Three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Barcelona | Supercopa de Espana final | OneFootball

It is El Clasico day once more, and the stakes this time around are far higher than they were the last time these teams faced off.

On Sunday night, Barcelona and Real Madrid will take to the field in the pinnacle clash of the Supercopa de Espana and the finalists could not be more deserved.

The two arch-rivals have had contrasting fortunes this season. The Catalans are coming off a recent slump after starting off on a high while the Merengues are on a recent high after a season-beginning slump.

They both, however, enter tonight’s game with fire in their eyes and a real belief that they can go through, and one can thus expect fireworks to unfold at Kind Abdullah Sports City.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Barcelona.

Revenge is best served cold

As Real Madrid look ahead to the upcoming finale, it is impossible to lightly dismiss what unfolded the last time these teams met.

Real Madrid may indeed hold a good record against Barcelona in recent years, but they were hammered by Hansi Flick’s side not too long ago at the Santiago Bernabeu and the fact that the scoreline read 4-0 only makes matters worse.

A lot was said after the Merengues’ humbling against Barcelona, especially about their midfield inferiority and defensive frailty. Revenge, needless to say, will be a huge theme heading into the finale.

It may well be months since that debacle, but Los Blancos’ dressing room will be eager to set the scores right. Doing so in a finale with a trophy on the line will only amplify the impact.

One can thus expect Carlo Ancelotti’s men to walk out all guns blazing in Saudi Arabia tonight. They are, after all, the team in better form and with the better record in must-win games.

The offside trap

Mbappe was caught in the offside trap numerous times vs Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Any memory of the last Clasico played only brings an odd occurrence to mind – offside.

Real Madrid’s first-half performance on the night did not have too much wrong with it and Los Blancos created several chances in the opening 45 minutes. However, all their efforts went down in vain as they simply failed to get the better of Barcelona’s offside trap.

A lot was said about the Blaugrana’s high defensive line ahead of the game and many felt Real Madrid’s raw pace in attack would be enough to expose its flaws. However, the tables turned as Barcelona’s defensive line did not falter and maintained the trap with a surgeon’s precision.

Ancelotti’s men fell for the famed trap a staggering 12 times on the night and their inability to beat the defensive line with runs from deep was perhaps their undoing. Ahead of today’s clash, rewriting the plan and figuring out the right solution will thus be key.

If Real Madrid are to get the better of Barcelona, beating the offside trap will be crucial. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.’s pace will indeed be key on that front, but one must not forget that Jude Bellingham’s runs from the midfield could create the chaos Los Blancos require.

The midfield battle will be critical, and beating Barcelona’s double pivot and keeping Bellingham onside will count for so much of Real Madrid’s strategy tonight.

A chance to make it three

Real Madrid’s season to this point has not gone exactly to plan. The men in white started shaky and fell behind across competitions, only to find their footing and claw their way back in recent months.

Yet, their run so far has not been as concerning from a results standpoint especially when one takes into account the scalps they have to their name so far.

Ancelotti’s side kicked the season off in the best manner possible, beating Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup and taking home a trophy on day one.

They then went on to take their tally to two by winning the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca in December and are now on the verge of making it three trophies for the season.

Of the three finals they have had to play to date this term, however, tonight’s game against Barcelona will be the trickiest by far and it remains to be seen how the team turns up.

After all, they have indeed been on a better run of form lately but still fail to dominate games from start to finish.