Sergi Roberto offers up 3-0 Barcelona vs. Real Madrid SCORE PREDICTION! | Futbol Americas
Sergi Roberto predicts Barcelona 3-0 Real Madrid in El Clasico
On ESPN FC's Futbol Americas, Sergi Roberto discusses Barcelona's attacking style under Hansi Flick, the upcoming Clasico, Rodri's impact on the midfield and Pedri's development. He argues that Barcelona should stick with their current approach and predicts a 3-0 win over Real Madrid in El Clasico. The show later praises Roberto's versatility and game intelligence.
- El Clasico cannot be judged purely by form, and an underrated Real Madrid is more dangerous — El Clasico is like a final, and Madrid are never easy even when they are not in the best league form; Barcelona are in better shape and playing better, but an easy win is unrealistic.
- Flick's biggest change at Barcelona is relentless attacking and full-team pressing rather than the old possession-dominated approach; the style is worth sticking with even if it leads to losses — The team presses as a unit after losing the ball and thinks only about scoring; they also played a great game against Paris Saint-Germain, and losing this way is acceptable.
- Barcelona should continue this risky style rather than change because of defensive concerns, and Rodri can help them push for the Champions League — This approach previously took them close to the Champions League final, the competition is full of unpredictability, and the team can still improve.
- Against Real Madrid, Barcelona will control possession while Madrid wait without the ball to counter, completely different from the end-to-end game against Paris Saint-Germain — Paris Saint-Germain also like to have the ball, making it like a tennis match; Madrid are more comfortable without the ball and on quick counterattacks.
- Vinicius's absence is not decisive because Real Madrid have other quality players; Barcelona just need to focus on themselves and keep their style to win — Vinicius is dangerous even if not at his best, and Real Madrid have other excellent players in the squad.
- Rodri brings stability to Barcelona's midfield and is a different kind of positional player — He has proven himself at Manchester City and with Spain, is always in the right place, plays simple one- and two-touch football, and positions himself well defensively.
- Barcelona's depth and variety in midfield is a strength, giving Flick a good problem and allowing rotation to keep energy — Rodri started on the bench against Paris Saint-Germain; the midfield has attacking, positional and roaming players, so there are many options.
- Pedri has been one of the best midfielders in the world in recent seasons, and Barcelona are lucky to have him — He has performed at a high level in the World Cup, Champions League and league; Roberto played alongside him and knows his ability and character.
- Barcelona will beat Real Madrid 3-0 — No detailed reasoning was given; he gave the scoreline directly.
- Roberto is composed, mature and highly intelligent, an ultimate team player capable of playing multiple positions — He was like a Swiss Army knife as a player, and playing different positions requires a keen physical and mental understanding of the game that not everyone has.
On Futbol Americas, Sergi Roberto joins ahead of Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in El Clasico. 0:00 El Clasico?! 1:20 Hansi Flick changing Barcelona 4:30 What Barca need to get right 6:30 Changing the Barca midfield 10:20 Score prediction ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN
Transcript
Perfect. Well, we'll just start then because I mean, as you know, Barcelona have been very dominant so far this season and I feel like now a lot of people automatically expect them to win Eláico again, but I know Eláico is a different game. Um, so how do you see it? Do you feel like this almost makes Real Madrid more dangerous, the fact that people are underestimating them, or are Barca just favorites? Yeah, look as you say in these kind of games is uh even one of the teams are much much better than the other one on the league or the way they play at the end is like a kind of final Madrid bar is always a different different game. Uh as you say I think Barca is in much better shape. They're playing amazing football. They destroying every game the the opponent. Um and Real Madrid are not playing the best but in this kind of games uh as you say maybe it's even for them they are even more dangerous like everyone's thinking that Barcelona will win easy but in this kind of games is never like that but but I believe and I hope Barca Barca win. >> I know I mean what fancy Flick has been doing and how he gets them playing again it's like it really feels like the beautiful game again. I know there's defensive issues. We'll talk about that in a bit. But what do you like the most about I think what Hansi has kind of changed at Barcelona. >> Uh I mean uh I think that the way they they they play always trying to like if they can win the game five five- nil. So five is better than four. But everyone thinks this way. But what you can see in um in this Barca is like they just thinking about scoring scoring scoring. And maybe in in the past Basa was more like dominating through the possession game also like scoring many goals but it was more like having the ball and going from one side to the other. Uh and this Barca with flick under flick I think is just more like attacking attacking attacking. They lost the ball and they press the whole team. That's also like maybe they conceding uh well they're not conceding so many goals but they know that if they concede one two goals it doesn't matter because they score like four five every game. Um it's true that now against Paris that for me is also one of the best teams in the world. If you give them space they also can can kill you. But it was an amazing game against Parisman and um I love I love the way Barca play if they need to lose this way. So, uh, it's okay. But, um, I love I love to see Barca. >> And when you you mentioned, of course, the defense, and I think a lot of times from last season, especially before we previewed this season, I think a lot of us on the show talked about if Barca want to win the Champions League, then defensively they can't play like that because other teams like a PSG will come in and and exploit that. Do you do you think like that or do you think they can actually carry on in the same way they're playing? I think they need to continue this way. I mean, was like two years ago against Inter Milan. They were like almost in the final. So, I think they need to keep this way. This this way brought them to the semi-final. Now, I think also with the addition of Rodri, uh it's also like a key player. Um I think also he will help them achieve the the goal of reaching the of winning the Champions League. I hope I hope it will be this year but you you know uh the Champions League is a different competition very difficult and everything can happen but I think if um they need to lose so lose this way um I think they need to keep playing like that is always of course you always can improve but but I love I love the way they play and with the players now Lamin Rafina Pedri like Eric like they have amazing team, amazing players and deep squad also with the new signings this year with Gordon Rodri. So I mean now Chavis Spar another player from Lamasia. So I I I hope I hope this year is the the one >> and I mean looking at that game of course unfortunately it was a loss for Barca um but still as you said against top opposition against PSG and Luis Enrique is PSG that I know deserves to be respected. They are the champions. What's the biggest thing you think Barca need to get right after watching the game yesterday before they go uh against Real Madrid? >> I think it's totally different style of play. Real Madrid and Paris center. Uh PSG can be more similar to Barca because they always want to have the ball. They want to have the ball as much as they can that the opponent don't have the ball. And Real Madrid is a little bit more different. I think they are also feeling more comfortable like without the ball waiting for the right moment to counterattack with the Venicious and Bair like fast players. So I think it will be totally different game where Bas I think will have more the control of the game more possession and Madrid will be waiting for the counters. Uh and against Paris and German it was like like a tennis game where you attack the other attack. So it was more this kind of game and I think again Real Madrid will be more para controlling controlling the game >> and with a game with Real Madrid of course no Mini Junior of course because he has to serve the suspension. Uh do you feel like that's a big blow for Real Madrid or is it almost like does that make it advantage Barca? >> Uh never know. I mean is not right now he's not in the best moment of his career but he's of course always dangerous. So if he's on the pitch always uh you need to be aware of him and he can't play but the will can play then I mean Real Madrid have amazing players if Venicious don't play so another amazing player will be there on the pitch but I think Barca just need to care about themsel about the to keep playing the way they play and I believe if they play same way they will win the game. And you mentioned Rodri. Um, of course we have to talk about him because what he does, especially in that midfield, is definitely very special. I know after his injury, a lots of people were wondering if he would still be the same Rodri that won that Balonor. But when he comes on, what does he change in that Barca midfield? How does he make it better? >> Uh, you can see Rodri the last seasons in Manchester City also in the national team this World Cup give the stability. he's always in the right uh place, always playing easy, one, two touches as the the team needs. Uh when defending is always al also in the right position. Um I mean Barca have amazing midfielders. I love I love all of them. Frankie, Gabi, uh all Bernal the ones who can play there. But I mean Rodri is different kind of players. is more positional player and I think can give this stability to the to the team >> and can help it both both ways offensively and defensively and yeah I think he's I didn't imagine Rodri will be playing for Barcel this season but he's a he's amazing for for the team for the club and and I really believe it's an amazing signing for for this season. Well, you mentioned of course some of the midfielders and Barcelona have always had midfielders that I think the world wants. Um, also another one is Pedri. Pedri has been playing well. Rodri, you mentioned Frankie Deong coming back as well with Frankie Deong available now. How do you make that midfield of him and Rodri and Pedri work? >> That's a flick decision. I think it's a good problem to have these these amazing players in the midfield. you can like give them rest like against Paris Rodri started from the bench. So it's amazing to have a deep squad and as you mentioned amazing players in the midfielder every player is different than the other one. One is more offensive the other one more positional the other one is more like moving around. So I mean you have many many options in a midfielder and that's really strength for for Barca. And I mean speaking about Pedri, of course you know Pedri uh very well too. You mentioned Shia Esparta as well who we're getting to see more and more about um his capabilities and he almost has had a similar path like you have in terms of having to play different positions as well whether for midfield back into that defensive line. Um what do you make of both of their progress Pedri and Shabi? >> Yeah, Pedri has been doing in the last I would say since he arrived to the to Barca. I I was lucky to to play alongside him and uh he's a amazing player, amazing uh person and a good friend of mine and and see him playing in these stages in this uh uh level like in the World Cup, in the Champions League games, in the league. Um he's been one of the best midfielders of the world in the last seasons and I think Barca is very very lucky to to have him in the squad and and Chavis Spar as you mentioned it reminds me a little bit of my career when he's a midfielder but uh now he's having the chance of playing as a left back the other day against Paris right back and he scored a goal and he's doing amazing. Um I'm very very happy for him and for Barca that uh every season there is a new player coming to the first squad making the difference and I wish him all the best that he keep hope he playing this way. Um and yeah we are very lucky as Barca fans to have always uh people from Lamaza coming to the first team. >> Yeah and then final question on Eláico before we start to talk about Elrafiko. Um, give us a prediction for this Sunday. Barcelona, Real Madrid. What do you see happening? >> Uh, I see Barcela winning and I give you 3. >> I was going to wonder if you were going to say five, better. Yeah. Good enough. >> Ah, deep down inside he wanted to say five. He wanted to say like a five. >> Manita. He wanted >> Yeah, he wanted to say Manita. Come on. He definitely did. All right. Well, that was Sio Roberto. We're going to hear from him a bit more later because he is about to play in his first El Trafrafico. We know he has a wealth of experience in Eláico, but it was nice to get the vibe to see if that same sort of pressure is there. Herk, what stood out to you from our chat? >> Just how composed and how mature he is. He obviously knows his way around the field. He was the ultimate, you know, Swiss Army knife when he was a player. He spoke a little bit of Shave Spart. He's like a guy could play as a midfielder. He play on the right, he's left. It's almost like he's describing himself. This the type of player he was the ultimate team player. And it's the high IQ that he has. Not just anybody can play multiple positions. You really have to have a real keen understanding of the game to play these positions. What it entails physically, mentally, where you need to be, and how you can help your team. He is that guy.