Real Madrid’s win over Manchester City in front of their home fans will have given Carlo Ancelotti’s galacticos an astonishing sense of self-belief and improbable bravado as they prepare for their biggest game against perennial arch-rivals Barcelona tonight.
After dumping favourites City out of the Uefa Champions League quarterfinals midweek, Madrid will host their biggest adversary and defending champions, Barcelona, at the Santiano Bernabeu Stadium tonight at 9pm. Barcelona, on the other side, will want to use the match to bounce back after they were given ‘blue eyes’ by PSG in a 4-1 walloping on Tuesday.
For Madrid, they proved that they should still be counted among the best when they showed character and edged the high-flying Citizens in front of their own supporters via penalty kicks. Madrid booked their place in the Champions League semifinals and provided another demonstration of why they are the kings of the competition. Ancelotti’s side will take on Bayern Munich in the semifinals of the biggest club competition in the world.
However, Madrid know that they cannot afford to be complacent when they welcome the second-placed Barcelona. Immediately after their defeat, Barca players gathered at their exquisite training venue, the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, and every available first-team squad player joined the session. All eyes are now looking forward to preparing for tonight’s encounter. The training sessions were light to allow for recovery given the exertions during the clash against PSG.
In their last 13 matches, Barca have recorded nine wins, three draws, and a single win.
Raphinha, Robert Lewandoski, Ilkey Gundogan, and Lamine Yamal will be highly motivated to get Barca back to winning ways.
Said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after their energy-sapping Champions League win: “From tomorrow [Thursday], we have to prepare well for Sunday’s game. The Clasico is crucial for the league. We’re delighted, but we’re very tired. We celebrated because it’s a very important qualification. We showed the attitude and commitment demanded by this jersey. Everyone was writing us off, but we’re still here,” he said.
Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham are some of the Madridstas who will give the Barcelona defensive wall a torrid time.
