The European champions will be looking to extend their four-match unbeaten run at the Camp Nou (4:15pm CET).


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Today’s the day, El Clásico, a fixture marked down on the calendar of fans across the globe. For ninety minutes, the eyes of the footballing world will be firmly set on the Camp Nou and it’s sure to be some spectacle. The first clash of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona comes on LaLiga match day ten. The madridista goal is a win which would see them climb back up the table and extend their impressive run of results on azulgrana turf.

The Whites’ last defeat at the Camp Nou came back in 2014/15. Since then, the European champions have gone unbeaten on four visits. The two Clásicos away from home in the last campaign ended with a convincing 1-3 win in the Spanish Super Cup and a draw in LaLiga, with Bale smashing a wonder goal to make it 2-2.

Following Tuesday’s three points in the Champions League, the team is well aware of the importance of stringing together a series of positive results. And what better place to start than at the Camp Nou? However, the Whites also know that if they’re to come out on top in El Clásico, they’ll have to be at their very best. “We’re going with the utmost ambition and we’re ready to put in a good performance”, said Lopetegui.

The madridista coach, who had a full squad available for the final session ahead of the clash with the exception of Carvajal and Vallejo, has taken 22 players to Barcelona. Among them are captain Sergio Ramos, who has played in every Clásico clash in LaLiga since his arrival at Real Madrid, and Karim Benzema, the leading Whites’ goal scorer against Barcelona, with nine.

The opposition
Barcelona head into El Clásico off the back of wins against Sevilla and Inter. They sit on 18 points in the league, having won five, drawn three and lost one. The azulgrana squad is made up of 19 players and is without Messi, Umtiti and Vermaelen. Valverde warned of the madridista threat in the build-up: “We’re facing a top team and I’m expecting to see the best of Real Madrid”. The Whites are hoping they can maintain their good run at the Camp Nou and win the first Clásico of 2018/19.