The first El Clasico of the season is finally upon us. After being postponed earlier in the season, one of the world’s most intense sporting rivalries resumes when Real Madrid visits Camp Nou to take on Barcelona. As if this heated series needed any more reason for intrigue, these two teams are tied atop the La Liga table heading into this matchup. The winner, should there be one, will set the tone for the remainder of the season.
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Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
When: Wednesday, December 18
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: beIN SPORTS
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
Barcelona’s struggle to restore its usual domination over the competition continued over the weekend as it was only able to manage a 2-2 draw away to Real Sociedad. The Blaugrana could’ve easily walked out with another loss if a little luck didn’t go the team’s way. The sweet taste of qualifying for the Champions League Round of 16 was quickly washed out by the reality that this Barcelona side still has a ton of work to do. The pressure on manager Ernesto Valverde is mounting. A negative result in such a high profile occasion as El Clasico and it could be the final straw for him. On the flip side, a big win and impressive performance against Barcelona’s biggest rival could be just what the team needs to find its groove heading into the new year.
For as different as these two archenemies are, they are having quite similar seasons so far. Real Madrid also managed only a point over the weekend and needed a Karim Benzema goal deep into second half stoppage time to do it. It’s been a struggle for Zinedine Zidane in his second stint as manager with constant discontent within the squad. Inconsistent performances along with aging stars have caused uncertainty as to what exactly the Frenchman’s best lineup looks like. Barcelona knows it is in a vulnerable position. If the team can knock off its rivals and grab the top spot in the league it would be a huge boost going forward.
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