In a highly anticipated clash, Barcelona is gearing up to face their arch-rivals, Real Madrid, in the first El Clásico of the season. Scheduled for Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 3.15 pm WAT in Barcelona, Catalonia, this match promises to be a thrilling showdown.
Barcelona enters the match following two hard-fought victories against Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk, showcasing their character and boosting their confidence. However, the team faces a challenging situation with several key players injured. Despite a last-minute training session involving most of the injured players, it's unlikely any of them will have a substantial impact on the game. Xavi Hernández, the Barcelona coach, is keeping his squad list a well-guarded secret, creating an air of uncertainty.
The starting lineup is expected to resemble recent games, meaning Barcelona will likely be without their best center-back, midfielder, and goalscorer. This leaves them as the underdogs against Real Madrid, who will be eager to capitalize on Barcelona's absences and assert their dominance as early title favorites.
While playing well may not be the primary focus, Barcelona aims to secure at least a point and sow doubt in Real Madrid's minds. If they can achieve this, it will be considered a successful weekend, and the rivalry will be more intense than ever.
The predicted lineups for the match are as follows:
- Barcelona (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Araujo, Christensen, Iñigo, Balde; Cancelo, Gündogan, Gavi, Fermín; Ferran, Félix
- Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Arrizabalaga; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
