 |
| Everything you need to know about the Clasico |
Everything you need to know about the El Clasico on Saturday, including where you can watch it, team news, odds, prediction and more
When time is kick off for Real Madrid vs Barcelona?
Yes, it's that time again. Club football's biggest showpiece - and arguably the finest showcase of global talent football has to offer - is ready for its first instalment of the season as Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in El Clasico this coming Saturday, November 21. The game starts at 5.15pm UK time (or 6.15pm local time) at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu.
Kick off has been pushed back by 15 minutes to accommodate UK viewers (so you'd better watch it), because of the broadcasting law that forbids live football from being screened between 2.45pm and 5.15pm.
 |
| Suarez has been in red hot form |
Excellent picture of Ronnie here!
#Ronaldo said to be lacking motivation.. He'll probably score a hat trick then! By @zoranlucic #WundergolArtFest2016 pic.twitter.com/jTx2GrVMse
— Wundergol Art (@wundergol) November 21, 2015
Where can I watch it?
Live coverage of the game will be on Sky Sports 2 / Sky Sports 2 HD.
You can also follow the match on our live blog.
Is there any danger it might be called off after the Paris attacks?
Europe is on high alert following the deadly bombings and shootings in the French capital and a friendly match between Spain and Belgium due to take place in Brussels later on Tuesday has been postponed.
But the Spanish government's top sports official has sent out a message of calm and said there is no reason for Real v Barcelona to be postponed. Miguel Cardenal, the head of Spain's sports council (CSD), said officials would meet on Wednesday to discuss security at the match and steps would be taken to allow fans to attend the match "with a guarantee of normality".
"We are the first ones interested in making sure nothing untoward occurs," Cardenal said. "So if anything happens that requires the public to be given certain instructions like suspending a match that will be done. The correct message is one of calm. The advice is the same as last week, to act normally and in absolute freedom."
What is the team news?
There could be some big names missing, with Lionel Messi facing a race against time to be fit. The Argentine has missed the last 10 games, but he did return to training on Monday and you would have to think there is a fair chance Barca will do everything in their power to get him on the field.
Still, if he does not make it, Real's problems do not magically disappear: Neymar and Luis Suarez have flourished in his absence, scoring their last 16 league goals with Barcelona winning 8 of those 10 matches.
• Gerard Pique picks his world dream team
Given that his team-mates have coped without him, it may well be that Messi only makes the bench for this match, with his long-term fitness the most important factor.
 |
| Messi has missed 10 matches through injury |
For Real Madrid, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez made their returns to action in the defeat at Sevilla but Karim Benzema missed out for, let's say, 'other' reasons, though he has also been struggling with an injury, too. He should be back for the Clasico.
What are the odds?
Real Madrid - 7/5
Draw - 14/5
Barcelona - 21/10
 |
| Ronaldo has 15 goals in 26 games against Barcelona |
Prediction
Real Madrid have the home advantage but given recent form it will be some ask to stop Barcelona's lethal strike force, whether or not Messi returns in time.
That said, Real have plenty of firepower of their own and both teams tend to score in these games, though they rarely end in draws.
Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus