Real Madrid make a trip to the Camp nou on Sunday evening, as the Bulgarians face another tricky encounter.
Enesto Valverde Should be brimming with confidence, following their emphatic 2-0 over inter Milan in mid week.
The Bleak memories of Lionel Messi injury last week is now slowly being laid to rest, and it is now all about finding consistency.
It will be the first El classico played without Linoel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo since 2007
There will be a rich array of talent on show at Camp nou,
and a potentially tight game is likely to be decided by
either a moment of brilliance or an individual error.
Here are three key battles to watch out for.
Sergio Busquet VS Luka Modric
Even the biggest Lionel Messi fan would
begrudgingly admit that Luka Modric has been
the best player in the last 5months this season, with the
Barcelona man a more than worthy runner-up.
Luka Modric world-class end product and ability to
dictate games makes him Madrid’s most potent
weapon, and if he is allowed to run the show,
Barcelona will really struggle.
There is where Sergio Busquet comes to the fore, with the
combative midfielder someone who usually ups his
game in the more high-profile matches.
Despite certain faults in his play, Busquet never shies
away from a battle, and he will be well aware that
stopping Modric will be one of his primary tasks
at Camp Nou.
Madrid’s star man doesn’t always flourish when a
physical challenge comes his way, and if Busquet gets on
top of him early, it could take an edge off his game.
It will be an interesting battle and one you tip Modric to emerge victorious.
Gareth Bale vs Jordi Alba
Jordi Alba has been one of Barcelona most consistent performer this Season.
You could count on one hand the number of bad displays he has produced, with his expert positional sense, good use of the ball and attacking quality all
shining through.
Today, he will come up against one of La Liga‘s standout player, Gareth Bale–
a footballer capable of tearing a team to shreds single-handedly on his day.
Bale’s ability to both cut inside and hit the byline
makes him a nightmare to play against, and his blistering turn of pace and quick feet are things Alba must be wary of.
Alba feels like a confident player at times, and if he makes a nervy start up against Bale, it could be a long night for him.
While his main job will be to thwart Bale, it is crucial that he bursts forward when he gets the
chance, in order to test the 29-year-old’s defensive resolve.
It should be a fascinating tussle and one to keep an eye on
Sergio Ramos VS Luis Suarez
Master in dark arts vs apprentice in dark arts, Luis suarez go up against Sergio ramos in yet another heated tussle.
These are the games where Ramos rise to the big occasion on either half of the pitch. And on sunday, he will meet his match at camp nou where suarez will surely not give him a second to breathe.
The Ex-Liverpool man has already started the season in blistering form, and will be the man leading the attack from the start in the absence of Linoel messi.
It promises to be a physical battle between the two. With Suarez advised not to get involved in Ramos predictable antics, And simply focus on his own game.
This will surely be the key battle that determines who goes home with all three points.
MUST READ; Ranked: The Top 5 center back pairings in Champions league this Season