Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: 5 key matchups

Barcelona host Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday. Here are five matchups that could determine the result.

A few main themes continue to define the headlines leading up to the first Clasico of the season on Sunday: Lionel Messi’s arm injury, which will keep him sidelined for the game, Real’s horrific start to the season, their worst in 17 years, and the post Cristiano Ronaldo-Messi era.

As far as the immediate matchup is concerned, it’s safe to say that the start of the Julen Lopetegui’s tenure as manager of Real Madrid has not been an auspicious one. Which brings us to the first of five key matchups.

Ernesto Valverde vs. Julien Lopetegui

Lopetegui is most likely on his last lifeline at Real. Only a strong performance against Barcelona may save his job, or at least delay his firing. To win, he’ll have to outwit his counterpart, which means anticipating and counteracting the game plan Valverde has in place given Messi’s absence. If Valverde can still exploit Real’s weaknesses while neutralizing any danger, it’s likely Barcelona will come away a winner and Lopategui will be unemployed.

Ousmane Dembele vs. Marcelo

Assuming Marcelo is fit to play and that Dembele starts on the right side of Barcelona’s attack, the two will be facing up against each other. Given the Brazilian left-back’s tendency to push forward, it will be interesting to see whether Dembele, who is great in open space and (unlike Messi) not so great in tight spaces, can exploit any real estate left behind by Marcelo’s surging runs. Marcelo is a late injury concern for Lopetegui after suffering an ankle injury in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but it appears he’ll be ready to feature on Sunday.

Gerard Pique vs. Karim Benzema

With Samuel Umtiti out for an extended period, the pressure to mark Real’s number 9 falls squarely on Pique’s shoulders. Not exactly known for being a shutdown defender, Pique will need to stay mentally disciplined in order to be effective. In his ninth year at Real, Benzema is now a veritable stalwart for Los Merengues. He may have lost some of his earlier, youthful acceleration and ability to create space for himself but he has become more of a poacher and more effective finisher. Following Ronaldo’s departure, Benzema is Real’s main threat. He has scored six goals so far this season, which although it may not sound impressive, is already half of his entire tally for last season. With Marco Asensio looking unsettled at the club, Benzema is by default the man to contain even after all these years. If Pique can shut down the French striker on Sunday it may prove a decisive factor in determining the El Clasico’s winner.

Philippe Coutinho vs. Nacho Fernandez

Things are in flux on the right side of Real’s defense following Dani Carvajal’s injury, but let’s assume the Lucas Vazquez-as-right-back experiment is over, and we’ll once again see Nacho deputizing for Carvajal and Rafael Varane returning to the center of the defense. Nacho is more of a stay-at-home, no nonsense defender than Carvajal and shouldn’t be caught out of position. However, he doesn’t possess the same close-down speed as Carvajal and given Coutinho’s superior pace and dribbling ability, containing the diminutive Brazilian will be a challenge. Given Real’s defensive issues of late, (i.e their tendency to allow opponents space around the box and inability to shut down the passing channels), this becomes a key matchup.

Luka Modric vs. Arthur

So far this season, Modric hasn’t been able to shake the post-World Club hangover, playing in the general malaise affecting the Real Madrid ranks. By contrast, summer transfer Arthur has worked his way into the regular starting lineup and is beginning to draw hot-takey, premature comparisons to Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta. His poise, vision and exquisite touch seem custom-made for Barcelona’s needs and style. Modric likes to operate on the right side which should result in a number of direct duels against the young Brazilian midfielder. Beyond the immediate impact on the game this is a duel of two different generations of players. Whether youth is served or the wily veteran prevails may determine the success of their respective teams.