Madrid examine Barcelona

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History argues that it is an even duel, but the reality of the present shows that this competition is a trophy for Madrid, leader and with a firm step in the League, and a true Super Cup for Barcelona. The Barça team does not know if it will have a better chance than this to raise a laurel in the course, outside of the noble positions in the League - sixth, 17 points behind Madrid -, already removed from the Champions League and with the Europa League as a consolation, still with everything to write in the Cup. “We like to play this type of game,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti resolved before the semi-final on Wednesday (8:00 pm, Movistar) in Arabia.

“It is an opportunity, a challenge to be able to reach the final. If we win, it could be a turning point for us that would give us tremendous morale and credibility to the project, ”replied Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández. "They arrive with great confidence, but we will have our options," said Busquets, knowing that in the dressing room there is the conviction that this time they can win. It happens that the streak against Madrid is rickety, with four defeats in a row for the Barça fans.

Koeman knows it well. "When you fall in a classic, you lose more than three points," lamented the Dutch coach. In his case, he lost the position because minutes after the third defeat against the whites - a negative record that paired him with the Irishman Patrick O'Conell (1935 and 1936 years) - a few fans hit his car when he was leaving the Camp Nou , at which point Joan Laporta decided to change the coach. "He is a strong rival who has had more problems than us this season, but here the classification does not count, because in the last game at the Camp Nou he was already matched," Ancelotti resolved before putting on his cap and tracksuit to lead the team. training in the charming Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Stadium (capacity for 22,000 spectators). The semi-final of the exotic Super Cup in Saudi Arabia,however, it will be at King Fahd International, for 69,000 spectators.

Madrid arrives only with Carvajal's doubt - "the other is the right wing player, if Rodrigo or Asensio", revealed the Italian coach -, supported in defense by the Alaba and Militão duet, ordered by Casemiro, Kroos and Modric, and agitated and defined by Benzema and Vinicius, who already has 12 goals and four assists in the season of his assembly in the elite.

It is a fixed team and without intrigue, quite the opposite of what happens on the opposite sidewalk.

Xavi finally smiles because, as much as they are still caught with tweezers, players like Ansu and Pedri return to the call after long absences, also Araujo, Memphis and De Jong, even Ferran Torres, who they registered already this Tuesday.

"We need time to grow, but the classic plays when it plays", Xavi slipped.

Barcelona's worst streak is seven straight defeats against Madrid between the 1961-62 and 1964-65 seasons.

"What would worry me is that the players think we are favorites, but they don't think so," explained Ancelotti.

A whole white test, perhaps a Barça turning point.

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