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8 months ago
40 ARTICLE AD
The two ogres of Spanish football have had a busy week. But above all, very different… FC Barcelona thus left the Champions League, suffering a heavy defeat against Paris Saint-Germain (4-1). A new European failure for Xavi’s team, while Real Madrid obtained their ticket for the semi-finals by taking out Manchester City, on penalties after 120 breathtaking minutes. This evening at the Santiago Bernabéu, the two enemies meet again.
Obviously, the dynamic seems favorable to the Madrilenians, even if they had one less day of rest and extra time on their hands. Solid leader of La Liga with eight points ahead of its evening rival, Carlo Ancelotti’s team can bury all suspense in the event of victory this evening. Just like the Catalans can hope to revive La Liga in the event of victory. This season, the Merengues won the two Clasicos, in La Liga in October (2-1), then in the Spanish Super Cup in January (4-1).
A decisive match
For this match, Carlo Ancelotti will logically not rotate. Andriy Lunin will occupy the cages, coming off an XXL performance against Manchester City. The Nacho-Rüdiger hinge, also brilliant at the Etihad, will also be renewed, with Mendy and Carvajal on the sides. In the middle, place Kroos, Tchouaméni, Valverde and Bellingham, while the Vinicius-Rodrygo duo will make up the Madrid offensive sector.
Opposite, Xavi will also bring out his fairly classic eleven. The Araujo-Cubarsi duo will protect Ter Stegen from Madrid attackers, while Cancelo and Koundé will secure the flanks. In midfield, Pedri should be rested, and Christensen will accompany De Jong and Gundogan. Up front, the usual trio composed of Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha will try to hurt Madrid’s solid defense.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
