Coach Ancelotti wants to cut the circuit of losing three El Clasico matches
"This is not a game between coaches. Barca have won three times this season, so now is the time for us to beat them. Real have at least 90 minutes to come back," Ancelotti said on April 4 in pre-match press conference.
Real coach predicts this will be an even match, and it is difficult to say which team is more appreciated. According to him, small details can make a difference at Camp Nou today.
Real and Barca have met four times this season. The royal team won the first match with a score of 3-1 in La Liga in October 2022, but lost all three matches after that. On January 15, at King Fahd Stadium, Barca defeated Real with a similar score to win the 2022 Spanish Super Cup. After that, Xavi's army won 1-0 in the first leg semi-final of the King's Cup thanks to a kick table. Eder Militao's reaction and 2-1 in La Liga to widen the gap with Real itself to 12 points.
Ancelotti said Real is highly confident after crushing Valladolid 6-0 in the 27th round of La Liga over the weekend. The Italian coach emphasized that the home team will not "attack madly" right after the opening whistle to find a goal, but must play calmly. "You can score in the fifth minute, but then concede two. Or you can score in the 90th minute," he explained. "Our approach is to have a full performance, not just score. If there is a complete performance, the goal will come."
Ancelotti also denied that he would change the system to surprise Barca, after three consecutive defeats. He said Real played well and deserved to win in the last two El Clasico matches, and revealed that Luka Modric and Toni Kroos would start. "You can surprise your opponent by changing the whole system, but you can also surprise yourself and that can be more dangerous. It is important to adjust the small details." Ancelotti analysis.
The Spanish Football Federation appointed Juan Martinez Munuera as the referee and Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez as the VAR referee for the El Clasico match at Camp Nou today. Shortly after, Real Madrid TV posted a two-minute video documenting the mistakes of Munuera and Gonzalez when refereeing Real's matches against Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad and Real Betis.
Ancelotti declined to talk about the referee, nor the fact that Barca were accused of bribery in connection with payments to former Vice President of the Arbitration Council (CTA) Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. He said this is an issue that is under investigation and the whole team is only focused on expertise, towards victory.
Before the match against Valladolid, Ancelotti confirmed that Brazil was contacted as head coach and admitted to feeling "proud and excited". But at the press conference yesterday, the 63-year-old coach refused to say more about the future and only made a decision at the end of the season.
