Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: El Clasico result and reaction from La Liga tonight
Tonight’s Clasico sees Real Madrid host Barcelona in a pivotal match in the race for the title with Atletico Madrid still top
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Real Madrid host Barcelona in a tantalising Clasico that will have a major impact on who lifts the title in La Liga this season.
Atletico Madrid are still out in front, but the gap is now one point to Lionel Messi’s side, with Los Blancos just two points further back.
Zinedine Zidane’s side enter the contest on a high after pulling off an emphatic victory over Liverpool to take control of their Champions League quarter-final.
One of the keys to the game will be Messi’s impact after six straight blanks in the Clasico since Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus, but Ronald Koeman is confident the Argentine can snap that streak to inspire the Blaugrana: “I hope that Messi can prove decisive because we need him to play at his best and for Barca to also show its best version. For our attack, our passing game, and to create scoring chances, we need Leo.”
While Karim Benzema, who has 18 La Liga goals, five less than Messi (23), believes Real’s pressing will be key to the game’s outcome: “When we press, we have to go all out. And when we have the ball, we have to develop good possessions, because they don’t like chasing the ball.”
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The players are out under the lights in Madrid. We’ll be off very shortly...
LAST MEETING
Real Madrid got the better of their famous rivals in the reverse fixture at the Camp Nou in October. A 3-1 win sent Los Blancos to the top of the nascent La Liga standings in October, while Barcelona languished in midtable after a dismal start under Ronald Koeman. Plenty has changed since.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE ON TITLE RACE
“Atletico have an advantage, they’re first. Whatever happens, right until the end, we’ll all have to play for the league. Until the end, we won’t know. I don’t know how many points are left, but it’s a lot. Tomorrow [against Barcelona] they’re three points, the same as against Eibar or Cadiz or the rest.”
MODEST VENUE
The typical glamour of El Clasico will be absent tonight. There are no fans, of course, and Real Madrid are still playing their home games at the 6,000-seater Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
HOW IT STANDS
Tonight’s Clasico is a huge game in the context of the title race. Real Madrid are currently third, two points behind Barcelona and three off leaders Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona are just a point off top after an impressive run of domestic form since the turn of the year.
HOW TO WATCH
How to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona online and on TV tonight
All you need to know ahead of El Clasico tonight
Real Madrid vs Barcelona team news
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Aruajo, Lenglet; Dest, Busquets, Pedri, De Jong, Jordi Alba; Messi, Dembélé
Koeman tips Messi to end Clasico drought
“I hope that Messi can prove decisive because we need him to play at his best and for Barca to also show its best version,” Koeman said.
“For our attack, our passing game, and to create scoring chances, we need Leo.”
Zidane hopes this is not Messi’s last Clasico
“I don’t want this to be the last ‘clasico’ for Messi,” Zidane said on Friday.
“Hopefully he stays at Barcelona. He’s good there and it’s also good for the Spanish league. We know how good a player he is.”
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