- Published
Barcelona stand on the brink of La Liga history, targeting a 10th consecutive victory to start the league season.
asserted
Barcelona → publish → season
It will surpass the mark set in 1968-69 by Real Madrid, who will have the chance to end that remarkable run on Sunday when the sides meet at Camp Nou.
asserted
sides → surpass → Nou
Barcelona head into Sunday's El Clasico (20:00 GMT) on the back of a 4-2 Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain, giving Jose Mourinho's men the perfect opportunity to capitalise on that setback and wreck the record bid of their rivals.
'Madrid with Mourinho wins trophies'
Real boss Mourinho has insisted his team's most recent performances, two 4-1 victories against Sevilla and RB Leipzig, would count for little in a fixture that has such global appeal and standing.
"
asserted
that → head → appeal
We are in a good dynamic, we play well, we score goals, but the Clasico is different.
asserted
Clasico → play → goals
What we have done before has no influence," he said.
asserted
he → do → influence
"There are other important matches in the world, but this is the only Clasico, the world stops."
asserted
world → be → world
Some of football's biggest names with be involved, with six of this year's 30 Ballon d'Or nominees available - Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Lamine Yamal, and Real Madrid trio Marc Cucurella, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
asserted
six → involve → Cubarsi
Cucurella could find himself trying to stop national team-mate Lamine Yamal down Barcelona's right, while centre-back Cubarsi could once again face Mbappe, renewing their rivalry after Spain's 2-0 victory over France in the World Cup semi-final.
uncertain
Cubarsi → find → final
Striker Mbappe, though, has been in prolific form for Real, scoring 12 goals in 12 appearances this season.
asserted
Mbappe → score → appearances
In midfield, Rodri and Bellingham could provide another fascinating clash between two of the game's leading players.
uncertain
Rodri → provide → players
With a six-point gap to leaders Barcelona, Mourinho acknowledged his third-placed side were still adapting to his methods and argued comparisons with more established teams were premature.
"We've been together for three months if you take away pre-season and international breaks," he said.
asserted
he → acknowledge → breaks
"The players are still getting to know me and the way I do things."
asserted
I → get → things
He also dismissed the idea of making sweeping tactical changes specifically to contain Lamine Yamal.
asserted
He → dismiss → Yamal
"He's a great player, we respect great players.
asserted
we → respect → players
We aren't going to completely change things.
asserted
We → go → things
We won't forget the way we do things," said Mourinho.
asserted
Mourinho → forget → things
"Madrid with Mourinho wins trophies.
asserted
Madrid → win → trophies
"
'We have to be careful and prepared' - Flick
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believed his side were ready for the challenge of Real, but admitted they must address defensive weaknesses exposed by PSG in midweek.
asserted
they → have → midweek
"The players have recovered and they're ready for this game," he said at his pre-match media conference.
asserted
he → recover → conference
our sport has to offer
asserted
sport → have → ?
Everyone will be watching.
asserted
Everyone → watch → ?
You can only win three points, but it's so much more than that."
asserted
it → win → that
The German praised Madrid's attacking quality and warned Barcelona could not afford to be complacent.
uncertain
Barcelona → praise → quality
"I expect a very confident team," he added.
asserted
he → expect → team
They have players with great quality in the final third.
asserted
They → have → third
They've shown that in recent matches.
asserted
They → show → matches
We have to be careful and prepared."
Flick stressed the importance of positioning and organisation as they prepare to contain Mbappe, although Vinicius Jr will be missing for the visitors through suspension.
asserted
Jr → have → suspension
"Our positioning is key, both with and without the ball," he said.
asserted
he → say → ball
"Without the ball, we need to maintain the right distances between players and stay compact, which is especially important when playing with such a high defensive line."
Barcelona's attack, though, has been prolific this season, scoring 50 goals in their 12 games, but questions remain over their defensive solidity, with the Spanish champions having conceded 15.
asserted
champions → need → 15
How can Real beat Barcelona?
asserted
Real → beat → Barcelona
Madrid's best chance of success could lie in disrupting Barcelona's possession and exploiting the spaces behind when their opponents commit players forward.
uncertain
opponents → lie → players
A compact defensive shape, disciplined pressing and quick transitions could force Barcelona away from their preferred rhythm.
uncertain
shape → force → rhythm
Rather than chasing possession, Madrid must remain organised and choose the right moments to attack.
asserted
Madrid → chase → moments
Lamine Yamal will be central to Barcelona's attacking plans, while Madrid will look to use their pace and quality in the final third to test the home defence.
asserted
Madrid → attack → defence
If Madrid can win second balls and prevent Barcelona from finding space between the lines, they can reduce the pressure on their defence.
asserted
they → win → defence
Madrid must take their chances when they arrive, particularly if Barcelona dominate possession.
asserted
Barcelona → take → possession
Set-pieces could provide another route to goal and Flick specifically identified them as a threat.
uncertain
Flick → provide → threat
"We know Real Madrid's strengths, and they're among the best at set-pieces," he said.
asserted
he → know → pieces
"We have to defend better than we did in Paris."
asserted
we → have → Paris
For Barcelona, victory would not only set a record, but strengthen their position as clear early-season title favourites, opening up a nine-point lead over Real Madrid.
asserted
victory → set → Madrid
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
