As the anticipation builds for the upcoming El Clasico, former Real Madrid player and manager Jorge Valdano has highlighted the need for improvement within Los Blancos if they hope to secure a victory over their fierce rivals, Barcelona.
With the match fast approaching, the current dynamics of both teams suggest that Hansi Flick’s Barcelona enter the match with a clearer strategy compared to Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
Despite the ongoing debate, the potential of the Madrid squad remains significant, making the match an exciting prospect.
Valdano is not impressed
Playing at home often provides a team with a psychological advantage, which could tilt the odds in favour of Madrid.
However, Valdano believes that the impressive form shown by Barcelona might challenge that assumption.
He indicated that for Real Madrid to catch up with Barcelona, not only would Madrid need to elevate their performance, but Barcelona would also have to experience a decline.
“Now that the Clasico is approaching, Madrid would have to improve and Barcelona would have to get worse for Madrid to be able to catch Barça,” said the former Madrid coach as quoted by SPORT.
This assessment underscores the noticeable gap in playing style and consistency between the two teams at this moment.
Barcelona will arrive as leaders
Currently, Barcelona sit at the top of the La Liga standings, boasting an impressive record of nine wins and just one loss from their first 10 matches.
This strong performance has propelled Flick’s team to first place, though the competition is still tight, with Madrid trailing by only three points.
Ancelotti’s squad has yet to lose a match this season, but they have drawn three times, which indicates that their form has not been as robust as they would like.
The first official Clasico of the season is more than just a match; it has the potential to significantly impact the trajectory of both teams.
