Ancelotti and El Clasico: Barcelona amazing in the League
The Italian coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, warned his players on
the eve of facing Barcelona in the top of the Spanish League in the “El Clasico”,
that his Catalan opponent presented an “amazing” performance in La Liga this season,
despite his suffering in the Champions League.
Ancelotti said, in a press conference: “We are talking about a team that won all
of its matches in the League after drawing in its opening match. Their form is very
good in the league,” according to AFP.
The coach, who led Real Madrid to the domestic league titles “La Liga” and
the “Champions League” last season, added, “Since the beginning of the competition
they are doing a very good job. They had problems in the Champions League,
which is normal in that competition, but in the League they were amazing.”
Ancelotti recalled his team’s 4-0 loss to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu
last season, when he pushed Croatian playmaker Luka Modric instead of injured
French striker Karim Benzema.
He added, “It is true that last year I tried to invent something, and I paid the price,”
and added, “Last season’s match will not affect us, because we are in a different season,
a different Clasico. We are looking forward to playing this match, which the whole
world will watch,” according to AFP.
Ancelotti confirmed the return of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to training
after suffering from a sciatic nerve, but he will not participate in the Clasico,
while German central defender Antonio Rudiger can play wearing a protective mask.
Barcelona is on the brink of exclusion from the Champions League,
after Wednesday’s 3-3 draw at home against Inter, but it plays Sunday’s match
at Real Madrid, and it leads the standings after 8 stages without losing, but with
a goal difference from Real Madrid, and its net only shook once this season.
It is noteworthy that Antonio Rudiger was injured during the match against
Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in the Champions League when he scored in
the last minute and hit his head against the opposing goalkeeper.
Barcelona amazing in the League
