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| LM10 Vs CR7 |
La Liga's foremost Clasico of the season is almost here and the game at the Bernabeu pits leaders Barcelona against newly- crowned world champions Hala Madrid.A Barca win would see them extend their lead over Madrid to 14 points before Christmas on this year 2k17.
It is impossible to look past Lionel Messi, still the outstanding player in La Liga. The great man has directly contributed to 19 goals this season, which is eight more than anybody else.
If you have Messi and you keep it tight at the other end, you have a chance. That is what Ernesto Valverde has done.
Barca has one of the best defensive records in one of the five seasons since Pep Guardiola left, but nobody in La Liga has approved fewer as it stands and nobody in Europe's five main leagues has conceded fewer away from home.
I think now it is really hard to attack Barca.That is what Ivan Rakitic told me in an exclusive interview that you can watch this week on Sky Sports. He added: "We are closer and the lines are better.
Madrid was fancied to retain the title, particularly having beaten Barcelona home and away in the Super Cup. But it did not take long for weaknesses to emerge failing to win any of their first three home games, the worst start at the Bernabeu in over 20 years.
The strikers must take some responsibility. At this stage of last season, Cristiano Ronaldo had 10 goals in La Liga, Gareth Bale five and Karim Benzema four. This season Ronaldo has four, while Bale and Benzema have two apiece. But it is not just about those three.
This time last season Alvaro Morata had scored five La Liga goals as well. Amazingly, there is not a single Real Madrid player who has matched that total this time around. Support players such as Marco Asensio have struggled to produce their best form consistently.
With injury problems too this is a tricky time for Zinedine Zidane. He is being criticised for being too predictable and his substitutions are not making an impact. Madrid got nine goals from the bench last season Morata getting four of them. This season they only have one.
Zidane seems happy to wait for things to get better and the good news ahead of El Clasico is that there has long been a feeling that Florentino Perez's squads are better suited to shorter competitions rather than league seasons that require hunger, consistency and hard work.
Over 90 minutes, the reigning world and European champions have shown twice already this season that they can be more than a match for Barca. We will need to see Madrid at their best. If that doesn't happen, their chances of catching this Barcelona side will be over.
Can't wait for this match!!😍😍
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