Sports press predictions for Real Madrid's XI in the Clasico

Real Madrid C.F.

The opinion of the sports press is practically unanimous across most areas of the pitch, but there is one common factor: the spot of Fede Valverde. Courtuois does not need to be mentioned. Cucurella, who did not start on Wednesday, Huijsen and Konaté are set in defense. They only consider a possible switch of Rüdiger for Huijsen. For the German, his experience and reliability count; for Huijsen, everything else. The Spaniard is in more lineups than Rüdiger, but the possibility of seeing Toni start is there. The main dilemma is at right-back. Valverde is the one who has been performing best in that position, but many place the Uruguayan on the right, as a winger, turning Dumfries into the right-back who completes the back line. What seems clear is that the captain will not play as a pivot. That role is reserved for Tchouameni and... ¿Camavinga?, ¿Güler?, ¿Bernardo Silva?. There are many options and they are all very good, but the favorite is Güler. The Turk is the one who moves the ball best and is also the position where he performs best. He is also among the best in the team over the long run.

Up front, as the number 10 on the left and at the top, there is a clear quorum: Bellingham, Diomande and Mbappé. In that order. On the right, everything depends on Fede Valverde. For many, his place against Barça is there. Others see it as more likely to have Brahim and even Güler - who has occupied this position many times - if he is not in the middle of the pitch. In the injury news, Militao returning was the other good piece of news from these days. Mendy, Rodrygo and Asencio are still recovering.

El Desmarque is torn between Huijsen and Rüdiger. Dumfries returns at right-back

17

Dumfries
3.130.000€?

J10

-

J9

4

J8

3

J7

0

J6

DF

00

55

Fede Valverde
10.890.000€?

J10

5

J9

8

J8

5

J7

5

J6

MD

20

Huijsen and Konaté are the starting centre-backs par excellence. They have each missed just one match: Dean did so due to suspension and Konaté due to rest. The status of Rüdiger could be key in matches like this. Huijsen has much more of an outlet with the ball, but it is hard to imagine a scenario in which the Real Madrid steals possession from Barça. In the end, both provide reasons for Mourinho to choose either one. 

After two matches, for El Desmarque, Dumfries would recover the right-back spot, which would mean Valverde staying on the same side, but as a winger. The pivot for El Desmarque is Tchouameni- Güler. Bellingham as the attacking midfielder and Diomande and Mbappé would complete the team.

The El Desmarque XI would therefore be: Courtuois; Dumfries, Huijsen, Konaté, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Güler, Bellingham; Valverde, Diomande and Mbappé.

DAZN agrees with El Desmarque by almost 100%

36

Huijsen
4.340.000€+10.000€?

J10

8

J9

-

J8

-2

J7

3

J6

DF

00

36

Rüdiger
3.050.000€+30.000€?

J10

-

J9

8

J8

13

J7

-

J6

DF

01

The British outlet also believes that Valverde will play this season for the first time as a right winger and that Dumfries will return as full-back. The right flank of the Madrid side is much stronger with Fede, but it is still an unprecedented experiment that could go very well or very badly. Huijsen would win the battle against Rüdiger. Aware that Güler is the best player in build-up play, DAZN has the Turk lining up alongside Tchouameni. Creation and control in equal measure for a match expected to be end-to-end.

Despite not quite getting going, Cucurella will be the one with the difficult job of stopping Lamine Yamal, although the presence of Diomande ensures the Catalan constant help in defense. The other three spots are not up for debate: Courtois in goal, Bellingham very close to the area, and Mbappé acting as 'killer'.

DAZN lineup: Courtuois; Dumfries, Huijsen, Konaté, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Güler, Bellingham; Valverde, Diomande and Mbappé.

COPE expects Valverde and Güler to swap positions 

80

Arda Güler
14.890.000€?

J10

15

J9

6

J8

5

J7

7

J6

MD

22

Although the newspaper MARCA is almost certain that Eduardo Camavinga will be in the starting XI, the COPE leans more toward the midfield being occupied by  Tochuameni and Güler. The Frenchman, more than just a good starter, has become a good impact option when the match calls for it. One direct consequence would be that Fede would not be part of the midfield. Given the two possibilities that would open up for the Uruguayan, for COPE the most viable is that he goes forward on the right flank, alongside Diomande and Mbappé. The next position to move would logically be right-back, which would go to Dumfries. The Dutchman has been Mourinho 's first choice for most of the league campaign. Ahead of Trent and until recently, ahead of Valverde. 

Konaté has his place secured and will be the general captain of the defensive line. Between Huijsen and Rüdiger, Dean has a slight edge to partner Konaté, but, just like El Desmarque and others, they do not rule out Rüdiger doing it. Cucurella will be there. Carreras will watch from the bench. The backbone- Courtuois, Bellingham and Mbappé-, will not be touched. The Belgian goalkeeper and Mbappé are the most decisive. Most of the Real Madrid options go through them. 

The COPE starters are: Courtuois; Dumfries, Huijsen, Konaté, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Güler, Bellingham; Valverde, Diomande and Mbappé.

Comuniate does not move Valverde and backs a Tchouameni- Camavinga pivot

27

Tchouaméni
5.360.000€+150.000€?

J10

7

J9

6

J8

4

J7

5

J6

MD

10

39

Camavinga
1.860.000€?

J10

3

J9

5

J8

8

J7

-

J6

MD

00

The best nights of football for the white club this season have come thanks to Mourinho 's determination to put Valverde at right-back and Güler inside. Those have been two restorative changes. So much so that the huge distance that seemed to exist between Barça and Real Madrid, is no longer as big. However, for Comuniate , this is a match for Camavinga against the storm that the Blaugrana attack may be. 39 goals in the Catalan club's account point to that. The Turk would therefore remain as a right winger. On the other hand, the emergence of Diomande is another key factor. Not only does he score and assist, but he is also committed and takes part in defensive work. He empties himself physically. The same goes for Bellingham. Those are two players who, beyond their talent, give 100% of themselves. Commitment can never be missing, and it must not be negotiable, and on Sunday - even more so - it is completely non-negotiable. 

Here again, Huijsen is the first option - by a very small margin - to be the starting centre-back alongside Konaté. The other four names are obvious: Courtuois, Cucurella, Tcohuameni and Mbappé.

Real Madrid's starting XI to face Barça according to Comuniate: Courtuois; Valverde, Huijsen, Konaté, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham; Güler, Diomande and Mbappé.