After the disappointment during the week of the Champions League, Barça will have the match with the greatest rivalry. A meeting that is opportunity and conflict in equal parts for the azulgranas. These are the tactical keys from the Catalan perspective for the classic:
Without a doubt, the first key goes through the team with which Xavi decides to go out. And the main unknown will be how he will defend the strong side of Madrid (the side of Vinícius and Benzema). And it is that the whites turn 46% of the game to the left for only 27% to the right. With Koundé entering the squad, he will most likely be the one to take on such responsibility. There is no doubt that, due to conditions, he is the best option. Due to the profile that the Frenchman represents, he will play for sure, but it will depend on his physical condition if he is a right-handed winger or central defender. From there, it is also an ideal match for Frenkie de Jong to start. It is very likely that we will see him in the midfield. And above, it is not necessary to rule out that in one of the bands, the Barça coach bets on a false extreme.
In the last classic, Barça literally destroyed Madrid with vertical passes from inside to midfield. And it is that, due to the way in which the Madrid team is arranged in static defense, the sides of the pivot are an area in which a lot of damage is done. Due to the type of system (4-3-3) and the way Madrid moves, it is from the squares that the strikers are most clearly reached. Because linking between lines will force your central defenders, the pivot, or the wide back to leave your space. And it is that all the defensive line of the white team are ‘jumpers’.
Once connected to the described area and already with the talented players in three quarters watching the game face to face, there will be the last step to access the rival goal: the last pass, a wall, an overcoming drive or a pre-goal assist. And this is where the different players seek to associate to make a difference. Or what is the same, the one with the most talent in the midfield (Pedri) with the one with the highest level up front (Lewandowski). The connection between the two can be decisive for Barça in a scenario like the one that is going to take place.
Another capital factor will fall on the active pressure and the passive pressure. The best Barça has always come when they have been active at the top and all the players have been clear about their responsibilities in the jumps. And absolutely capital will be the vigilance when the ball is owned by the azulgranas. Because right now is the most important so that Madrid cannot surprise in transitions or, at least, not do so much damage. The two central defenders and one of the full-backs (for a better context) will have to be marking both the rivals that are off the hook and the opponents that are between the lines (Vinícius, Benzema, Rodrygo…) so that, in a possible Madrid recovery, the counter activation pass is not clean. Good vigilance is the best antidote against a team that, like the Madridistas, are strong in transitions.
But beyond everything described above, it will be a 4-3-3 against a 4-3-3 and a team used to dominating games against another that is also. And when this happens, it is vital to win the individual duels that take place over the ninety minutes. Outperforming your rival in dribbling, driving or in a controlled control maneuver will generate superiorities from which chances can be created. But also without the ball, where each defensive fight won means not lowering the team’s height and winning the small mental games. In matches of such a level and such equality, being better in duels brings you very close to victory. Individual responsibility to be stronger in the collective.
