The upcoming clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona on October 26 promises to be the most intriguing La Liga fixture of the season to date.
The two sides are once again leading the way in the Spanish top flight, with Madrid establishing a two-point lead over Barca after eight games.
Online bookmakers marginally favour Madrid in the latest outright betting, and fans can click here to find the latest odds on what promises to be a thrilling race.
As with any El Clasico meeting, tactics will play a key role in the outcome. With that in mind, read on as we offer sports bettors some useful tactical insights ahead of the big game.
Carrick highlights Barcelona’s deficiencies
Barcelona went into the October international break on the back of disappointing defeats in the Champions League and La Liga.
Hansi Flick’s side were tactically outwitted by Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA’s top club competition, and followed up with a dismal performance at Sevilla in the league.
The 2-1 home defeat against PSG highlighted some significant defensive flaws which Madrid could potentially exploit at the Bernabeu Stadium later this month.
Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, who now works as a technical observer for UEFA, pinpointed how PSG took advantage of Flick’s tactical set-up.
“There was so much focus on pressing forward and relying on regaining it in that direction,” Carrick said. “But as we saw, the downside of this is there is a lot of space behind and across the back line.
“It’s great if you win the ball back or if the other team keep passing to feet and trying to keep possession, but it leaves you exposed against a team that is happy to run and pass less.”
Ramos offers Mbappe a Kane-inspired clue
PSG striker Goncalo Ramos provided Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe with a useful pointer about overcoming Barcelona’s high line.
Ramos took inspiration from Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane, who initially positioned himself in an offside position behind Barca’s defence before scoring in a Champions league game last year.
His unusual positioning baffled the central defenders and was a tactic Ramos replicated to score the winning goal for PSG last week.
In each instance, the ball was switched to a speedy wide player running in behind the defence. They were offside when the pass was played.
The strikers subsequently moved into an onside position when the wide players advanced, causing confusion among Barcelona’s defensive line.
The similarities in both goals offer Mbappe a sizeable clue about the best way to overcome Barcelona’s high line in the upcoming El Clasico clash.
Alonso’s unpredictability could be Madrid’s Achilles heel
While Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has undoubtedly made a positive start to life at the club, his team suffered a noteworthy setback under his tutelage.
Atletico Madrid’s recent 5-2 victory over their local rivals was fuelled by quick attacking movements which exploited sizeable gaps at the back.
Alonso has attempted to be unpredictable this season by rotating his squad and shuffling his tactics, but Atletico tore them to shreds.
While constantly changing the line-up is designed to confuse opponents, it also has the potential to be disruptive to Madrid’s own performances.
Players generally thrive when they have the opportunity to build relationships with their teammates, and Alonso’s methods can cause confusion.
Flick could potentially capitalise by identifying areas in Madrid’s line-up where the synergies between the players are not as established as they should be.
