The absence of Karim Benzema is a setback for Madrid, who may resort to Gareth Bale, while Xavi is expected to choose a lineup that is nearly identical to the one that defeated Galatasaray.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will face off in the 248th Clásico on Sunday at the Bernabéu, with both teams in excellent form. Carlo Ancelotti's squad has not lost at home since January 2021, a record of 24 games without a loss at home. Xavi's resurgent Barcelona are scoring freely and conceding little, and they enter the game on an 11-game undefeated run that has propelled them into LaLiga's top three and the Europa League's final eight.
Barcelona is flying high thanks to Pedri, Aubameyang, and Torres.
Much of Barcelona's resurgence may be linked to some superb January business, which was conducted despite the fact that the Camp Nou coffers were empty. Ferran Torres joined from Manchester City for €55 million, thanks to Sergio Agüero's retirement and the elimination of the majority of Philippe Coutinho's salaries off the cost. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined on a free transfer from Arsenal, describing him as a "gift from heaven" who has already scored seven goals in ten games, and Adama Traoré was surprisingly loaned back to his former club from Wolves to provide bite on the flank that Ousmane Dembélé was expected to leave. The fact that Xavi has reintegrated the France winger into Camp Nou when it appeared his case had been lost is another feather in his crown, and another threat to Madrid on Sunday, who will be without the defensive stability of Ferland Mendy on the left flank.
In the Clásico, that might be a crucial battleground. In the absence of the greatly improved Sergio Dest and Sergi Roberto, Carlo Ancelotti has two alternatives to replace the Frenchman: Nacho, who will bring more positional awareness at the back, and Marcelo, who presents more of a danger moving forward on a side of the game where Barça has its own concerns. Despite Éder Milito's masterful covering ability, the Brazilian has been a fleeting presence this season, but popped up at a crucial moment away at Mallorca to feed Benzema for the game's only goal. It remains to be seen if Ancelotti will risk exposing the space he tends to leave behind him against the pace of Traoré and Dembélé.
Benzema is no longer at Real Madrid.
However, Ancelotti's main issue is the absence of Karim Benzema. Despite a full team, the France striker has been left out due to a calf muscle problem. Madrid has no alternative for the striker, who has 32 goals and 11 assists in 34 games in all competitions this season, his greatest output since the 2011-12 season under José Mourinho, with 22 and 11 assists in LaLiga. That statistic is especially important for Ancelotti as he considers his starting lineup for the game. The great bulk of those assists have gone to Vinicius, who excels when he's assisting his mentor but struggles when he's on his own.
This season, no two players have combined as often in Europe's "big five" divisions, and Vinicius is clearly more effective on the left flank than in the centre.
Luka Jovic has faded from view, failing to even make the bench for the Mallorca match, while Isco and Mariano are unlikely to inspire the same level of trust as Benzema. When brought inside from the touchline, Marco Asensio struggles, while Eden Hazard has been nothing more than a spectator of late. That means Ancelotti may resort to Gareth Bale again, as he did against Villarreal, in a gamble that paid off and will at the very least provide Vinicius and Asensio with someone to throw the ball towards. Lucas Vázquez may get the nod on the right side of the attack to give some ammo and extra legwork tracking back, based on Bale's aerial skill. Mariano or Jovic's prospects of starting are as slim as Hazard's odds of seeing his name on the team sheet, but Ancelotti has shown this season that there is always a second opportunity under his guidance.
Barcelona has found its feet under Xavi's leadership.
Meanwhile, the visitors are unlikely to make many changes following their midweek victory over Galatasaray. In the absence of Dest, either Dani Alves or Ronald Arajo will be pulled in at right back, although Xavi will be tempted to continue with the same XI that defeated the Turkish giants. Pedri has emerged as the most significant player in this Barcelona team at the age of 19, and he will be one to watch at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: predicted starting XIs
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militão, Alaba, Nacho; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Lucas Vázquez, Bale, Vinicius.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Eric García, Piqué, Jordi Alba; Frenkie de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Traoré, Aubameyang, Torres.
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