Confident Barcelona face unexpected La Liga champions Real Madrid visit

La Liga leaders Barcelona visit rivals Real Madrid in a Clasico on Saturday aiming to deliver a significant blow in the Spanish title race. Barcelona hold a three-point lead over the second-placed Spanish and European champions, who are struggling for consistency and balance heading into Kylian Mbappe's first Clasico as a Madrid player. It is also Barcelona coach Hansi Flick's first Clasico and his team beat Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, showing how he has revived the Catalan giants in just a few months.

Madrid had their own European epic on Tuesday in a repeat of last season's final against Borussia Dortmund, beating the visitors 5-2 in a classic Los Blancos comeback from two goals down.

Their poor first-half form led to an explosive second half as Madrid stepped up their game, with Vinicius Jr. scoring a hat-trick.

“Very timid, with little control,” Ancelotti summed up his team's first half against Dortmund.

“But we got up after the break and performed very well in all aspects, intensity, pressing, quality, everything… it was fantastic.”

The coach was in no doubt which version of Madrid he was expecting to see under the lights at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

“It's not very complicated… second half Madrid,” the Italian coach said.

Los Blancos will be without Rodrygo and Thibaut Courtois after injuries against Dortmund, while Jude Bellingham is yet to score in 10 games this season, having scored 10 goals at the same stage last year.

Without the retired Toni Cruz, Ancelotti will have to rely heavily on 39-year-old Luka Modric for midfield creativity as Madrid attempt to remain unbeaten for a 43rd league match, equaling Barcelona's all-time record set between 2017–18. of.

Vinicius' treble was a timely display of his quality ahead of the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday, where he is expected to win the accolade for the first time.

“We will go for it in our stadium, with our fans and we will fight for everything this season, as always,” Vinicius said.

If Flick sticks to his high back-line, the Brazilian forward and Mbappe have the pace to tear down the Barcelona defence.

Bayern scored several times in the first half and scored more than once on the second night.

However, Barcelona's attack has been in great form and Vinicius' compatriot Raphinha scored a hat-trick against Bayern.

At times he and teenage Spain winger Lamine Yamal were completely unstoppable, while experienced target man Robert Lewandowski is at his lethal best.

The 36-year-old Polish striker has 12 La Liga goals, at least twice as many as any other player, including Mbappe's six.

Barcelona have won nine from 10 matches in La Liga despite injury problems which are beginning to subside.

Flick has Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez and summer arrival Dani Olmo back, having missed most of the season so far.

The coach said that the emphatic win over Bayern was the best way to reach the Clasico.

“If you win a game like this you have to celebrate, it's incredible for the team,” Flick said.

“It gives us confidence to believe in ourselves before Saturday’s game.”

Victory would move Barcelona six points clear, while defeat would leave no gap between the Clasico rivals.

Players to watch: Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid's marquee summer signing has yet to explode for Los Blancos, but the Clasico could be the springboard for his time in the Spanish capital to take off. Mbappe's pace could be vital for Madrid to exploit the space left behind by Barcelona.

Key statistics 4 – Real Madrid have won the last four Clásicos in all competitions

6 times Mbappe has scored against Barcelona in four matches, all with Paris Saint-Germain

43 – Barcelona has the longest unbeaten streak in La Liga history, Madrid can equal it on Saturday