First Clásico clash of the season | OneFootball

Some 365 days since their last visit, Real Madrid will once more set foot on the Camp Nou pitch. A year has gone by since the last time our team played at the Barcelona ground, coming away with a 1-3 win. Tonight, the two teams will go head to head in the first Clásico of the season (4:15pm CEST), taking place on LaLiga matchday 10.

The Clásico comes following a round of Champions League games in which Real Madrid thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk at Kiev's Olympic Stadium. Another superb performance by Benzema saw him named man of the match, while Vini Jr.'s spectacular brace is just further positive news ahead of the trip to the Camp Nou in search of three points that would keep the team near the top of the table and extend the gap ahead of direct rivals in Barcelona. “It's a special game for us, for Barcelona and for Spanish football”, reflected Carlo Ancelotti in the pre-match press conference. Ahead of such a huge encounter, Valverde also spoke to the club's official media channels, explaining: “We know the responsibility that comes with wearing this jersey in these games". The Uruguayan is in the Italian coach's squad for the Clásico.

Direct rivals  At the start of this weekend's games, the azulgranas sit seventh with 15 points from eight games. Ronald Koeman's team come into the fixture having beaten Dynamo Kiev in their midweek Champions League clash, while their last two league meetings have come against tough opposition in Valencia, who they beat 3-1, and Atlético, against whom they lost 2-0 at the Wanda. Memphis Depay, with 4 goals and 2 assists, is their in-form man in the league to date.