El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid La Liga 28-10-2018

Barcelona vs Real Madrid - Competition: Spanish Primera Division

 

Barcelona team returned to the top of the table last weekend with a thrilling 4-2 win over Sevilla, despite making their worst start to a season in 13 years. A 2-0 win over Inter on Wednesday ensured that the Blaugrana maintained a 100% winning start in the UCL. Anyway, Ernesto Valverde's men were not at their best until the international break, as they dropped points at home to Girona and Bilbao, drew at Valencia and suffered a defeat away to Leganes. This corresponding fixture last season finished 2-2 while Barca were 3-0 winners at the Bernabeu in last season's other league match. Messi is out through injury: the Argentine has only missed two games against Real Madrid since his first taste of this fixture, and Barcelona haven't won either (D1 L1).
With Messi unlikely to return to action until the middle of November, Rafinha Alcantara will probably complete the front trio with Philippe Coutinho and Lis Suarez. As alternative, Ernesto Valverde could give Ousmane Dembelè a rare start. In midfield, Arthur has been hugely impressive since arriving in the summer and is expected to partner Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic once again. At the back, Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet are the only available senior centre-backs. The pair will be flanked by Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto, with Nelson Semedo as back up option.

Real Madrid team sits seventh in La Liga table with just 14 points from nine games, four behind league-leading Barça. It's the sides worse start to a season in 17 years. The Galacticos got back to winning ways in midfield as they narrowly beat Viktoria Plzen at home (2-1) in Champions League but pressure is mounting on former Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui after recent defeats against the likes of CSKA, Deportivo Alaves and Levante. Defensive laxity and an inability to control games had long been a problem.

The visitors are in the middle of a defensive crisis as Dani Carvajal is carrying a calf injury and Marcelo is also not fully fit. Alvaro Odriozola is on stand-by to step up and start El Clasico. Raphaël Varane is likely to return to the XI despite recent slip-ups. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are expected to play in front of Casemiro in midfield while the 'tridente' should be formed by Karim Benzema, Bale and Isco. The likes of Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz and Federico Valverde could start if Lopetegui rotates his side while Vinicio Junior is out through suspension.
 

Probable lineups:

FC Barcelona: ter Stegen – S.Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, J.Alba – Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur – Rafinha, Coutinho – L.Suarez.

Real Madrid: Courtois – Odriozola, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo – Casemiro, T.Kroos, Modric, Isco – Asensio, Bale.

 

Date: 28 October 2018
Kick-off Time: 15:15 BST - 16:15 CET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Everton vs Crystal Palace 21-10-2018 Premier League

Everton vs Crystal Palace - Competition: Premier League

Date: 21 October 2018 - Kick-off Time: 16:00 BST

Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool

After recording just one win through their first six top-flight fixtures, Everton (3-3-2) have won back-to-back matches in the top-flight and now sit 11th in the EPL table. The Toffees beat Fulham (3-0) and Leicester City (1-2 away) before the international break. Anyway, betwen those two games, Marco Silva's men were knocked out from the EFL Cup, losing on penalties against Southampton. As to direct encounters, these two teams drew 2-2 at Selhurst Park last season but the Toffees rolled to a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park.

Marco Silva revealed that Andre Gomes (hamstring), Yerry Mina (foot) and James McCarthy could all feature for the first time this season. Idrissa Gueye picked up up a knock on international duty and will be assessed ahead of this clash. Morgan Schneiderlin is the most likely to step in for him. Up front, Richarlison is expected to play as lone striker, with the likes of Bernard, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Theo Walcott supporting the Brazilian. With Seamus Coleman set to miss out, Jonjoe Kenny will continue at right-back. Michael Keane, Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne will complete the four man backline.

Crystal Palace team are below Everton in 14th position, but they only have seven points after two wins, one draw and five defeats. Both of Palace's wins this term have come away from home but the Eagles have recorded consecutive league defeats at Bournemouth and Wolves this month.  After eight games Roy Hodgson's men have just five goals to their name, scoring just two from their last five games. Furthermore, they have not beaten the Toffees in the last 7 h2h meetings.

Wilfried Zaha remains a doubt as he had not trained since picking up a muscle strain. Connor Wickam stepped up his recovery from long-term injury and provides cover up-front.  Jeffrey Schlupp is another option to replace Zaha on the left flank if the Ivorian international is not passed fit. Jordan Ayew and Andros Townsend look sure starters. In midfield, Luka Milivojevic will be flanked by Cheikh Kouyate and James McArthur. Joel Ward picked up a muscular injury in training and will be unavailable for the match. Jonny Williams has also picked up an injury while Max Meyer and Alexander Sørloth are in doubt currently due to illness.

Probable lineups:

Crystal Palace: Hennessey – Wan- Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt –Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp – J. Ayew, Zaha.

Everton: Pickford – Kenny, Keane, Zouma, Digne– Davies, Schneiderlin – Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard – Richarlison.

 

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Tottenham vs Barcelona Champions League - 03 October 2018

Tottenham vs Barcelona - Competition: UEFA Champions League
 

Tottenham suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Inter a fortnight ago, conceding two goals in the final five minutes. That was their third in a row in all competitions, following on the back of losses to Watford and Liverpool in the Premier League. Anyway, the Lilywhites have racked up three consecutive wins since then, beating Brighton and Huddersfield Town on their travels, and recording a penalty-shootout victory over Watford in the EFL Cup last week. The Spurs have won all three of their group stage home games last season, and they have only lost four competitive home games in the last 12 months.
Dele Alli remains out for Spurs, who are also without the services of Dembele and Jan Vertonghen, as they were both taken off at half-time last weekend. Christian Eriksen and Serge Aurier are the other two notable absences while Hugo Lloris has recovered and will probably start between the posts.  Danny Rose was used at wing-back at the weekend, but Pochettino likes to rotat in that department so Ben Davies could feature from the off. Harry Kane will start as lone striker, with Son Heung Min and Lamela as offensive midfielders. Lucas Moura provide a further offensive alternative.

Barcelona team recorded an impressive 4-0 win over PSV in their first UCL outing. Anyway, they have failed to win any of their last three encounters since brushing aside the Dutch outfit. Ernesto Valverde's men required a late equaliser from Munir to claim a point at home to Bilbao last time out, and that followed a shock 2-1 defeat at Leganes in midweek. Prior to that they only managed to draw at home to Girona. Furthermore, the Blaugrana have won just one of their last seven away games in Europe and have scored just twice in that time.
The Catalans will be without Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti, with the latter suspended after seeing red against PSV. Nelson Semedo is expected to deputise as left back, completing the four man backline with Jordi Alba, Gerard Piquè and Clement Lenglet. Up front, Ousmane Dembele should be benched, and this could see Arturo Vidal start in a three man midfield alongside Ivan Rakitic and Sergi Busquets. The likes of Leo Messi and Suarez will lead the line, with Philippe Coutinho tucked behind them.

 

Date: 3 October 2018 - Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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