Barcelona v Real Madrid: A cup Clasico with a prize at the end

Two weeks and three days after the victory at the death that Barcelona celebrated in style, which was worth half a league title, the Clasico returns to the Spotify Camp Nou. The sixth and last of the season, one which grants a ticket for the Copa del Rey final.

Xavi Hernandez has Carlo Ancelotti's morale in tatters, Araujo has Vinicius' the same, but a Barça-Madrid is always a Barça-Madrid and always starts from scratch. Barca's stadium will once again be packed to the rafters to cheer on a team that defends a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu with a lot of hard work and aiming to blow all the predictions out of the water.

Xavi has to cope with four very important absentees in the last Clasico of the season - Dembélé, Pedri, De Jong and Christensen - four players who, had they been available, would surely have been in the starting line-up. But unlike in other years, there is enough depth in the squad and alternatives to present a competitive and reliable eleven.

As the coach himself said in one of his first answers at the press conference: Barça will want to dominate the ball and will not speculate by only trying to hold their lead. Against a Real Madrid side with four midfielders, Barça's line-up aims to use all available resources, with Gavi acting as a 'hinge' between the winger when it's time to attack - leaving space for Balde's runs - and the midfield with his non-negotiable character when it comes to defending.

Captain Busquets, shielded by Sergi Roberto and Kessie, the unexpected goalscorers in the last Clasico, would complete the midfield area. More unlikely is the presence of Eric Garcia in midfield, although the experiment worked very well in Elche. 

Safety at the back and a nose for goal

Ter Stegen will be looking for his 23rd clean sheet of the season, which would guarantee a place in the final, and ahead of the German, a defensive line with Araujo taking charge of Vinicius and Balde as the other full-back. In the absence of Christensen, Koundé's partner in the centre of defence will be Marcos Alonso.

Up front, a place for the 'killer' Lewandowski and the objective of scoring his first goal against Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou. Starting on the right, and also with Courtois' goal in his sights, Raphinha returns after being rested at Elche due to suspension. 

The Brazilian scored the goal in the first Barça-Madrid battle of the season, the Las Vegas friendly Clasico, and is on his way to double figures: nine goals and nine assists.

Ferran Torres and Ansu were vindicated at the Martínez Valero, but in principle they are set for the bench, where the youngsters Casadó, Estanis, Alarcón and Aleix Garrido will be too.

Carletto is only missing Mendy

Carlo Ancelotti has more possibilities when it comes to putting together his best starting line-up. The Real Madrid coach is only missing Mendy at left-back, so he can put together a gala eleven after Rüdiger overcame knee problems. The German is likely to be on the bench.

The Italian will try to counteract his negative record in Clasicos and will rely on Benzema at the forefront of the attack. Carletto' does not seem, according to his own words, very likely to change the 4-4-2 system, even if he needs to mount a comeback. No experiments in sight, but with a great need and desire to stop another title slipping away.