Real Madrid vs Barcelona set to be decided by Cristiano Ronaldo vs Thomas Vermaelen… and Paulinho
The football gods have handed us a wonderful early Christmas present, with Saturday's El Clasico on the festive menu
THE football gods have handed us a wonderful early Christmas present, as Real Madrid and Barcelona do battle on Saturday.
Real know that without a victory they can all but wave goodbye to their title chances.
Sitting 11 points behind the Catalans, having played one game more, three points for the away side would create a near-impossible gap to close.
Our friends at Football Whispers preview the last El Clasico of 2017 and look at where the game will be won and lost.
Live on Sky Sports, the day starts early with the midday kick-off ahead of a full Premier League schedule.
Barcelona are still unbeaten this season, winning 13 of 16 games, scoring 42 goals.
Real are unbeaten in their last five games, but only three have ended in victory and they go into the game in the unthinkable position of fourth.
Key Battle: Cristiano Ronaldo v Thomas Vermaelen
With just four goals, Cristiano Ronaldo is Real’s joint top-scorer in La Liga this season.
It finally looks like the Ballon d’Or winner has found his shooting boots, though, scoring against Al-Jazira and Gremio as the Spanish side were crowned 2017 Club World Cup champions.
This came off the back of the Portuguese’s double against Sevilla. He has eight goals in seven games and will be the greatest threat to Barcelona.
Doubts remain over his fitness, however, having missed training from Monday to Thursday. But no-one believes there is any chance of the 32-year-old missing the game.
Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has started Barcelona’s last three games, his only three league starts of the season.
Last term he only started six games and now he will have to try and track the greatest forward in football.
It’s an intriguing battle and one which could go either way for the Catalan giants.
Potential match-winner: Paulinho
The Brazilian midfielder was seen as a joke signing when Barca confirmed his move back to Europe from the Chinese Super League.
Derided by Spurs fans for his time at White Hart Lane, his arrival was held up as all that was wrong with Barcelona’s summer business after losing Neymar to PSG.
Yet, in 15 appearances this term, he has added six goals and two assists and is averaging 2.3 tackles, 1 key pass and two successful dribbles per 90 minutes.
His runs from deep have given Barcelona another dimension and he already has a great understanding with Lionel Messi.
All eyes will be on the attack, leaving space for Paulinho to be the difference maker.
MORE FOOTBALL FEATURES
Managers’ tactics
There will be no surprises from Zinedine Zidane’s team. Playing 4-3-3, the width comes from the full-backs, with the front three all narrow and looking to link-up through the centre.
Barca have changed to a narrow 4-4-2 under Ernesto Valverde this season, a change from the 4-3-3 they have been wedded to in recent seasons.
Sergio Busquets will anchor the midfield, leaving Paulinho to play the box-to-box role.
In Ousmane Dembele’s absence, Messi and Luis Suarez have struck up a two-man partnership and will look for the midfield to make runs off them.
Likely line-ups
Sergio Ramos and Casemiro return from suspension, Raphael Varane is also fit to start. Gareth Bale should be back in the squad, but is likely to start on the bench.
Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembele are Barca’s long-term absentees, they are joined by Paco Alcacer and Gerard Deulofeu.
Thomas Vermaelen should edge Javier Mascherano and get the nod beside Pique.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Key Stats
Despite averaging more shots per game than Barcelona (15.8), Real Madrid (19.1) have scored 12 fewer goals this season.
In terms of shots on target, they are very similar with the home side just behind on 7.0 to Barca’s 7.1 – suggesting Zidane’s men have been wasteful in front of goal.
It’s no surprise to see the Catalan side bottom of La Liga in terms of crosses with 11 per game.
Whereas Real Madrid lead the league with 27 per game. Expect Gerard Pique and Vermaelen to come under some aerial pressure.