Three things Barcelona need to do to beat Real Madrid in El Clasico

· BarcaUniversal

Barcelona have the chance to make a serious statement in Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou. Nine wins from nine La Liga matches have given Hansi Flick’s side a six-point advantage over Real Madrid. A victory over Jose Mourinho’s team will extend that gap to nine points. It would also […] The post Three things Barcelona need to do to beat Real Madrid in El Clasico appeared first on Barca Universal .

Barcelona have the chance to make a serious statement in Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou .

Nine wins from nine La Liga matches have given Hansi Flick’s side a six-point advantage over Real Madrid.

A victory over Jose Mourinho’s team will extend that gap to nine points. It would also be a psychological boost for Barça after suffering a midweek defeat to PSG in the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid have rediscovered their attacking prowess. The Catalans remain favourites on league form, but they have lost the air of invincibility that surrounded them.

With that in mind, here are three things Barcelona must get right to win the Clasico .

Keep the high defensive line, but make the pressing work

The defeat in Paris exposed a familiar weakness. Barcelona’s high defensive line becomes vulnerable when opponents have enough time to pick out runners behind it.

Real Madrid have the players to punish similar mistakes, particularly Kylian Mbappe and Yan Diomande, who would constantly look to use their pace.

However, abandoning the high line would mean sacrificing one of Flick’s biggest strengths and the philosophy that they live by.

Barcelona have caught opponents offside 29 times in La Liga this season, evidence of how effectively their defensive structure can work.

The solution is better coordination, not a complete tactical change. As Pau Cubarsi recently explained , Barcelona’s forwards must press aggressively like animals.

That means Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and the midfielders cannot allow Real Madrid’s players time to look up and pick out a pass.

When the first press fails, Barcelona must recover their positions quickly rather than leaving the centre-backs exposed.

Mbappe’s speed is dangerous, but it becomes considerably less threatening when Barça cut out the passes Real Madrid try to play to him.

Control midfield and deny Real Madrid easy transitions

Mourinho has recently found greater midfield control through the creative influence of Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva, while Jude Bellingham remains a threat further forward.

Barcelona cannot afford to turn Sunday’s match into a series of end-to-end attacks. This is where Pedri and Rodri become particularly important.

Pedri’s ability to escape pressure and dictate the tempo can prevent Real Madrid from building momentum. Rodri, meanwhile, must provide the defensive balance that allows Barcelona’s attacking players to take risks.

The key for Barça is controlling what happens immediately after they lose possession. Real Madrid have produced 19 shots from high turnovers in La Liga this season.

Careless passes in central areas could therefore be especially costly, and Pedri and Rodri could be key in ensuring Barça avoid them.

Barcelona should look to stretch the visitors with quick combinations, but without forcing every attack. Sometimes keeping the ball for another 20 seconds is more valuable than attempting a forward pass for the sake of it.

Barcelona have far superior quality in midfield, and they should make sure they dominate Los Blancos in this area on Sunday.

Make Lamine Yamal and Raphinha count in the final third

Barcelona’s biggest advantage might be their attacking quality. Lamine Yamal has contributed to a goal in 10 consecutive matches, while Raphinha leads La Liga’s scoring charts with 12 goals.

Meanwhile, Federico Valverde is expected to start at right-back. Having to go one-on-one against Anthony Gordon will not be easy for the Uruguayan.

On the opposite flank, Yamal’s ability to draw defenders towards him can create space for overlapping runs or passes into the penalty area.

Raphinha’s movement is equally important. His willingness to attack spaces between defenders can stretch Madrid’s back line and create room for teammates.

Barcelona have scored 22 goals in five home matches across all competitions this season. There is no reason to approach this Clasico any differently.

However, one thing they need to ensure, unlike at the Parc des Princes, is that they take their chances.

Against a Real Madrid side with Mbappe and Bellingham, wasting clear opportunities could prove expensive.

Barcelona need to play somewhere near their best level to beat Jose Mourinho’s team, and it remains to be seen whether a nine-point lead will be their reward this Sunday.

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