Barcelona and Real Madrid

Although neither of these teams is quite ready, they always rise to the challenge in this long-standing rivalry.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are playing one other in Texas as they get ready for the start of the La Liga regular season next month. It may be the preseason, but a Clasico is still a Clasico. Barcelona has enjoyed a calm summer thus far, with no significant transfers planned, however Ousmane Dembele has recently been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The primary distinction, of course, is that Lionel Messi’s former defensive midfield partner Sergio Busquets has rejoined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Jordi Alba, a left back, will probably soon join them as well. Ilkay Gundogan, a newcomer from Manchester City, has replaced Busquets.

How to watch and the chances Date: 

July 29, a Saturday | ET time is 5 p.m.

Location: Arlington, Texas’s AT&T Stadium

ESPN+, live streaming

What to look out for with Real Madrid: Manager Carlo Ancelotti has experimented with his two young Brazilian wingers, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo playing as strikers with Jude Bellingham as a 10 behind them in the absence of Karim Benzema and in the absence of another star striker on the team as of yet. That is the lineup he used to defeat Manchester United 3-2 in a friendly, and it is the configuration he used to defeat AC Milan 2-0 in the tour opener, despite not starting the two wingers.

Barcelona:

The Catalans’ midfield is full of uncertainties. They have only played one preseason game so far, losing to Arsenal 5-3. In that game, Gundogan began in midfield with newly acquired Oriol Romeo, who was the team’s most defensive midfielder. Barcelona’s preferred option at the base of the midfield doesn’t appear to be the journeyman Romeo, so it’s unclear exactly how they want to set up. Will Saturday night provide any additional hints?

Prediction

Although the defense doesn’t usually present much opposition during these preseason friendly matches, don’t anticipate these sides to play each other lightly either. Both of these teams are really similarly matched, and a 2-2 draw would show that. Both are probably still one or two moves away from the shape they will be in when the season begins.

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