Real Madrid and Barcelona meet on Sunday at 16:15 CEST at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first Clasico of the season, a match that tends to set the tone for the rest of the season. Los Blancos approach the game with two-point lead over the Catalans.
Teams, fans and journalists will be looking at where each side may gain an edge, as will bookmakers, with El Clasico attracting no shortage of online bets on sports. There is one area of the pitch that has not be touched on by many of the analyses and comment pieces that could well prove decisive though.
Vinicius Junior is returning to form
At one time the star of Real Madrid’s attack, there is little doubt that Kylian Mbappe is now the star of the show for Los Blancos. They look to the Frenchman for decisive contributions after he continued to grow through the second half of last season, while Vinicius endured his worst season since becoming a de facto starter.
Yet things are starting to look up for Vinicius, even if there have been some growing pains under new manager Xabi Alonso. Following a relatively quiet start to the sesaon, Vinicius has now been decisive in four out of Los Blancos’ last seven games, and made a key contribution to their win over Getafe, forcing a red card for Allan Nyom.
Jules Kounde struggling to hit the heights
Opposite him on Sunday will be Jules Kounde. Around 12 months ago, people were discussing Kounde’s performances at right-back as the best in Europe at his adopted position. Notching assist after assist, the Frenchman looked the perfect partner on the flank for Lamine Yamal.
Yet this season has been altogether trickier for Kounde. Making mental errors, giving away the ball in his own half, and struggling to halt wingers one-on-one, what was last season one of the most reliably solid areas of the pitch for Barcelona, has been an issue of late. To make matters worse, he has missed their last two training sessions, and although he is expected to be back in time for the Clasico, it is far from ideal preparation.
An area to keep an eye on?
With the contrasting form of Vinicius and Kounde, it could be the most decisive battle on the pitch. Recently Mbappe has been the one most feared by Barcelona, but as he comes off an ankle issue and two games a little less sharp than usual, Vinicius could be the man Real Madrid turn too. If Barcelona are to come out victorious, then no doubt Lamine Yamal will need a solid platform, and Kounde is the one likely charged with providing it.
