El Clasico duel: Can Barcelona break Real Madrid's unbeaten run at home?
As Barcelona and Real Madrid head into another much-awaited El Clasico showdown in La Liga for the nth time, it is interesting to look back at how they fared in their last five head-to-head duels.
Barca, the defending champions, and Real Madrid are locked in a fierce duel for La Liga leadership so their next derby this Monday is another crucial match for each of the long-time rivals.
To sum it up, Barca won three of those last five matches, two at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and one at Camp Nou, whilst the other two ended in draws, both at Camp Nou.
On Dec. 23, 2017, Barcelona walloped Real Madrid 3-0 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Arturo Vidal scoring a goal each for Blaugrana. Then on May 6, 2018. Both sides fought to a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou. Messi and Suarez scored for Barca, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, who scored the equaliser, delivered for Los Blancos.
At Camp Nou on October 28, 2018, Barca demolished Real Madrid 5-1 as Suarez rampaged for a hat-trick, whilst Philippe Coutinho and Vidal added a goal each. Marcelo provided the lone goal for Real Madrid.
SUPREMACY
Re-stamping their supremacy, Barcelona won again 1-0 over hosts Real Madrid on March 2, 2019, with midfielder Ivan Rakitic’s 26th-minute goal proving to be a big difference.
Their last meeting prior to Monday’s clash was held at Camp Nou on Dec. 18, 2019, in a match that resulted in a scoreless draw.
This season, Real Madrid have never been beaten at home in their last 12 La Liga matches, winning eight times and drawing on four occasions. Barca will attempt to break that run as they bid to keep their slim lead. At present, Barca have 53 points, two points ahead of Real Madrid, after 25 matches.
For this coming encounter, expect Barca and Real Madrid to play their A-games to get the best possible results.
MAN TO WATCH
And as usual, Messi will be the man to watch for Quique Setien’s side, who will still be without the injured Luis Suarez. Messi scored four goals, three in the first half, during Barca’s 5-0 pounding of Eibar in their latest La Liga match. Also, Messi have now scored 18 goals, to lead the La Liga goalscoring parade.
Antoine Griezmann is another key Barca player that Real Madrid defenders need to shackle. The French forward has scored a total of 8 goals in La Liga so far. Likewise, his 57th-minute enabled Barca to force a 1-1 tie against Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie held at Stadio San Paolo.
A win over Real Madrid on Monday gives Barca a five-win winning streak in the league and more importantly, a hold of the top spot.
Real Madrid will be hampered by the absence of the injured playmaker Eden Hazard but manager Zinedine Zidane have other reliable men to rely on among them Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos.
The biggest questions though, amongst the several on hand, are 1. Can Real Madrid continue their unbeaten run at home? and 2. Can Barcelona snap Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu?
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