Barca v Real Madrid preview

Anticipation sky high as Spanish giants do battle

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Barca v Real Madrid preview

El Clasico last year saw Barca beat Real 6-2 at the Bernabeu

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Barcelona v Real Madrid

Watch 'El Clasico' live this Sunday on Sky Sports 1, HD1 and on Sky Player at 7pm

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The first 'El Clasico' of the season takes place this Sunday as Barcelona lock horns with Real Madrid, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1.

The anticipation surrounding Spain's premier fixture is higher than ever with both clubs fully stocked with star-studded names after the Primera Liga giants splashed over £300million on summer signings.

New additions for the Camp Nou clash are Barca's marquee signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Real have reclaimed their 'Galactico' status with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and world record signing Cristiano Ronaldo all arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Both sides are faring well in domestic and European leagues - Pep Guardiola's Catalans beat Inter Milan on Tuesday to boost their hopes of retaining the UEFA Champions League while Sunday's visitors sit top of Group C after their latest win over FC Zurich on Wednesday.

As for the Primera Division, Manuel Pellegrini's side currently set the pace after they narrowly beat Racing Santander to leapfrog Barca last weekend, who could only manage a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao.

With top spot and the ever-crucial head-to-head record at stake when Madrid come to town, Barca midfielder Xavi has demanded his team-mates remain faithful to their attacking philosophy by dictating the game against their bitter rivals.

Despite hammering Real 6-2 at the Bernabeu last season en route to winning the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey, Xavi insists victory - and not the margin of it - is most crucial.

Victory

"We are not thinking about beating Real Madrid by many goals," he said.

"We want the three points and that is what we will go out to win. We have a lot of respect for them and we must be careful because historically these are complicated games.

"They are the leaders at the moment and they are scoring goals at the moment. But we are at home and we are highly motivated for the game.

Alonso has revealed that Los Blancos are trying to treat the Barca showdown as just another three points, insisting the tie will not prove decisive in who will win the league this season.

The former Liverpool midfielder - who returned to his homeland last summer in a £30million move - hailed Xavi and Andres Iniesta as the players to watch.

"It will be important, but not decisive. Three more points are at stake, but we will face our greatest opponent and there are nevertheless many games left in the championship," he told his club's official website.

Of Xavi and Iniesta, Alonso said of his Spain team-mates: "Their performance level is truly impressive. I believe they are the best midfielders in the world."

Team news

Barca will call on their Spanish stars to do the business for them on Sunday as they look unlikely to call upon the services of Lionel Messi or Imbrahimovic for the derby affair.

Neither forward seems fit enough to start, Messi is struggling with the leg injury he picked up last weekend while his Swedish strike partner has been unable to shake off a thigh complaint.

Real have been boosted by the return of Ronaldo after the £80million signing made a successful comeback from an ankle injury as a substitute in Wednesday's Champions League success.

Pellegrini faces a dilemma on who to partner Raul up front with Gonzalo Higuain staking his claim after scoring his seventh goal of the season midweek, while Benzema will be hoping to feature in his first taste of 'El Clasico'.

Barcelona v Real Madrid Correct Score: Real Madrid 1-0 9/1