Actual Madrid hosts Barcelona to headline three blockbuster video games throughout European soccer

Muricas News  — 

A few of Europe’s largest golf equipment are set to face one another this weekend in what guarantees to be an thrilling carnival of soccer on the continent.

From native rivalries to traditionally feisty encounters, Muricas News appears at three of the largest matches over the following few days – one even entails arguably the largest musical artist on the planet.

First to Spain, the place bitter rivals Actual Madrid and Barcelona play on Sunday on the Bernabeu stadium.

It’s been one thing of a return to normality in La Liga with the 2 sides battling it out for supremacy as soon as once more.

Monetary woes contributed to a troublesome season for Barcelona final yr but it surely appears to be getting again to its finest domestically below the supervision of membership nice Xavi. It at the moment sits atop the desk – albeit solely aim distinction separating it from champion Actual.

Madrid, which gained final season’s title at a canter, maybe holds a psychological benefit going into this season’s first El Clasico.

Whereas Madrid progressed into the Champions League knockout levels courtesy of a last-minute equalizer in opposition to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, Barcelona’s hopes of a last-16 berth dangle by a thread after a dramatic draw in opposition to Inter Milan.

With qualification for the Champions League knockout levels now wanting unlikely, Xavi desires his group to make use of that frustration going into Sunday’s match in opposition to Barcelona’s largest rival.

“What's left for us is to show our consideration shortly to Sunday’s El Clasico, bounce again and concentrate on La Liga as a result of the Champions League has develop into very troublesome and sophisticated for us,” Xavi informed Movistar Plus on Wednesday.

One optimistic for Barcelona is the type of Robert Lewandowski, with the Polish striker scoring twice in opposition to Inter Milan in midweek.

He at the moment leads the La Liga scoring charts, having scored 9 targets in eight video games this season.

In the meantime, Actual Madrid stays unbeaten in all competitions this season and could have residence benefit in opposition to Barcelona.

However the host facet just isn't with out its personal issues, with star man Karim Benzema and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois potential damage doubts for the match.

And Madrid has additionally discovered it troublesome conserving clear sheets within the league this season, conceding seven to Barcelona’s one – however has been capable of depend on the in-form Vinicius Jr. to supply targets when wanted.

With each groups but to lose within the league this season, you are feeling one thing’s obtained to offer.

However simply maintain on, the match will even characteristic rap famous person Drake, who has lent his OVO emblem to Barcelona’s residence package.

The Canadian artist turned the primary individual to succeed in 50 billion streams on Spotify and his iconic owl emblem will exchange the streaming service’s emblem on the entrance of the shirt for Sunday’s sport.

Spotify began sponsoring Barcelona this season and the initiative with Drake is a part of the pair’s mission to “deliver soccer and music collectively in an effort to join with new audiences all over the world,” the membership mentioned.

“This doesn’t really feel actual however it's,” Drake added on Instagram, whereas holding up the Barcelona shirt.

It will not be a historic rivalry however these sides have been two of essentially the most spectacular groups in Europe over the previous couple of years.

Each golf equipment have pushed one another to ridiculous ranges of consistency, breaking quite a few information alongside the way in which.

Whereas earlier encounters have been billed as potential title deciders, there's a barely completely different really feel about Sunday’s tie.

Liverpool has actually struggled with its league performances this season and has seemed a shadow of its former self.

The lack of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich seems to have unsettled a beforehand deadly entrance line and the type of key defenders corresponding to Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold has contributed to patchy outcomes.

In keeping with sport’s information firm Gracenote, Liverpool has conceded first in six of their final eight league video games. Moreover, in any Premier League match that it has conceded a aim in any respect, the opponent has all the time scored first.

Liverpool at the moment sits tenth within the league, already 14 factors behind second-placed Manchester Metropolis, who path chief Arsenal by a single level.

A cathartic 7-1 thrashing in opposition to Rangers within the Champions League on Wednesday will go someway to boosting momentum heading into the sport, with Mohamed Salah additionally returning to type with an excellent hattrick.

“Sure it modified the temper utterly however everyone knows who we're welcoming on Sunday and this might be a unique sport, but it surely’s higher to enter it with this sense we’ve obtained tonight than another,” supervisor Jurgen Klopp mentioned after Wednesday’s win.

Liverpool might be dealing with a Metropolis facet which has been blowing groups away this season, scoring 33 targets in 9 video games.

Worryingly for the Reds, Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola was capable of relaxation key gamers in its 0-0 draw in opposition to FC Copenhagen on Tuesday and they are going to be recent for his or her journey to Anfield.

A kind of gamers is Erling Haaland, who has been nothing in need of a revelation this season.

He seems to be the lacking piece in Metropolis’s bid to win a primary Champions League title. The 22-year-old is in an unprecedented scoring type having already netted 15 occasions in simply 9 league video games.

In keeping with Gracenote, Manchester Metropolis is creating three main probabilities per sport this season, a daunting statistic when mixed with the scoring type of attackers Haaland and Phil Foden.

Nonetheless, if any defender can cease Metropolis it’s more likely to be Van Dijk. The Dutchman has not been at his finest to this point this season however a battle in opposition to Haaland could show to be simply the motivation he wants.

Given Anfield is more likely to be bouncing on Sunday, this Metropolis facet could also be dealing with its hardest check thus far.

Lastly to France, the place reigning champion PSG hosts a traditionally feisty conflict in opposition to Marseille, in a sport dubbed Le Classique.

Solely three factors separate the 2 sides – PSG sits prime whereas Marseille is in third – however this will not be a nasty time for guests to journey to the French capital.

PSG has been rocked by the swirling hypothesis round Kylian Mbappé’s future and the league chief could possibly be lacking a few of its largest names for Sunday’s conflict.

Whereas PSG has performed down rumors surrounding Mbappé, many prime journalists have mentioned the star striker just isn't proud of the membership’s hierarchy and is eying a switch away from the group.

In the meantime PSG might be with out banned defender Sergio Ramos and probably Lionel Messi, who has missed the 2 earlier matches with a calf damage.

Nonetheless, PSG head coach Christophe Galtier gave followers hope that the Argentine can be match once more when talking to reporters midweek.

“We’re going to see the way it progresses through the week, and it’s very possible that he’s obtainable for Marseille,” he mentioned.

Marseille, in the meantime, is a facet in ascendancy and might make life difficult for the host.

Such is the animosity between two of France’s largest groups, Marseille followers have been banned from attending this fixture final yr over crowd security issues.

Not since 2018 have Marseille supporters been allowed into the Parc des Princes to look at Le Classique.