The La Liga marathon is relaunched.
While he had been in the lead since the start of the year and seemed to be heading peacefully towards his eleventh Spanish league title, Atlético Madrid has slowed down in recent weeks;
then seeing FC Barcelona, second at one point, and Real Madrid, third at six units, back on his heels.
This Saturday, at 9 p.m., the Blaugrana and the Merengue tackle an important stage: the Clasico.
A shock that can be compared to the "thirty kilometers wall" in the endurance test, a passage to negotiate well in order to hope to finish well.
In this potentially decisive meeting in the fight for the national coronation, the Madrid club and the Catalan team are counting on their French striker, respectively Karim Benzema and Ousmane Dembélé, to create differences.
A match within the match that could well be one of the keys to the confrontation.
The superb acrobatic gesture of Karim Benzema in the Clasico
Decisive goals in recent weeks
Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018, Karim Benzema has established himself as the spearhead of the Madrid attack.
The French center forward has proven it since the start of the season, but even more so in the last few weeks.
In his last five appearances in La Liga, the former Olympique Lyonnais player has no less than seven goals and one dedication.
Impressive.
Especially since these are not statistics in the wind.
He was particularly decisive.
He opened the scoring in the victory against Valencia (2-0), equalized at the end of the match against the Colchoneros (1-1), delivered his own against Elche with a saving goal in added time (2-1) and unblocks the situation against Celta Vigo with two achievements and a caviar.
So of course, the four-time Champions League winner is not alone in wearing Real Madrid.
He is well helped, among others, by Sergio Ramos (when he is not injured), Toni Kroos or Luka Modric, but he fulfills his role perfectly.
He creates danger, marks and makes people mark.
"READ ALSO - Huge
player, formidable scorer: Karim Benzema (true) genius of Real Madrid
In Catalonia, Ousmane Dembélé does not have the same status as his compatriot from Madrid - the offensive leader naturally being the six-time Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi.
His importance in Barcelona is certainly less than that of "KB9" in Madrid, but the striker passed through Stade Rennais still manages to stand out, both literally and figuratively, to offer valuable points to his team.
He remains on three goals in his last five league games: a decisive opening goal against the lock of Sevilla FC (0-2), an achievement during the "party" against Real Sociedad (1-6), and especially a goal in the last moments which gave the three points against Real Valladolid, during a meeting more difficult than expected.
If FC Barcelona has made up most of its delay over Atlético in recent weeks, it is partly because the Frenchman has responded to his new position.
»READ ALSO -
Ousmane Dembélé's cannon shot against Sevilla
Different but essential roles
This Saturday, we should find them both at the forefront.
In significantly different roles, of course, but which remain essential in the game of their respective team.
Karim Benzema is evolving more like a nine and a half.
The Madrilenian is not a "pure" center-forward strictly speaking even if he investigates the goals.
He does not stay at the level of the opposing defensive line to put his back to goal or to go deep at the slightest opportunity.
In the last thirty meters, the former member of the France team does not have the profile of a real fox of the surfaces either, even if his presence in the sixteen meters is to be emphasized, as evidenced by his many achievements in this part of the land.
No, his malice lies elsewhere.
He likes to drop out to orient the game, combine in small perimeters or find key passes for his teammates.
It was also on a stall, not followed by the Barcelona hinge, that he had managed to serve Federico Valverde for the opening scoring in the first leg (1-3).
His movements disrupt both the defensive axis and the midfielders and are precious for Real.
They make it possible to open spaces for his acolytes, whether they are attackers or they come from further away.
With wingers like Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio and passers like Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, the Merengue can benefit from his moves.
Karim Benzema is therefore not only expected at the finish.
He is also in creation, with and without the ball, as Zinédine Zidane explained at the end of 2020: “He has always shown that it is not a pure number 9, he does not think that 'to mark.
That's why I like him so much, I love him, he doesn't just have goals in mind, ”confided the Madrid coach.
"READ ALSO -
Defense three, Dembélé in the axis ... How Koeman relaunched Barça before Paris
For the Barcelonan, it's a little different.
Since the tactical change made by Ronald Koeman in February, he has been aligned alone in front, with Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi behind him.
The three offensive players are often on the move and swap from time to time.
The 2018 World Champion is also far from the profile of a Robert Lewandowski or an Erling Haaland.
He has freedom.
He can pick up, come and put away, play in triangles.
But he also has the task, at times, of fixing the opposing defense.
How? 'Or' What ?
By being a threat in depth.
His excellent ball call quality and running speed give him the opportunity to surprise defenders in spaces behind their backs.
When he evolves in this position, if he is not served, he still frees up room for his teammates who can create a surplus in the axis, in the middle.
His good behavior of the ball also allows him to provoke, near the surface or from further away.
In this organization, Ousmane Dembélé manages to be dangerous.
It creates gaps and gets a lot of chances.
The only downside: the converted winger central attacker sometimes fishing in the finish, like his return match against Paris Saint-Germain where despite his many attempts he had not managed to deceive Keylor Navas.
It is nonetheless fundamental.
“He's very good, he provokes one-on-one, he's fast.
I love this player, said Ronald Koeman to him in February.
He is very involved, he is very happy and we have to continue like this. "
The former residents of Ligue 1 will thus play a match in the match this Saturday.
In the same position, but not in the same role.
To see if one of them will succeed in winning his own!
Read also
Zidane against Koeman, Clasico with a view on the title
La Liga standings