CLÁSICO PREVIEW | Barcelona v Real Madrid

It's time for another Barça Femení Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou (kick-off 7:00pm CEST). The league leaders are taking on their nearest rivals in a match that is always charged with plenty of emotion both on and off the pitch. The blaugranes come into it with an unblemished record of seven wins from seven so far this season – five in the domestic league and two in the Champions League. The all-whites have 13 points in the domestic league and two draws in Europe.

“It will be a different and exciting Clásico”

Coach Pere Romeu gave his thoughts on the game in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“​​The last game against Roma was one of the greatest games I have managed as a coach. It wasn't just a resounding victory, we played really well. This was really significant given what we had to deal with in September. We are also really developing as a team and I think that's worth mentioning. It will be a different and exciting Clásico, as they all are, and we will have to be at our best to come through the game”.

Real Madrid keeping the ball more

The blaugrana coach also assessed their opponent's start to the season and style of play.

“It's a different Real Madrid to last season. The team were a lot more direct last season, they played with more forwards, and this season they are playing with a midfield set up that is keeping the ball more, controlling possession. This means their attacking sequences are a bit longer than last season. It's a Real Madrid with new components and a slightly different style”.

And he went on to discuss what might prove key in the match:

“We have to keep the ball a lot, push hard after we lose it and try to limit the number of Real Madrid attacking transitions. We know they have other strengths, but one is fast play, counterattacks. If we manage that aspect properly, I'm sure we can come through in this game. This means we have to play a similar match to what we did in Rome, a lot of possession, hardly lose the ball, set the pace of the game. We have to avoid a basketball-type match, especially against a side like Real Madrid”.

Squad of 20

Pere Romeu has called up 20 players for the match: Gemma, Paredes, Van Asten, Sydney, Kerolin, Marta, Pina, Graham, Patri, Cata Coll, Aitana, C. Serrajordi, Pajor, Carla Julià, Brugts, Aïcha, Martina, McCamey, Rosalía and Mayssa.

Six years since the first Clásico

Today marks exactly six years since the first women's Clásico was played at the Valdebebas stadium. Barça ran out 0-4 winners, with Patri Guijarro scoring the first goal.

Barça have managed to win 24 out of 25 of the games between both sides, which included the record setting match on 22 April 2022, when 91,648 were in attendance at the Spotify Camp Nou.