El Clasico 2019: Barcelona vs Real Madrid Match Preview, Teams News and Predictions

The El Clasico 2019 between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one of the most followed rivalries in the world of football. The two teams are all set to clash in the first El Clasico of the season on December 19. The match starts at 12.30 am on Thursday. Both teams are on 35 points each with Barcelona topping the points table and Madrid being second. After the El Clasico clash, it will get clear which side pushes its case on top.

In the last five El Clasico meetings between the two teams, Barcelona have beaten Madrid four times. Overall, both teams have won 72 games against each other and the winner of this game will go a notch above on the count. The match which was supposed to be played in October was postponed by two months as nine Catalan separatist leaders were sentenced to jail for sedition over their role in the referendum.

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Meanwhile, injuries are a matter of concern for Barca in the El Clasico 2019. Ousmane Dembele is nursing a thigh injury and will not take the field against Madrid. Arthur Melo is also unavailable. He has missed the last three games and would be very fortunate to make it back in time for Wednesday night. Lionel Messi as always will be the key man to watch out for in this contest for Barcelona. He has scored 12 goals in this season assisting another six.

For Madrid, Karim Benzema has quietly slipped into the role of the lead striker after Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus. Benzema has scored 12 goals so far this season and would look to make the El Clasico night his night. This also means that Benzema has scored almost 36 percent of Madrid’s goals in this season so far in the El Clasico 2019.

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Meanwhile, Eden Hazard is unlikely to play again in 2019 following a toe injury and so will not be available to face Barca, likewise, James Rodriguez will also be out until at least the new year.

Probable Teams XI for both side

Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, De Jong; Messi, Suárez, Griezmann

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius

There are some interesting numbers to look forward to in the El Clasico 2019 match on Thursday night. Barcelona with 399 goals vs Madrid is one short of scoring 400 goals against their arch-rivals in the La Liga. Also, Lionel Messi is on the verge of breaking Xavi’s record of 42 appearances – the most by a Barca player in Clasico history.