Real Madrid – Barcelona: Preview & Prediction
Real Madrid will not be able to count on Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid receives on Wednesday, August 16, Real Madrid, in the second decisive game of the 2017 edition of the Supercopa of Spain. Starting at 18h (Brasília time), the duel takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
In the first match, Sunday, August 13, at Camp Nou, the capital’s team managed to defeat the owners of the house by 3 to 1. Thus, they will get the trophy even if they lose by a goal difference. Even a 2-0 draw is good for Real. The Catalan team needs success by three-goal margin or two-goal advantage since they score at least four times.
The recent performance of Real Madrid
The Real can not count on the match with their main player. The Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in Sunday’s duel and received suspension of five matches. The club will probably appeal the decision by trying to reduce the penalty period, which would reach the first four rounds of the Spanish Championship. However, such situation will not be reversed prior to the Super Cup decision.
The top scorer once again showed his ability to make decisions in the few minutes when he stayed on the field in the first leg. Cristiano Ronaldo started the match on the bench. The coach Zinedine Zidane decided to preserve it since, having played the Confederations Cup serving the Portuguese team, he had his vacation started and ended after his team-mates.
He entered the field at 13 minutes from the final stage, when Real won by 1-0. Barça equalized at 32 minutes through a penalty shot from Messi. From then on, Cristiano took over the game. He made the tiebreak attempt at 35 minutes and received a yellow card for taking off his shirt at the commemoration.
Two minutes later, he fell in the Barcelona area when he was pulling a counterattack. The referee considered mock and ejected him. However, the five-match penalty was not just for that. It received greater punishment due to its exalted claim before the arbitration. Without being able to count on Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane must repeat on Wednesday the team that has climbed in Catalunna. That means forming the offensive pair with Bale and Benzema.
The current form of Barcelona
The opening match of the Super Cup marked the closing of a period of 14 games without defeat of Barcelona, including the final matches of last season and the pre-season friendlies.
It was the first official game in which the team was under the command of coach Ernesto Valverde, who replaced Luis Enrique, and in which he can not count on Brazilian striker Neymar, acquired by Paris Saint-Germain.
Barça managed to take possession of the ball for the longest time (62% to 38%), managed to finish more than the rival (16 to 12), but did not show efficiency at the time of the goal kick. He sent six in the right direction against seven goals in the Real’s target. Deulofeu, who was chosen to form the offensive trio with Messi and Suarez, did not perform well. Denis Suarez was the replacement. This can cause Valverde, even needing to win, to change the system leaving the team with two forward strikers and placing another midfielder.
It is for the midfield that Barcelona has invested heavily with the 220 million Euros received by the transfer of Neymar. He closed with Brazilian Paulinho and continues to harass another national athlete, Philippe Coutinho, although Liverpool have said he does not intend to negotiate it.
History of the matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona
Barcelona and Real Madrid can make nine matches in the current season. In addition to the first Super Cup match, they once faced each other at the International Champions Cup in the United States, Barça took the best scoring 3-2.
They will still face each other twice more in the Spanish Championship. The number of clashes can be increased if their paths cross in the King’s Cup and the Champions League.
Held since 1982, the Spanish Super Cup has Barcelona as the biggest winner. There were 12 wins in 21 appearances. Real took the trophy in nine of the 14 times they disputed the decision.
Real Madrid – Barcelona: Betting Tips
Real Madrid AH 0 – Odds: 1.85
Over 2,5 goals – Odds: 1.95
