Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Xavi needs Clasico victory more than Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid and Barcelona are level at the top of LaLiga so a victory either way in the Clasico might not be decisive in terms of points, but after Wednesday’s Champions League disappointment it’s Xavi who needs a victory more than Carlo Ancelotti.

Joan Laporta has publicly backed his coach this week but the message was clear: we are concentrating on winning the title. That translates as going three points clear at the top by winning in the home of their great rivals for the second season running.

If they manage it, Xavi will be sending a huge message that he is not the naïve young manager out of his depth, as he was portrayed by some after the draw with Inter Milan in midweek.

Xavi could not bear to watch as Barcelona drew 3-3 with Inter Milan in the Champions League

It was another night of recriminations for Barcelona in the Champions League against Inter

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are unaffected by off-field strife and are motoring along nicely 

One thing seems certain, he will be trying to beat Madrid without Gerard Pique. The veteran former Spain defender was blamed for the Inter draw and will almost certainly be left out with Jules Kounde coming back from injury to partner Eric Garcia in the centre of defence.

Barça can’t pin the midweek upset on Pique and then keep playing him. The ongoing battle between the club and three of its greats – Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba is the ugly backdrop to the biggest game of the season so far in LaLiga.

Xavi has inherited a difficult situation with the veterans. While Real Madrid get their greatest players out the door before they have fade to a shadow of their former selves (Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo were sold for around 170m euros) Barcelona are still trying to persuade Alba and Pique to leave at the end of the season so the club has no need to keep paying them until 2024.

Kounde might not be 100 per cent but he does have the natural pace that will help Barcelona play the high defensive line they want to use. 

Barcelona currently top the LaLiga table on goal difference with Real Madrid level on points

Carlo Ancelotti guided Real to LaLiga and Champions League glory and wants to kick on

The ongoing absence of Hector Bellerin at right back mean they will have to play a left-back on the right. Young Alex Balde could be picked for his pace – facing Vinicius just four days before his 19th birthday.

If Barcelona can show their league defensive form – where they have only let in one goal – and not their Champions League form where they have suffered at the hands of both Inter and Bayern Munich then they have a better chance.

Much of that league defensive form has been down to the spectacular form of Marc Andre ter Stegen who is back to his best after a right knee injury slowed him down last season.

His opposite number is unlikely to be Thibaut Courtois who as late as Friday was still suffering from the Sciatica problem that has kept him out of Real Madrid’s last four games. 

Andriy Lunin has done well in his place and is the only Madrid keeper to manage a clean sheet in LaLiga this season but there is still a huge gulf in class and Courtois’ absence will be felt in such a big game.

The absence of Courtois ought to boost Barcelona as they go into the game that will change the mood around the club for better or worse depending on the result. 

Win and Barcelona are looking down on Real Madrid after four days of their great rivals laughing at their Europa League fate. Lose and the weeks leading up to the World Cup look even more difficult.

Andriy Lunin has performed well in the absence of Thibaut Courtois but this will be a test

They play at home to Unai Emery’s Villarreal in midweek. They then host former manager Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club. He was fired after winning two league titles. 

Then it’s that Champions League game against Bayern Munich when they know they could already be out if Inter win in the earlier kick-off. And Gennaro Gattuso’s Valencia and feisty Osasuna also come before the mid-season break.

In contrast to the Barça rollercoaster, Real Madrid are the epitome of calm on and off the pitch. That much was clear when the Kylian Mbappe story broke last week.

Real’s failure to sign Kylian Mbappe is a blessing with Vinicius (left) continuing to excel 

The Spanish and European Champions are not interested in the wantaway Frenchman and no wonder. 

Had they succeeded in signing him in the summer Vinicius would have had to switch wings, on-form Rodrygo would not have got minutes, and Aurelien Tchouameni would not have signed. Sometimes not getting what you want can be a good thing.

If Barcelona end up lifting the Europa League and winning LaLiga they could even say the same about a Champions League exit – but things have felt a long way from that this week. They need a Clasico win to lift the clouds.