"Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the first time this season against a tense backdrop of political squabbles, player jibes and a failed attempt to move La Liga matches abroad. So, same as usual, eh? The Santiago Bernabeu plays host to el clasico this afternoon, with the game kicking off at 4.15pm local time (3.15pm GMT). Xabi Alonso's Madrid are top of the league, two points ahead of Hansi Flick's defending champions in second."
"There has been particular angst in the Spanish capital this week about La Liga's failed efforts to take Villarreal v Barcelona to Miami in December, with Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois saying it would distort the competition. Lamine Yamal has stoked the flames a bit by telling the Twitch streamer Ibai Llanos that Real Madrid rob and complain. It's sure to be feisty."
Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first El Clásico of the season, kickoff 4.15pm local (3.15pm GMT). Xabi Alonso fields a 4-2-3-1 with Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe. Hansi Flick selects a 4-2-3-1 with Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Garcia, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Rashford, Torres. Marcus Rashford starts after scoring twice midweek and Fermin Lopez starts after a Champions League hat-trick. Cubarsi and Eric Garcia are preferred at centre-back over Ronald Araujo. Political tensions and recent comments from Thibaut Courtois and Lamine Yamal add extra atmosphere.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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