Bitter rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are set to meet at MetLife stadium on Saturday, with Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti giving hints of what his starting XI would be in the last training session before the preseason friendly.
On the US tour's debut earlier this week, which was a 1-0 defeat to his former club AC Milan at the Chicago Bears' Soldier Field, Ancelotti handed Endrick his debut and went with a front line consisting of the Brazilian teenager as a striker flanked by Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler.
It was thought that Rodrygo, who joined the tour late on August 31, would take Guler's place this time round but that hasn't proven to be true as Ancelotti goes for the same attacking trio.
In midfield, captain Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, and Mario Martin hold the fort.
As for the defence, Ancelotti tested a team that had Eder Militao starting at center back alongside Antonio Rudiger, with Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazquez the left and right backs respectively, and this is the approach the Italian has gone for against Barca.
Thibaut Courtois will be the goalkeeper, at a time when Andriy Lunin could still leave the club in the ongoing transfer window given his discontent with being replaced by the Belgian upon his return from an ACL injury earlier in the spring.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal are still on holiday following their exploits at the Euros, but one further surprise joining the squad is Vinicius Jr.
While those mentioned players got to at least the semifinals or final with their countries at the European tournament, Vinicius' Brazil suffered a disappointing quarterfinal penalty shootout loss to Uruguay in the US with the Ballon d'Or hopeful unable to play the fixture because of a suspension picked up against eventual finalists Colombia in the group stage.
As 'Vini' has been with the squad less than 24 hours, though, he looks set for the bench and will not start against a team that was rocked by his first half, 30-minute hat trick in the Spanish Super Cup final at the turn of the year.
Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. FC Barcelona
Courtois; Fran, Rudiger, Militao, Vazquez; Ceballos, Modric, Mario Martin; Brahim, Endrick, Arda
Around an hour before kick off, FC Barcelona shared its starting line up on social media, reproduced below.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Real Madrid
Ter Stegen; Balde, Martinez, Pablo Torre, Pau Victor, Lewandowski, Valle, Unai, Christensen, Marc Bernal, Cadao
After initial scares the match could be called off because of bad weather, it was given the green light to go ahead as originally scheduled.
El Clasico Match Suspended Due to Severe Weather
The match, which was set to be a highly anticipated affair, was suspended in the 13th minute due to severe weather conditions. Lightning was reported in the area, forcing the players to leave the pitch. Fans inside the stadium were also told to get indoors for safety. The game has been suspended until further notice.
Live Updates
The latest update from the MetLife Stadium says the weather remains too severe for play to continue. It has been over half an hour since the game was suspended. No word on a restart time yet, but surely it can’t be too much longer. You’d imagine the players will need to warm up again, too.
Every fan in the stadium has now left their seat and the rain continues to fall. Still no update on a possible restart time. The players are back in their respective dressing rooms.
Real Madrid report that the game is suspended until further notice. Still no update on the game. We’ll let you know as soon as there is. It is still raining, and quite hard. No idea yet how long this delay will go on for.
Severe adverse weather means fans inside the stadium have also been told to get indoors. Plenty have, others have put on rain coats.
Highlights from the Early Stages of the Game
13min: Play has been stopped due to the threat of lightning!
The players are being called off the pitch.
11min: Bernal wants a freekick for a tough tackle from Endrick, but the referee isn’t interested. Look hard but fair, and Endrick then sends Guler running into the area before Barca mop up.
Real Madrid Starting XI and Preview
Real Madrid have published their starting lineup for the upcoming match against FC Barcelona in the first pre-season game of the 2024-25 season. The lineup is very similar to the one that lost to AC Milan in Chicago. Eder Militao comes back in for Jesus Vallejo, who wouldn’t have started this early upon returning if not for Vallejo picking up another minor injury.
Barcelona Starting XI and Preview
Barcelona, under their new manager Hansi Flick, have also published their starting lineup. While the majority of their first-team squad is available for this match, it's a great chance for Flick to test the squad against top opposition. It doesn't get much bigger than facing Real Madrid, even if it's a friendly. The match offers great learning opportunities for younger players who may not get into the regular season version of this rivalry match.
How to Watch the Match
The game was available to stream on ESPN+ but due to the suspension, it is unclear when the match will resume. Stay tuned for updates. This friendly is a great chance to see the new era of El Clasico, as the two teams continue their long rivalry on the pitch. The game has been a spectacle for decades, and that is sure to continue as the two teams look to dominate La Liga and the Champions League this season.
What to Expect from This Game?
Despite being a preseason friendly, the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is always intense. With the new signings and the new managers, both teams will be eager to prove their strength and start the season on a positive note. This is a perfect opportunity to see how the two teams have evolved and what they have to offer for the upcoming season. The game is a great chance to see the new signings in action, as well as some of the established stars. Even though the game was suspended, it still provided a glimpse of what's to come in the 2024-25 season and gave fans of both teams a taste of the fierce rivalry that is El Clasico.
Looking Ahead
This suspension was a big disappointment to fans hoping to see the game through, but it has added a level of anticipation to the game. The match is sure to resume soon, and fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see how the two teams perform. With the new signings and the new managers, both teams are looking to dominate the upcoming season. This is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting and competitive season of El Clasico.
