the
Champions League - in which he has scored
twice and delivered three assists. Both goals
came on the same night, on 29th August
against Betis. That makes it almost three
months since he last netted for 'Los Blancos'.
Bale is convinced that his barren spell will
come to an end sooner rather than later. And,
given his buoyant spirits and tip-top
condition, why not in the 'Clásico'? |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 9:49am On Nov 21, 2015 |
After completing training on Friday as normal,
Leo Messi and Ivan Rakitic were given the all-
clear to feature in the Barcelona squad for the
'Clásico'.
Both players have been working alongside the
rest of the group all week after recovering
from their respective injuries. The Argentine
has been out for almost two months with a
knee ligament problem while the Croat has
spent two weeks on the sidelines nursing a
calf injury.
The 18-man squad is made up of:
Luis Enrique opted against taking Jordi Masip
and Marc Bartra to Madrid, while Douglas
Pereira and Rafinha Alcântara are ruled out
through injury. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 9:50am On Nov 21, 2015 |
Real Madrid boss Rafa Benítez hit back at
those who have accused him of being too
defence-minded.
"Real Madrid's ethos is to try to win by
attacking and outscoring the opposition,
whoever it is we're up against. We don't worry
too much about the opponents; we just aim to
take care of our side of things", Benítez said
in the lead-up to Barça's visit to the
Bernabéu.
"There are three extremely important points on
the line for our title bid", the Madrid-born
tactician went on.
"This is a winning team with the scope to get
even better. Having all our players available
can only benefit the group as a whole. The
strength we showed when we've been missing
players is cause for optimism", the former
Liverpool boss stressed.
Benítez insisted that he will look to take the
initiative against Barcelona: "The attributes of
this Real Madrid team mean we have to attack
regularly, threaten the opposition keeper and
score goals, and that's what we're going to
do".
The Spaniard once again referred to the
statistics to defend himself against charges of
being too negative: "The most attacking team
are whoever take the most shots at goal. If
you analyse things, you'll see what we're all
about. We're going to carry on in the same
vein and just try to be more ruthless".
"I don't like being second and we have the
opportunity to fix that", he added.
Benítez also countered the suggestion that
Barça are favourites: "We're playing at home,
in front of our fans, and that's why I think
we're favourites. Obviously we're up against a
great team but we're confident going into the
game and I think we're going to do a great
job". |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 9:57am On Nov 21, 2015 |
PREDICTED LINEUP Real Madrid: Keylor, Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Luka Modric, James, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema. Barcelona: Claudio Bravo , Jordi Alba , Jeremy Mathieu, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves; Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 10:08am On Nov 21, 2015 |
SCANDAL OR NO SCANDAL - WHY REAL
MADRID AND RONALDO NEED BENZEMA The French forward is ready to return after more than a month on the sidelines, and while he has been wrapped up in controversy recently, he has been badly missed Karim Benzema is back. Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez named the French forward in his squad for the Clasico against Barcelona on Saturday and his return represents great news for the club - not least for Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema has been sidelined since October 8 when he picked up an injury in a friendly against Armenia and in his absence, the Portuguese attacker has struggled for goals. Having hit 10 in nine games earlier in the season, Ronaldo has managed only three in five fixtures since the striker strained his thigh playing for France. Coincidence? Unlikely. As former coach Carlo Ancelotti always said, Benzema is just the right centre-forward for Real Madrid. "He is ideal for Ronaldo and Bale," the Italian said recently. "To me, Karim is the best player in the world in his position and not just as a goalscorer. Talking about whether he should score 30 goals is a false debate. He has great qualities; he is a complete player." With both Bale and Ronaldo hungry for goals and neither particularly generous when in the penalty area, Benzema is indeed ideal. He drops deep to create space and unselfishly sets up others. He knows he won't be the top scorer, but accepts his role and even though he misses chances, Ancelotti is correct - there is no striker in world football better suited to the club than the Frenchman. However, this season has been a difficult one for the 27-year-old. The striker has completed 90 minutes for Madrid only twice this term and been substituted in six of his eight appearances by Benitez. That has left the forward frustrated. The injury followed and there was worse to come as he was arrested, spent the night in jail and faced questions in court for his alleged involvement with blackmailers in a sex tape scandal involving France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena. Madrid immediately backed their player with a strong supportive statement after talks between Benzema and club chief Florentino Perez, but the striker has struggled to find full fitness in recent weeks and remained a doubt even for the match against Barca. FULL STORY | Benzema arrest and sex tape scandal explained "Benzema is in the squad, he has trained well and that's why he is with the group. So we'll decide if he plays or not," Benitez revealed in the pre-match press conference on Friday. The former Lyon attacker wasn't picked in the same side as Bale and Ronaldo during Madrid's practice session at Valdebebas on Friday, but the Frenchman may yet start in the Clasico and posted a picture on his Instagram account which showed him going past a floored Javier Mascherano in a previous game against Barca. With the Valbuena case still in the news, Benzema will be keen to put those events behind him and get back to doing what he does best, while Madrid really need him and Ronaldo will be the happiest player of all to see his team-mate return. "Karim is the best striker in the league," the Portuguese said last month. "He's doing a phenomenal job." Ronaldo hasn't been doing a phenomenal job, however, and not for a while. But Saturday would be a good time for the Portuguese to rediscover his fading form following some poor performances in big games in recent months. There aren't many more games bigger than a Clasico and with Madrid three points behind Barca ahead of Saturday's match, the pressure is very much on the Portuguese to deliver. And with Benzema alongside him, he'll have a better chance. By Ben Hayward Goal.com |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 12:58pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Plenty of question marks and few certainties,
such is the landscape ahead of the first
Clásico of the season.
The certainties all come from within the
Barcelona camp, the league leaders have
successfully negotiated what was billed to be
a tough spell, during which they would have
to soldier on without their star man, Lionel
Messi. As for the question marks, they mainly
revolve around the capital club, who trail their
arch-rivals by three points, and whose play
has so far failed to convince, notably against
PSG and Sevilla. Rafa's side has been on the
receiving end of stinging criticism, and 'Los
Blancos' all of a sudden find themselves under
massive pressure, all brought on by the reality
that defeat to Barça would leave Rafa Benítez
treading on thin ice.
As always, this one game is at the centre of
attention in the footballing world. There's no
other fixture which generates quite the same
level of expectation throughout the world as
La Liga's biggest does. This owes much to on-
field events, but also in this case, to the
intensified security measures to be rolled out
both inside and around the Santiago
Bernabéu. The Paris attacks have taken centre
stage in the build-up to this Clásico
showdown.
The game very much has a feel of a big
reunion to it. Having been plagued by injuries
in the opening weeks of the season, both
teams have now got the majority of their
players back fit. The issue, however, for those
who are returning to the fold is that the
Clásico is really not the sort of game in which
you can gently ease your way back into
things. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 1:57pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Karim Benzema will feature in the 'Clásico'. It
remains to be seen, however, whether he will
start or come on in the second half with the
decision hinging on his confidence levels.
The Frenchman is fit to play 45 minutes. After
over a month on the sidelines, the 27-year-old
is short of match fitness, which is why he and
Rafa Benítez agree that he should not be
risked for more than half of the contest. If
Benzema feels confident after a final test and
tells the boss he wants to start, he is very
likely to be granted his wish.
Benítez backs Benzema
Since taking over the reins, the Spaniard has
shown complete faith in his French forward
and set him the challenge of 25 goals for the
season. Until his injury, he was the club's top
goalscorer with six strikes in five league
games, which is his finest tally at that stage
of the campaign since signing from Lyon in
2009.
The alternative option is for Benzema to wait
until the second half to enter the fray. Benítez
has various players who could fill in, although
he knows the number 9 is the perfect foil for
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Isco and
James could well complete the trio if the
Frenchman starts the game on the bench.
Benzema is keen to prove his worth during the
'Clásico' and get the world talking about what
he does on the pitch once again after an
injury and controversy-filled period, with the
Valbuena case affecting him deeply. Playing
football could well be the best medicine of all. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Nobody: 2:15pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
It's gonna be classic indeed! But why would Perez be contemplating sacking Benitez if the team lost tonight? Besides, Zidane is far from prepared for Madrid job. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 2:57pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Politicos:it seems Benitez doesn't have the full backing of the fans and some key members of the squad |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Nobody: 3:02pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Oluwaseytiano: Obviously so. They are asking for more exciting football while Benitez prefers a conservative style of play. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 3:05pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Politicos:exactly. ironically Madrid are the top scoring team in laliga |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Nobody: 3:14pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Oluwaseytiano: Yeah, but not everyone is convinced. There a bloating fear that they may end up with no trophy again this season. This fear is fuelled by the inconsistent unexciting display of the forward line. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 3:24pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Politicos:benzema absence and a poor ronaldo are the main cause |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Nobody: 3:32pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Oluwaseytiano: Benzema is very instrumental. I learnt he has been named in tonight's squad. But they should all hope that the lawsuit hanging on his neck hasn't demoralised him. That case looks more damaging than I earlier thought. |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 3:34pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Politicos:Perhaps the sight of Barca would make him forget all the drama and lift his spirit |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Nobody: 3:41pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Nobody: 4:45pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
For the Madrid fans that ll start comparing messi to cr7 we now know what you really want, and u actually know the truth. So I ll just drop this
|
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 6:09pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
6mins to kickoff |
Re: El Clasico: Real Madrid C.F vs FC Barcelona. Today kick off Time 6.15pm by Oluwaseytiano(m): 6:18pm On Nov 21, 2015 |
kick off |
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