ZCZC
BSP-06
FBL-ESP-LIGA-REALMADRID-BARCELONA
Football: Madrid obliged to keep title race alive in El Clasico
MADRID, Dec 23, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – Real Madrid are “obliged” to beat
Barcelona on Saturday (1200GMT) if they are to maintain any hope of retaining
their La Liga title, according to Real captain Sergio Ramos.
The European champions picked up a record fifth trophy of the year to cap
a fine 2017 at the Club World Cup last weekend, but trail Barca by a mammoth
11 points at the top of La Liga albeit with a game in hand.
“It will be a massive game,” said Ramos. “It is the biggest game in the
world.
“We are obliged to win more than ever for the situation we are in to try
to keep ourselves in the fight for La Liga.”
For the first time an El Clasico will kick-off at lunchtime as La Liga
seeks more attention from Asian viewers.
And the worldwide audience could be treated to the return of Cristiano
Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale together for the first time this
season.
Real’s ‘BBC’ front three haven’t played a single minute of action
together, largely due to a series of injury problems for Bale.
However, the Welshman returned to play his part in the Club World Cup
success with the semi-final winner over Al Jazira.
Ronaldo is also “100 percent” fit to play according to coach Zinedine
Zidane despite the Portuguese returning to training with the rest of his
teammates for the first time this week on Friday.
“He is 100 percent, he trained today and that is all that interests me,”
said Zidane, who unlike Ramos has tried to play down suggestions Madrid must
win to remain in the title race.
‘Significant advantage’
Madrid were the last side to beat Barca and in some style with a 5-1
aggregate thrashing in the Spanish Super Cup back in August.
But, since then, the Catalans have bounced back under new coach Ernesto
Valverde to go 24 games unbeaten in all competitions.
To recover from Neymar’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain for a world
record fee, Barca have become ever more reliant on the brilliance of Lionel
Messi and the Argentine has responded with 18 goals already this season.
“It will be important for us to win this game for what it means,” said
Messi as he picked up his award for being the top scorer in La Liga last
season this week.
“A game against Madrid is special, it is at their place and we would take
a significant advantage over them if we win.”
The tension on the field could be accompanied by an even more hostile
atmosphere for Barca than normal in the capital in the wake of regional
elections in Catalonia.
Three parties favouring independence for the region from Spain retained an
absolute majority in the Catalan parliament on Thursday.
However, Valverde played down concerns as Barca also visited to Madrid to
face Atletico Madrid in October without problems amid heightened political
tension following violent clashes in a banned independence referendum called
by separatists.
“The atmosphere tomorrow will be good, I have no doubt about that,” he
said.
“We went to play at Atletico Madrid close to October 1 when there was a
lot of talk about the reception we would get and I think as a football man it
is one of the best atmospheres I have seen. There was a good feeling between
the teams, the fans and I expect tomorrow will be the same.”
Once again shorn of injured French duo Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembele,
Valverde is expected to make just one change from the side that started last
weekend’s 4-0 win over Deportivo la Coruna with Sergio Busquets replacing
Paco Alcacer.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0918 hrs