Real Madrid will play against Barcelona this weekend. This fixture always creates a massive hype among all the football fans. El Clasico never fails to stand up to the expectations.
Barcelona are currently on top of LaLiga. They have a 2 point advantage over Real Madrid. This match will be crucial for the LaLiga title race.
The second El Clasico of this season is scheduled to take place on 2nd March at 1:30 am IST in the Bernabeu. You can watch the match live on LaLiga’s Facebook page.
Real Madrid are already out of the Copa del Rey. They face a big task ahead to stage a comeback against Manchester City away from home to avoid getting knocked out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage. So, LaLiga is probably their last hope.
Barcelona have not lost a LaLiga El Clasico at the Bernabeu since 2014. On the other hand, Real Madrid are winless in their last three games at home, with Zidane acknowledging the situation is far from ideal ahead of a fixture with their big rivals.
Real Madrid’s manager Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane said he is not worried about whether he needs to win LaLiga to stay in his job. He said at a news conference on Saturday: “I don’t know, that question is for someone else. I know what I need to do. We’re going to try and win a competition this season, that’s what we’re working towards.”
“It is a delicate moment because there are three games that we have not won in the stadium [Bernabeu]. But the ones who know about football know that these things can happen.”
He said of the lack of goals: “I am not worried because for four months we were winning games. Even without Eden. I don’t like that he is injured, but we have won. We need to be solid.”
“We need a positive spirit. We do not listen to what is said. We need our people with us from the first minute to 90. I understand that the people may be upset but we need the people and we will give everything.”
Zidane also commented on the omission of Toni Kross in the Champions League match against Manchester City which they lost 2-1. He told reporters: “Always when there is a bad result you look for something. We did not lose because he didn’t play.”
“There are things that can happen in a specific moment, in a match, and we have chosen this team. Those who came in played well and I chose a different alternative to Toni Kroos the other day. There’s nothing else. You do not have to look for other things.”
Barcelona’s manager Quique Setien
Quique Setien said during a news conference on Saturday: “It could be a very important day. A win would give us a lead. I don’t know if that would be enough – I’m sure it wouldn’t.”
“We see very strange things happen in football, but I don’t really trust form too much. In football, you put the past behind you. It’s the present that you’re rewarded on.”
“In a Clasico, people tend to forget about the points, positions in the tables. This is a Clasico where both teams always play as hard as they can regardless of the situation they’re in. I expect a very tightly contested game, very evenly matched. The question is who gets things right to win the game.”
He further added: “For Madrid, it is a vital game – probably much more important than it is for us, because of the situation in the table at the moment and the amount of time that’s left.”
“We could pick up a five-point lead, which would be a big step forward. It would leave them with a lot of ground to make up. I don’t like the word decisive, it’s certainly important.”
Setien has beaten Real Madrid twice at the Bernabeu while he was the coach of Real Betis, and he expects those experiences to help him this weekend. He said: “Yes, of course. We’ve looked back at some of the games played before – the game Barca played last year, the game Betis played last year.”
“You tried to pick out things that could be useful. We certainly want to play with a daring team tomorrow – Madrid will, I’m sure, do likewise. We are a team that always plays the way we do. I’ll do something similar to what I did with Betis and with Las Palmas, now with Barca. I like a daring team.
“Whether things work out, let’s wait and see. You have to remember that Madrid are a very, very good team. You might think they are not at their best at the moment, but I’m not trusting to that kind of thing. You need to be ready for games like this – when we’ve got the ball and when we do not.”
Do check out:
All the latest 2019-20 kits of football teams from all over the world are now available on Tech2Sports. Superior quality kits at the lowest price guaranteed. Show your support for your favourite club and country by wearing their colours.
If you’re a Barcelona fan, then check this out:
1. Home Kit
2. Home Kit (Full Sleeve)
3. Away Kit
4. 3rd Kit
5. Mobile Cover
And if you’re a Real Madrid fan, then check this out:
1. Home kit
2. Home Kit (Full Sleeve)
3. Away kit
4. 3rd kit
5. Mobile Cover
