Barcelona only needs victory in the classic and will play with three pure forwards at the Bernabéu. Madrid, the comfortable leader in the League, also acts accordingly and will form with six theoretical midfielders. Xavi sacrifices Pedri to Pedri in search of the solidity and stability provided by Christensen’s presence as a defensive midfielder. Ancelotti, for his part, is betting on Modric next to Kroos in the midfield and does not reserve any of his attacking men.
The Dane, suspended in the Champions League in the fateful return against PSG, regains his place in the eleven and will accompany De Jong and Gündogan in the midfield. Barcelona covers its back because it has its starting forward: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski.
For Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí it will be their first time at the Santiago Bernabéu as Barcelona players. Yes, they were with the Spanish team against Brazil last March. The two youth players from La Masia make their debut as starters in a classic. At 16 and 17 years old, respectively.
Despite his expulsion against the Parisians, Araújo does not lose his place in the Blaugrana defense since his power is key to stopping the whites’ counterattacks against Ter Stegen, who arrives with six games without conceding. Cancelo also repeats, author of the penalty that meant the 1-3 with which PSG definitively turned the tie around and eliminated Barça.
Instead, the coach leaves João Félix, key in Barcelona’s last three victories in the League, on the bench for the second half.
This is the Barça eleven: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Cancelo, Christensen, De Jong, Gündogan, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski.
At Real Madrid, Ancelotti makes three changes compared to the team that played initially in Manchester. Carvajal, Nacho and Mendy, who started Wednesday in the Champions League, remain on the bench. In his place, Lucas Vázquez, Tchouaméni – who was suspended in Europe – and Modric enter the eleven. The Croatian midfielder, who will be the white captain, plays his classic number 34.
The leader comes out with six midfielders, although Camavinga will be the left back and Tchouaméni will occupy the axis of the defense. Thus, those who will play in the engine room are Kroos, Valverde, the aforementioned Modric and Bellingham as a playmaker.
The Englishman is one of the four players who does not rest despite playing 120 minutes against City, like Camavinga, Fede Valverde and Rüdiger. The forwards will be Rodrygo and Vinícius, lethal for Barça in the Super Cup final in January in the last classic.
Real Madrid plays with Lunin, Lucas Vázquez, Rüdiger, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinícius.
