As Real Madrid gear up to face Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the 2024/25 season, manager Carlo Ancelotti is facing injury concerns for key players such as Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo. However, Brahim Diaz is fit and available, and Ancelotti has praised Jude Bellingham's contribution to the team. Ancelotti is expected to line Real Madrid up in a 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond, with Bellingham playing in an advanced role and Andriy Lunin replacing the injured Courtois in goal. With the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior leading the attack, Real Madrid will aim to go level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
As the eagerly anticipated first El Clasico of the 2024/25 season approaches, Real Madrid are preparing to face their arch-rivals Barcelona with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has been dealt a blow ahead of the clash, with key players Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo facing injury concerns. Courtois, the Belgian international goalkeeper, is out with a knee injury, while Rodrygo, the Brazilian forward, is nursing a hamstring problem.
Despite the injuries, Ancelotti has been buoyed by the impressive preseason performances of Jude Bellingham. The English midfielder, signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has quickly established himself as a vital cog in the Real Madrid machine.
Ancelotti is expected to field Real Madrid in a 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond. Bellingham is likely to play in an advanced role, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos anchoring the midfield. Andriy Lunin will replace Courtois in goal.
The attack will be led by the formidable duo of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, who have both been in scintillating form this season. Real Madrid will be aiming to go level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a victory.
Real Madrid won both El Clasico matches in the 2023/24 season, defeating Barcelona 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu and 2-0 at Camp Nou. Karim Benzema scored in both matches for Real Madrid.
Barcelona won both matches against Real Madrid in the 2022/23 season, claiming a 3-1 victory at Camp Nou and a 4-0 triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu. Robert Lewandowski scored four goals in the two fixtures.
A: The first El Clasico of the 2024/25 season will be played on September 30, 2024.
A: Carlo Ancelotti is the manager of Real Madrid.
A: Karim Benzema is the captain of Real Madrid.
A: Lionel Messi is the record goalscorer in El Clasico history, with 26 goals.
A: The most common scoreline in El Clasico matches is 1-0, with Real Madrid and Barcelona each winning 12 times by that score.
Fox Sports 1 has reportedly canceled three of its shows - Speak, The Facility, and Breakfast Ball - which were struggling to find a large audience. Hosted by Joy Taylor, Speak featured co-hosts Keyshawn Johnson and NBA player Paul Pierce, while The Facility was co-hosted by Emmanuel Acho. The network has yet to release an official statement about the cancellations, but Taylor continues to post on Instagram and Acho has hinted at the departure on social media.
Mitchell Starc, playing his 100th Test match for Australia, proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with as he helped his team secure a whitewash against the West Indies. Despite a quiet performance in the first innings, Starc bounced back in style with a three-wicket haul in the first over of the second innings, including his 400th Test wicket. He went on to break records and clinch a quick 5-wicket haul, with the support of his teammates, as Australia dominated the Caribbean team and secured a 3-0 series victory.
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As the Premier League transfer window heats up, Liverpool have made a statement by rejecting a big offer from Bayern Munich for Pedro Diaz. Meanwhile, Manchester United are looking to secure a deal for Bryan Mbeumo before next Tuesday, but questions arise about their transfer tactics. Chelsea, Everton, and Brentford have also made recent signings, but clubs like Sunderland and Newcastle are still on the lookout. As fans eagerly anticipate more updates, they can share their thoughts by clicking "Get Involved" at the top of the page.
Markus Babbel, former Liverpool defender, believes that the club's signing of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is the best signing of the summer transfer window. Despite the whopping British-record fee of £116 million, Babbel asserts that Wirtz's class justifies the price and that even if rivals Manchester United had signed him, he would hold the same sentiment. Wirtz, who spent five years at Leverkusen, is expected to make a huge impact alongside top players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah under manager Arne Slot. The 22-year-old has expressed his ambition to win everything with Liverpool every year.
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