After securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Real Madrid are back in LaLiga action in the first official Clásico of the season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side welcome Barcelona on matchday nine of the league competition (4:15 pm CET) with the aim of collecting three points to move clear at the top of the table. The first clash of the season and it promises to be a fascinating one, with the teams neck and neck at the top of LaLiga Santander.
Both sides go into the Clásico level on points at the top of the standings and the madridistas are unbeaten so far this campaign. There are identical records - seven wins, one draw, no defeats - Los Blancos and the Blaugrana are only separated by goal difference as things stand. The Whites currently have a record of 11 wins and two draws in all competitions. “We've started the season well and we're ready”, said Militão ahead of the clash.
Carlo Ancelotti has named his squad, as follows:
Goalkeepers: Lunin, Luis López, Cañizares.
Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militão, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Lucas V., Rüdiger, F. Mendy.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modrić, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni.
Forwards: Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vini Jr., Rodrygo, Mariano
“It’s a special game for everyone”, said Ancelotti in the press conference before the match. The Italian coach with be without Courtois in his squad for the match, but Benzema makes his return after missing out in the previous league fixture to line up alongside Vini Jr. The Brazilian in the team’s top goal scorer so far this season with seven goals.
Barcelona head to the Bernabéu having recorded seven wins and one draw in LaLiga. Lewandowski is the Catalans’ top marksman, with nine goals in the competition. In terms of previous meetings between the two rivals, the madridistas just about edge it with 76 wins, 35 draws and 73 defeats.
Some interesting facts about the current squads and expenditures
Looking at this contest, this combination of talent and expenditure on the same field, we are witnessing a real millionaire's playground. Two clubs with a financial power that few can match. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have spent eye-watering sums stockpiling an enviable arsenal of some of the most expensive players in the game. Real Madrid and Barcelona do have some homegrown talent in their ranks, such as Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Ansu Fati and Gavi. However, both squads stand out for the expensively imported talent.
This summer alone, for example, Barcelona, despite their precarious financial situation, splashed out some 158 million euros (plus add-ons) on refreshing their squad with an influx of new signings. In came Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Marcos Alonso, Hector Bellerin and Pablo Torre. Real Madrid, for their part, spent 80 million on just one player: Aurelien Tchouameni. They also snapped up Antonio Rudiger on a free from Chelsea.
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