Real Madrid’s meeting with Barcelona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu—the Clásico—is the type of sporting occasion you clear your schedule for.

It’s a spectacle that has everything. The rivalry between the pair is steeped in history, in drama and controversy, often transcending what goes on on the pitch. And in the modern age, the Clásico has become the home to the world’s best footballers, with both sides establishing themselves as the two strongest teams in the game.

There’s always something on this match, but there is something on Sunday’s match. Real Madrid lead the way at the top of La Liga heading into the weekend, three points clear of Barcelona having played a game less. Victory for Zinedine Zidane’s men would bury the title chances of their enemies.

As for the Blaugrana, it’s a do or die contest. A potential Copa del Rey win would be viewed as nothing more than conciliatory, with Barcelona expected to win one of La Liga or the Champions League; after their midweek elimination in the latter, the pressure is on Luis Enrique’s men to keep their league hopes alive.

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It’s a massive challenge for Barcelona, as Madrid have knuckled down and ground out results so effectively under Zidane. The Blaugrana are set to be without star attacker Neymar too, as he’s suspended for the contest.

 

 

Los Blancos would enjoy nothing more than ending Barcelona’s title hopes. Three points here and the Madridistas can relish the rest of the run-in, with La Liga almost certainly secure and another European Cup potentially on the cards too. That’d be tough to take from a Blaugrana perspective.

Where to watch Real Madrid-Barcelona on US TV:

Date: Sunday, April 23, 2017
Time: 2:45 p.m. (ET), 11:45 a.m. (PT)
US TV: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español
US Streaming: Fanatiz and fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

Real Madrid

In their two huge recent home matches, Real Madrid haven’t performed to the best of their ability.

Against Atletico Madrid they were nullified for long spells and lost concentration late on in a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, in midweek against Bayern Munich, they lost 2-1 in normal time, only to move through the gears in the additional 30 minutes and progress with a bit of help from the match official.

As unimpressive as Los Blancos may look at times for all their star quality, they have a way of doing just about enough under Zidane. Enough to keep Barcelona at bay in La Liga and enough to progress at Bayern’s expense in the Champions League.

While this team is still yet to forge a clear stylistic identity under Zidane, they’re a winning team, something Barcelona are not as things stand. The manager also has a squad that looks remarkably fresh at the end of what must have been a draining season for the capital club.

It’s why the potential absence of Gareth Bale may not be a catastrophic blow for this one. Of course, the Welshman is so dangerous against teams like Barcelona who open the game up. But Isco is rejuvenated this term, Lucas Vazquez is ideal for these occasions and Marco Asensio, as he showed against Bayern, is ready for the big stage.

Madrid have players who have relished these grand occasions this season too. Cristiano Ronaldo was peripheral for long spells against Bayern, but netted a hat-trick in the end. In Sergio Ramos, who scored a late equalizer in this fixture earlier in the campaign, Los Blancos are arguably in possession of the ultimate big-game player too.

Barcelona

When Madrid have stumbled this season in La Liga, Barcelona have so often failed to take full advantage.

Indeed, after the 1-1 draw in the Madrid derby, the Blaugrana travelled to Malaga with the chance to take top spot on offer. Instead, they turned in a terrible showing and crucially, Neymar was sent off and slapped with an extra two-game ban for his petulance. It means he will miss Sunday’s Clásico.

It makes a victory a massive ask for Barcelona. Not only have they struggled away from home recently, losing four of their last six on the road in all competitions, they’re a side that looked jaded in midweek, as they were comfortably kept at arm’s length by an indomitable Juventus team.

Match: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
Kickoff: Sunday, April 23rd 2:45pm ET
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Take Neymar out of that XI and the Blaugrana would potentially have been even more pedestrian. Lionel Messi, naturally, was a persistent threat with the ball at his feet, while Luis Suarez buzzed in and out of the game. But as things stand, Barcelona are too reliant on individuals producing moments of genius to haul them through.

You sense that’s what they’ll need on Sunday. After all, Enrique has some big decisions to make in terms of personnel, with Neymar’s absence potentially meaning a change in system given the lack of depth in the squad. That’s far from ideal on the brink of what is the team’s biggest game of the season.

Barcelona won this fixture 4-0 last season, with Neymar and Suarez running riot against a hapless Madrid outfit You sense Sunday’s assignment will be a whole lot tougher.

Key Battle – Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Gerard Pique

Ronaldo’s evolution from a daring wide player to predator extraordinaire has been completed in full this season, as was evident with his penalty-box prowess against Bayern in midweek. In means Pique is the man that’ll be tasked with shackling him on Sunday.

The Real Madrid striker can go for long spells without touching the ball now, although when the capital club push forward, he’s so alert to chances in the area and ruthless in his finishing when the ball drops to him.

Pique will need to be watchful as a result. While Barcelona will be disappointed they were unable to breach the Juventus defense on Wednesday evening, they were sturdy at the back themselves, with Pique marshaling his men well. More of that will be needed at what is always a hostile venue for the Blaugrana players.

They’re both men who thrive in Clásico contests, with Ronaldo grabbing 16 goals in this fixture in total, with Alfredo Di Stefano the only Madrid player with more. Pique, alongside his fellow defenders, will need to turn in gargantuan displays to keep the hosts out.