Barcelona vs. Real Madrid live stream: How to watch preseason El Clasico live online, TV channel, prediction
Both these teams are far from the finished article, but they always rise to the occasion in this historic rivalry
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid live stream: How to watch preseason El Clasico live online, TV channel, prediction. It may be preseason but a Clasico is still a Clasico and Real Madrid and Barcelona are facing off in Texas as the two teams prepare for La Liga’s regular season to begin next month. Barcelona have had a quiet offseason so far, with no major moves on the books, though recently. The major difference, of course, is that long-time defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets is now gone, having switched to Major League Soccer to reunite with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. And left back Jordi Alba will likely join them shortly. In Busquets’ place, Ilkay Gundogan has arrived from Manchester City.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have already landed one major offseason target with Jude Bellingham, while Karim Benzema has left, becoming one of the first stars this summer to lace up his boots in the Saudi Pro League. And then, of course, there’s the little matter of Kylian Mbappe, who remains a PSG player, but who the club believe has already agreed to join Real Madrid when his contract runs out next summer.
Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid during the pre-season friendly match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium on July 29, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid live stream: How to watch preseason El Clasico live online, TV channel, prediction
What to watch for
Real Madrid: In the absence of Benzema and without another big time striker on the roster yet, manager Carlo Ancelotti has experiment4ed with his two young Brazilian wingers, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo playing as strikers with Jude Bellingham as a 10 behind them. That’s the lineup he used in a 3-2 win in a friendly against Manchester United, and the formation (albeit without the two wingers starting) he used in a 2-0 victory against AC Milan in the opening match of this tour.
Barcelona: Midfield questions abound for Barcelona. They’ve played one preseason match so far, a 5-3 loss to Arsenal. In that one Gundogan started in midfield next to new signing Oriol Romeo who played as the most defensive midfielder in the side. It seems unlikely that the journeyman Romeo will be Barcelona’s first-choice answer at the base of midfield, so exactly how Barcelona intend to set up remains somewhat of a mystery. Will Saturday night give us any more clues?
Prediction
These preseason friendlies don’t tend to offer a lot of defensive resistance, but also don’t expect these teams to go lightly against each other. A 2-2 draw would reflect that both these sides are relatively evenly matched, and both are likely still a move or two away from whatever form they will take when the season starts.
About Real Madrid:
- History: Real Madrid has a rich history and has won numerous domestic and international titles. They have won the Spanish La Liga title (Primera División) multiple times and have also secured many Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) victories.
- European Success: One of Real Madrid’s most notable achievements is its success in European competitions. The club has won the UEFA Champions League (formerly known as the European Cup) multiple times, making them one of the most successful clubs in this prestigious tournament.
- Galácticos Era: Real Madrid is famous for its “Galácticos” era during the early 2000s when the club signed several high-profile and world-class players, such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo (Brazilian), Luis Figo, David Beckham, and more. This period garnered significant attention and success for the club.
- Rivalries: Real Madrid has a long-standing and intense rivalry with FC Barcelona, known as “El Clásico,” which is one of the most-watched football matches globally. The rivalry extends beyond football and carries strong cultural and political implications.
- Stadium: Real Madrid plays its home matches at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world. However, it’s important to note that the stadium has been undergoing renovations as of my last update in 2021, which might have been completed or evolved by the current date in 2023.
- Achievements: Real Madrid’s list of achievements includes numerous domestic and international titles, making them one of the most successful football clubs globally. They have also had many legendary players and managers throughout their history.
