Next Saturday, Santiago Bernabéu hosts the first Clásico. This is the first Real Madrid-Barça of the season, one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the year. With both teams in great shape and at the top of the table, the duel promises excitement and quality soccer.
Carlo Ancelotti and Hansi Flick will field their best men in search of victory. Even so, Ancelotti has decided to leave out some key figures, including Luka Modric.
A Crucial Match
This first duel between the two giants promises to be exciting due to their historic rivalry and great shape.
Real Madrid, after an epic comeback against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, is looking to consolidate their superiority in the league. Barcelona arrives motivated after their convincing 4-1 win over Bayern, ready to compete at the Bernabéu.
Both coaches know that a win in the Clasico would mean more than just three points, especially in terms of confidence and psychological dominance for the rest of the season.
Real Madrid's Likely Lineup
Carlo Ancelotti faces a major challenge due to the absence of several key players. Up front, he will be without Rodrygo, and the defense will be affected by the absences of Dani Carvajal and David Alaba. In addition, Thibaut Courtois will not be in goal, so Andriy Lunin will take over.
Everything points that Real Madrid will line up Lucas Vázquez, Rüdiger, Militão and Mendy in defense, an effective formation in recent games. In midfield, Valverde, Tchouaméni and Camavinga will look to control the pace and create opportunities. In attack, Bellingham would partner Vinícius Jr., with Brahim, Mbappé or perhaps Endrick on the right.
Ancelotti's Strategy
Carlo Ancelotti has decided to leave Luka Modric on the bench. The idea is to prioritize players with greater physical endurance to maintain a high pace throughout the 90 minutes.
In a game as demanding as the classic, this choice is key to counteracting Barcelona's pressure and ball possession. With alternatives such as Brahim Díaz and the speed of Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé, the coach seeks to exploit the spaces and surprise the blaugrana defense.
Arda Güler: Waiting for an Opportunity
Arda Güler, who hasn't yet had any clear opportunities in the team, will be on the bench. The young Turkish talent is highly motivated and wants to succeed at Madrid, but he isn't having the prominence he expected. With this Clásico, his situation is once again in evidence, putting his future at the club in doubt.
In this Clásico, Güler will be on the bench, patiently waiting for his chance to show his potential. With the high competition in his position, his future in the team is uncertain. He'll have to take advantage of every minute that comes his way.