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Spain Super Cup: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Preview

Madrid, Aug 29: Real Madrid will be hopeful to get back to winning ways when they face arch rivals Barcelona in the second-leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Santiago Bernabeu.

EL Clasico: Real Madrid vs Barcelona Match Stats

Jose Mourinho's side are yet to register a win this season after losing 2-1 on Sunday against Getafe, their worst start since 1973. However, Los Blancos will bank on home advantage to narrow the 3-2 deficit against the Catalans.

While Barcelona have won all three games this season under new coach Tito Vilanova. Both teams will be facing each other for the 221st time with 87 wins each. Looking at Blaugranas' current form, they seem favourites to steal the Cup from their fierce rivals.

Both teams are expected to showcase a full strength squad for the second El Clasico this season. Barcelona dominated possession last time around but Victor Valdes' horrific mistake helped Madrid narrow the lead. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were rather quite during the first-leg but the Argentinian scored through a penalty.

Madrid centre-back Pepe returned after suffering a blow and is likely to replace Raul Albiol while Barca skipper Carles Puyol will miss the game due to a fractured jaw, former Liverpool man Javier Mascherano will take his place.

Real new signing Luka Modric could start on the bench as Mourinho would stick to his usual midfielders Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso. Jose Callejon, Karim Benzema and Fabio Coentrao will fight for a place in the starting XI.

Playmakers Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez are likely to pull the strings in the middle with Sergio Busquets in a holding role, while new signing Alex Song will have to settle on the bench.

Song's former Gunner teammate Cesc Fabregas will be benched while Pedro Rodrigues, Messi and Alexis Sanchez will form Barca's attack. Veteran David Villa and youngster Cristian Tello are likely to feature as substitutes.

On the other hand, Angel di Maria, Mesut Ozil and Ronaldo will support lone striker Benzema.

Trivia:

*Real Madrid have failed to win their last three matches in last seven games

*Los Blancos have failed to register a win at home against Barcelona.

*Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals against Real Madrid, the second highest.

Probable Lineups:

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas-Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao-Khedira, Alonso-Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo-Benzema.

Barcelona (4-3-3) Valdes-Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba-Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta-Pedro, Messi, Sanchez.

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 24, 2017, 17:29 [IST]
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