Barcelona v Real Madrid: Pundits preview El Clasico match
Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has reportedly stormed out of the training ground, putting his future at the club in serious doubt. The Chilean was told by boss Ernesto Valverde he would not be part of the starting XI which takes on Real Madrid tonight.
Ernesto Valverde upset Arturo Vidal with his El Clasico team selection (Image: GETTY)
Last month Vidal explained to Televisio de Catalunya that his future could lie away from the Nou Camp if he is not given enough game time.
"I would like to (play) all the time, but I have to be objective and experience the day-to-day," he told TV3.
"If in December, or at the end of the season, I don't feel important here, I will have to look for a solution and amplify my horizons to be important."
Barcelona and Real are tied at the top of the La Liga table on 35 points ahead of their clash in Catalunya.
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But Valverde has warned his team that Los Blancos usually play well when they are on the road.
"Especially away from home we have had good results [in the Clasico] recently,” Valverde said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. At home, it has been more difficult.
"In La Liga, it was different with the 5-1, but in the Copa we drew and in the league we also drew 2-2 the season before.
“Madrid usually play well here, they approach the games with intensity and that's what we expect from them."
Arturo Vidal has only started one of Barcelona's seven previous matches (Image: GETTY)
"Despite the differences, the Clasicos are always even. The fact that we are level on points means La Liga is even and that could give a little more significance to a victory for the team that wins it."
Meanwhile, Real boss Zinedine Zidane has hinted he could use Gareth Bale’s pace to catch their rivals on the counter-attack.
“Bale is with us, he is training well,” the Frenchman said. “He is an important player and has always shown that. Tomorrow he will be prepared like everyone, I don't have a doubt about that.
“What we have to do is show the best version of ourselves and that's it.”