LaLigaTV expert Guillem Balague picks out tactics and who to watch ahead of the huge Champions League clash at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid face Manchester City in arguably the tie of the last 16 of the Champions League, and it should be a fantastic tie, according to LaLigaTV expert Guillem Balague.
Balague is the authority on Spanish football, so who better than LaLigaTV’s resident expert to talk to us about the tactics and the best players to watch out for at the Bernabeu as these two giants clash in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola takes his side to the home of his big rivals from his Barcelona days in the first leg of their huge last 16 tie, which takes on extra significance given City’s current two-year European ban.
Balague is expecting a decent game of football in the Spanish capital, with Real Madrid only interested in playing one way, and that’s to dominate possession – something City also base their game around.
🗣️ Who better to preview Man City's task at Real Madrid than Spanish football expert @GuillemBalague!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 26, 2020
🌟 The men to watch
📊 The Zidane tactics
🚑 How big is Eden Hazard blow?
📺 The @LaLigaTV man gives us his expert view 👇#RealMadridManCity #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/daHCFycDao
“They can only play one way, they want to have the ball, they need to have the ball,” LaLigaTV expert Balague told Sporting Life.
“If they have to run after it, as they did against PSG for instance, the lines were too separated and there were too many gaps – that’s not their game,”
“Real Madrid want to keep the ball, so they’ll try and keep the ball away from Man City if they can. Both teams will want to control, and Real Madrid know if they have to defend around their own box they’ll struggle.
“I know they raise their game in the Champions League but they have to try and keep the ball, against a team who are built in a similar mold.”
Who to watch?
“Expect a midfield of Casemiro, Valverde, Kroos and then we’ll see if Isco joins in the attack with Benzema, then maybe Bale will be given another chance in a big game – it is expected that Bale can make a big impact.
“Mendy will play ahead of Marcelo, as he’s much better defensively and recently he’s been venturing further forward.
“Zidane decided to keep Valverde even though he expected Paul Pogba to arrive thinking he’d get his chance, and allowed other central midfielders to go, but then Pogba didn’t come and Valverde has become perhaps Real Madrid’s best player this season along with Benzema and Courtois.
“He can play anywhere in midfield, he’s a box-to-box player, can shoot from anywhere, works really hard so in reality they don’t need Pogba anymore, even though Zidane would still like to try it.”
How big a blow is Eden Hazard being out?
“He was actually connecting well with Benzema before he got injured, so it’s a big blow for Real Madrid, as he was the player that they were needing after they finally realised that the 50 goals they lost with Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t be replaced that easily.
"He was a big game player so it's really bad for real that he cannot play."
Sky TV and Virgin TV customers across the UK can watch El Clasico live on LaLigaTV this Sunday at 8pm GMT. LaLigaTV is the first dedicated channel to broadcast every live match and provide 24/7 access to “All of LaLiga. All in one place."
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