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Today Clasico: “Barça once again has playfulness, Real lost it long ago” | Primera División

There really are no certainties anymore in corona times. Not a single Real Madrid player will be whistled at Camp Nou on Saturday. The first Clasico of the season will be different than normal on and off the field. With Stef Wijnants we look ahead.

For weeks, supporters normally look forward to it and tickets are sold at extortionate prices by socios, who prefer a lot of money to the showdown of the season in Spain. This season, however, the match between arch rivals Barcelona and Real will be played without an audience for the first time.

And also on the field it predicts to be a little less life and death this year. “This match will not determine the season”, Patrick Kluivert and Guti – figureheads of Barcelona and Real respectively – have the same opinion in Marca.

“The match is early in the season and smaller clubs can beat the bigger ones this year,” added Kluivert. It is a reference to the previous match day where Real lost to PhD candidate Cadiz and Barcelona to Getafe.

“I think it is especially important for Real not to lose on Saturday,” says Stef Wijnants. “After the defeat against Cadiz and this week against Sjachtar in the Champions League, there is yet another crisis atmosphere. While Barcelona is regaining some more joy in its game after turbulent months and Koeman’s hand is slowly becoming clearer. ”

Real Madrid: a stumbling team without a destination

Sometimes an injured animal makes strange jumps. Fans of Real still hope that the humiliation against Sjachtar (0-3 at half time) has shaken up the whole club just in time. Trainer Zidane also referred to this at his press conference. Purely based on statistics, that hope is grounded somewhere.

Since 2001, Real has lost 10 times just to the Clasico. Only twice was that an omen for a loss in the Clasico. Real knocked his arch rival four times, four times it drew.

However, the Madrid problem appears to be more structural at the moment. Real Madrid has lost its playfulness. For a long time, actually ”, says Stef Wijnants. “It has been stumbling on for 2 years and no one can really see where.”

“It’s not about who plays, it’s about how they play. There is no speed, too little experience, sometimes tactically awkward and eliminating a man seems impossible for almost all players.”

“The young players are not convincing enough to remove the old guard from the team and so Zidane often retains the confidence in the players who have brought him so many prizes. But take Marcelo against Shachtar, who came too late everywhere and did not give a good cross. That’s already a whole
busy time. ”

If Real plays like in his last two matches, they have no chance in Camp Nou.

The Mystery of Eden Hazard

Whoever says playfulness says Eden Hazard. When he is fully fit. Stef Wijnants: “Also in the Spanish media they find the case Hazard a mystery. Real has indeed attracted him to bring fresh creativity into the team and for his one-on-one actions. Not because they thought he would score 40 goals like Ronaldo. “

And then there may be another problem. Sergio Ramos fights against time to get fit for the Clasico. The difference with or without the captain is huge. With him, Real has lost less than 19 percent of its matches in the past three seasons. If Ramos was not there, it would be 43 percent.

Real have been stumbling for a while, but Ramos, Courtois and Benzema made them champions last season. They were the leaders and the rest fought because after the corona break they felt that the title was up for grabs. This season I see that urge. much less.”

“Modric, Casemiro, even Kroos, they are all changeable. Benzema doesn’t seem quite fit to me, Varane gives way to almost every action. If Real plays like in his last two matches, they have no chance in Camp Nou.”

“Thibaut Courtois is already a last man standing, but he also has only two arms and legs. They benefit from making it a closed match. And then I tip Vinicius to possibly make a difference. If he can shoot. the ball will fly everywhere, but at least it provides speed. “

Barcelona: team that slowly shows joy again

The home team on Saturday also had a turbulent period with a change of trainer, the imminent departure of demigod Messi and the final farewell to Luis Suarez. Barcelona also lost on the previous match day, from
Getafe, but is still a favorite for Stef Wijnants in the Clasico.

“Without playing big, you still see splashes of joy at Barcelona. Losing to Getafe, a particularly tough team, can happen and cannot be compared to Real’s defeat at home against Cadiz.

“The hand of Ronald Koeman is also slowly becoming visible. He provides more structure in the game of the Catalans compared to the end under Valverde and then in the period of Setien.”

“Messi was again involved in the big win against Ferencvaros on Tuesday in the Champions League with a goal and an assist. He has said he will do everything he can to win prizes this season and that is very important of course. “

“He’s the leader they need to win trophies. He just needs to learn to laugh again.”

The first Clasico of the season will start on Saturday at 4 pm.

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