Madrid won the first La Liga Clasico 3-1 in October, but Xavi’s team has improved dramatically since then. The coach is desperate to win the league title to validate the team’s progress, while the club would benefit from a quick return on their investment last summer.
Despite their financial difficulties, Barcelona signed Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, and other players by selling future television rights, a move that some criticised as gambling with the club’s future.
Barcelona’s elimination from the Champions League group stage, followed by Manchester United’s elimination from the Europa League, confirmed that they still have a long way to go, but they have made significant progress.
Xavi won his first trophy as a coach after defeating Real Madrid 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January. In the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final earlier this month, Madrid had the better of the game, but Barcelona still won 1-0.
Xavi must decide how the Catalans will approach this Clasico. Fans at Camp Nou may react negatively to another defensive performance, and they will expect Barcelona to take the initiative more.
That will be made much easier if midfield maestro Pedri is available. Barcelona appear to be incapable of playing possession football without the Canary Islander, who is already indispensable to club and country at the age of 20.
Pedri has been out with a thigh injury for six games in all competitions, and Barcelona has won in his absence by relying on their rock-solid defence. In the Copa Clasico, Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior both fired blanks at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the latter has been shackled by Ronald Araujo in recent clashes with Barcelona.
Xavi usually starts the Uruguayan centre-back at right-back against Real Madrid so he can face the Brazilian winger. Barcelona has discovered that by removing Vinicius, Madrid’s attack becomes significantly less dangerous.
For me, he is the best in the world, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the Champions League win over Liverpool in midweek.
