Real Madrid know that defeat in El Clasico would be a brutal blow for their title hopes in La Liga, with a three-point gap between themselves and Barcelona as things stand. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has divised a plan for the clash though.
Los Blancos will base their plans on the Spanish Supercup in 2024, when they ran out 4-1 winners over a Barcelona side that pressed high, and could not deal with Vinicius Junior getting in behind. The Brazilian grabbed a hat-trick in Saudi Arabia, and now that they have Kylian Mbappe to get in behind too, they will, unsurprisingly, be the keys to Real Madrid’s plan.
Their intention is to attack the high line of Barcelona, and the last two goals they have conceded have come from long balls in behind, one from Bayern Munich which resulted in a Harry Kane finish from close range, and another from Stanis Idumbo Muzambo for Sevilla, which was a simple ball over the top from the back.
Jordi Alba (Inter Miami): “Lamine Yamal? It’s clear that he has grown a lot, he is a 17-year-old boy and what he is doing is crazy. You have to accompany him and the people there are doing very well. You have to be patient and not compare him with anyone because in the end Leo…
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The question will be if they can get service to Vinicius and Mbappe, and for that reason Diario AS say that it is likely that Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric and Fede Valverde all start. The final spot will be between Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, with Ancelotti returning to four at the back. Modric’s ability on the ball will be key to delivering the passes to the pacy front two.
Other reports signal that it will be Tchouameni that starts, and Ancelotti has rarely left him out of big games. The back four looks settled with Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez the obvious options, unless the Italian wants to go for a more attacking side with Fran Garcia on the left.
