News
MIÉ 16.03.2022
ElClasico, one of the most exciting matches in LaLiga Santander, takes place this Sunday 20 March at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The first encounter between the two this season ended 2-1 in favour of Carlo Ancelotti’s men and they’ll be hosting FC Barcelona at their ground sitting pretty at the top of the standings with 66 points. As for Xavi Hernández’s side, they’ve now won four on the bounce and are third in the table on 51 points, while also having a game in hand over their Madrid rivals.
Los Merengues and Los Culés are enjoying a great half of the season and go into the most anticipated encounter of the campaign almost inseparable on a number of key metrics. While the hosts average 61% possession, Xavi’s side boast a slightly higher record of 65%, enjoying more time on the ball overall.
Los Blancos have managed to score more goals (59) than their Catalan rivals (52) and have conceded fewer (21) than their opponents on Sunday (29).
As for the accuracy of successful passes, both teams boast a very high percentage: exceeding 88%. This breaks down as 89.01% for Real Madrid and 88.13% for FC Barcelona.
Standout players
In order to judge how both teams are looking ahead of ElClasico we’ll need to study which team is superior in each metric. The players are the reason behind these teams thrashing others and keeping clean sheets, the players who have the best successful pass and dribble stats, who revel in every shot they take and carry they’re involved in, and who dazzle fans all around the world.
As for the hosts and starting from the back, Thibaut Courtois is undoubtedly a standout figure. Beyond being a commanding presence from his position in goal, the Belgian has made 72 saves so far this season; only four players surpass him in this regard. Seen by Carlo Ancelotti as undroppable, along with Eder Militão the 29-year-old has featured more than any other Real Madrid player this season.
If there’s any goalscorer whose name should be shouted from the rooftops, a textbook centre forward and a cornerstone of Los Blancos’ attacking prowess, then that person is Karim Benzema. The veteran Frenchman has forged a terrific partnership with Vinicius Junior, striking fear into the hearts of all LaLiga Santander defenders. Benzema leads the Spanish top flight’s scoring charts with 22 strikes, has set up 10 goals for his teammates while also being Real Madrid’s most prolific shooter on target – 42 attempts so far this campaign. However his dazzling young Brazilian teammate isn’t far behind; Vini has found the net 14 times and provided six assists, meaning he’s second only to Benzema in both his club and LaLiga Santander’s top scorers. What’s more, his phenomenal footwork, often involving bursts into the opponents’ box, means that he’s achieved more successful dribbles than any other player; 78.
Marco Asensio and Luka Modric have made valuable contributions; the former scoring eight times, the latter assisting on five occasions. This puts them among Real Madrid’s top three players with most goals and assists over the course of the season.
In terms of their defence, Militão is his side’s best player at winning the ball back, having done so 41 times. Aside from being a formidable defender, the Brazilian is capable of taking the ball out of the defensive third and starting off Real Madrid’s attacks.
The axis upon which Los Blancos’ team revolves is their midfield; it’s from there that Toni Kroos dictates play. The German has made more successful passes this season than any other player at the club and ranks as third overall in the division with 1,625. As for his teammates, David Alaba is closely followed by Casemiro in their passing contributions.
As for Barcelona, they’ve got German star André Ter Stegen between the sticks. He’s saved 49 shots this season, while backup keeper Neto has stopped six. Ter Stegen is a safe pair of hands in goal and is one of Xavi’s first names on the teamsheet; he’s started 25 games this season.
Up at the other end of the pitch it’s Memphis Depay who provides Les Cules’ firepower. The Dutchman has scored ten times from 29 shots on target. He’s Barcelona’s top marksman and their most daring in front of goal; only four other players in LaLiga Santander exceed his record of attempts on target. The 28-year-old has taken to the club like a duck to water and goes into his second ElClasico on great form. However it’s not just Memphis who’s among the goals for Barcelona; Luuk De Jong, new arrival Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie De Jong are the club’s other top scorers this season, with the first two mentioned finding the net five times and the latter two scoring three times apiece.
In terms of creating chances, Jordi Alba and Ousmane Dembélé share top spot for most goalscoring opportunities made of their teammates. This record of seven assists each puts them third overall out of LaLiga Santander players.
Frenkie De Jong’s technical ability on the ball sees him ranked statistically as his side’s number one dribbler as well as being one of the pillars of the Catalan’s midfield. His vision, the way he reads his opponents, and his defensive efforts make him a fantastic all-round footballer and the pivot from which the whole Barcelona team revolves around.
The Dutchman plays alongside the insatiable Sergio Busquets, who isn’t only the Camp Nou team’s best player at winning back balls, but also sits top of the ranking of passers at Barcelona and in LaLiga Santander. He’s a mainstay in his role and is a safe bet for coach Xavi, who knows the 33-year-old inside-out. Busquets has been a reliable face for Barcelona over the years and one who hasn’t lost the desire to succeed with his boyhood team.
22 players will determine the outcome of what will be one of the matches of the season in Matchday 29 and both sides will battle it out from the get-go in search of the three points.
The countdown has begun and anticipation levels are rising as it’s not long to go until fans get a chance to watch these stars in action. Let the show begin!
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